To Michigan…collected herbarium specimens - took photographs and did some botanizing. — E. L. Kammerer’s Journal, September 17, 1960
Besides just being colleagues, my grandfather and many of the Arboretum’s mid-century staff were great friends. Throughout his journals, he writes of socializing with Walter Eickhorst and his family, celebrating the wedding of one of Clarence Godshalk’s daughters, and visiting May Watts for dinner.
A stand-out example of this beyond-office camaraderie was land the staff owned adjacent to each other in Michigan. According to my dad, it was at Clarence Godshalk’s suggestion that my grandparents and a handful of other staff members purchase sizable plots in Southwestern Michigan and build small cottages, perfect for spending weekends and summer trips. (All the following quotations are from my Grandpa’s journals.)
CEG phoned this eve to report on his trip to Three Rivers and his inspection of the property we’re considering buying. — Jan 17, 1960
CEG phoned me this eve to say he had phoned the real estate dealer in Mich. to tell them we were interested in the 20 acres adjoining his 80 (660’ x 1320’). — February 4, 1960
It probably goes without saying that a major draw of these parcels of land was the potential for planting that far exceeded the space available at their homes in Illinois. My grandfather wrote of planting stands of trees, meadows of wildflowers, and orchards across their property. And in conversations with my dad, I’ve gotten a better sense of what it was like spending time at these cottages - he told stories about picking blueberries on May Watts’ property next door, hiking through the adjoining properties, and planting countless varieties of trees on their acreage.
Maude and Dave’s first trip to Dewberry Hill…Red Maples blooming everywhere, Spicebush blooming in swampy woods, Aspen + Dwarf Willow fully expanded, Marsh Marigolds showing buds…Had a wonderful afternoon hiking over the property. — April 16, 1960
Left for Michigan at 7:30AM - driving over via New Buffalo (where we stopped for some plants at Acherman Nurs.). 2 Pawpaws, 1 Peach ‘Hale Haven’, and 2 blueberries. Planted the following plants at Dewberry Hill: Orchard - 25 4yr White Pines - along west boundary, east of CEG’s, 2 Pawpaws (planted near the pond), 2 Apricots, 1 Peach (on slope south of old apple trees), 2 Blueberries - in hollow below cottage site. — April 23, 1960
Left for Michigan in the Ford at 6:30AM - Ray + Web accompanying me. Reached Three Rivers about 10:00…once at Dewberry Hill we put on high boots and headed for the swamp. Viola blanda and a pale blue violet blooming…also Sugar Maples. Ate our lunch on the orchard slope - then did some more hiking. Ray + Web helped me plant 25 more White Pine trees along west boundary. — April 28, 1960
In Michigan. Breakfast at Rosie’s…then to Dewberry Hill to plant trees. Planted the following on our property (Maude, Dave, and I): 62 Scotch Pine (French Dark Green strain) on knoll at SE corner of property (adjoining Watts boundary), 51 Douglas Firs on east slope of knoll to the west of the cottage site, 52 Red Pine on top of knoll to the west of the property. Maude and Dave cleared out spring and planted watercress. In afternoon we planted the following trees on CEG’s land - 50 Douglas Fir, 51 Red Pine, 38 Scotch Pine. Sassafras’s blooming everywhere (very attractive.) Apple trees full bloom. Marsh Marigolds still effective in low wet woods. — May 7, 1960
The sheer number of trees that they planted on the land is amazing! Clearly, my grandpa wanted an evergreen presence at Dewberry Hill - possibly to make the vista as impressive as possible through all four seasons.
To Dewberry Hill later. Found all the small evergreens growing very well. Dewberries mostly through blooming…Planted several Lupine divisions near house site (from natural planting on M-60.) Planted seed of a number of perennials - east of old orchard site. — June 18, 1960
Struck a real bonanza on the north slope of Mrs Watts’ hill - a bumper crop of the largest most luscious blackberries we’d ever seen. — August 2, 1961
To Marcellus - to discuss building plans with Mr O. W. Holmes of Marcellus Lumber Co. — August 23, 1960
The building plans he’s referring to here are for a cottage on the property that would ultimately be completed in 1961 - allowing my grandfather to stay close to the various trees, shrubs, and flowers he was tending.
Although they seem to have brought in many outside plants to develop the land, my grandfather and his colleagues also made an effort to develop and maintain the natural woods, swamps, and meadows that existed on the property when they acquired it. My grandfather mentions starting a prairie restoration on an area of his land. Clearly, prairie restoration was front of mind for my grandpa and his contemporaries - Ray Schulenberg began a well-known prairie restoration project at the Arboretum a couple of years later!
Left for Michigan at 8:30…Transplanted 2 clumps of Little Bluestem and several clumps of Big Bluestem to property as nucleus of prairie restoration.
Planted seed of Campanula americana at edge of low woods west of Cottonwood, seed of Lobelia cardinalis in low wet wood north of Cottonwood. Planted 2 clumps of Brauneria purpurea 1 with Bluestem in meadow south of cottage site - 1 near the Redbuds. Photographed Dogwoods, Sassafras, Shooting Stars, etc. Collected herbarium specimens. — October 1, 1960
I noticed while reading through my grandpa’s journals that the name given to the property seemed to have changed at some point - in many of the early entries, he referred to it as “Dewberry Knolls” and at some point went through and crossed the latter word out, replacing it with “Hill.”
Drove to Michigan in the Ford - taking Walter, Martin, + Roy N with me. We left Arb at 7:30 + returned about 9:40PM. Left Toll Road at South Bend exit - to visit a nursery in Mishawaka. Ordered 2 hollies for Dewberry Knolls[Hill] for spring pick up. Drove to property…photographing Shining Sumac + Red Maples along the way. High color in places. Found native Tulip Trees and a Chestnut south of Corey Lake. Dug 3 clumps of Little Bluestem along road north of Long Lake. Had a picnic lunch at “the Hill” - down by the spring. Hiked afterward - the entire length of our north boundary (three Cinnamon ferns shoulder high) Poison Sumac highly colored in sunny areas - Cornus Florida also very showy. Then north thru the low woods (no water) to the Beech Grove and back thru CEG’s place.
Dug American Beech seedlings (3) and Viburnum aceriflolium (2) which we planted at edge of natural planting along the pond along west boundary. — October 6, 1960
Personally, I’m exhausted just reading about that day (not to mention the drive both ways! Whew.)
What Became of the “Little Morton Arb” in Michigan?
When I set out to find the location of my grandparents’ and colleagues’ cottages, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I intensely hoped the beautiful land my grandfather described in his journals had not been developed. I assumed that if it were still intact, it was likely private property with new owners, as my dad informed me that he and my grandma Maude had sold the property to a psychiatrist from Chicago years ago. While the latter case is true for some of the land, Clarence Godshalk’s property (along with some of the land that had belonged initially to my grandfather and other Arboretum employees), was now an impressive nature preserve. I was able to park in a small gravel lot and walk up a short hill to where hiking trails began.
Near signage indicating the name and origin of the Spirit Springs Sanctuary was a curious, dilapidated barn. Upon showing my dad a photo, he immediately recognized it as the barn where Clarence Godshalk had kept his tractor.
The miles of trails traipsed across diverse landscapes - dense woods, a small lake and swamp, open meadows - and although I wasn’t able to walk the length of every path, I made a point to hike past where my grandparent’s land and cottage would have been. I wasn’t able to determine which, if either, of the two houses set on hills that were visible from the trail had been my grandparents’, but happening upon a sudden glut of evergreen trees, I knew I had to be close by. My dad mentioned that he remembers his dad planting a variety of evergreens along their land borders, which my research into my grandpa’s journals confirm. I had to be in the right place, even if the cottage itself was not visible.
Peering through the forest slope, down toward the still swamp below, I tried to imagine this landscape as it would have looked sixty years ago when my grandfather first laid eyes on it. It’s undoubtedly different now - the “4ft evergreens” he describes planting are now giants.
It’s a massive relief that this land is preserved - open for the public to enjoy. Although significantly wilder and more un-tended than it likely was while my grandfather and his colleagues owned it, it still reminds me of the Arboretum, albeit on a smaller scale. I have to imagine that my grandpa (and Clarence Godshalk, May Watts, Tony Tyznik, Walter Eickhorst, and Ray Schulenberg), would be extremely pleased with what their country escape has become.
Watched the sunrise at 7:20 (over Mrs Watts’ hill). — November 11, 1961
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We are the current owners of Dewberry Hill! We bought it from the family of the psychiatrist you mentioned. I came across your article while looking for more information on the property’s original owners! I couldn’t have imagined I would find this much information. Our good friends own some of the property adjacent to the preserve. Many of the trees are tagged with their species. Would be happy to share any other info I know about what has happened to the property since your grandparents owned it. Email is bowersamy@hotmail.com
Wonder if the Rosie’s referenced for breakfast is the one in New Buffalo which still a famous breakfast place.