Totem Pole Tales- State of Michigan Cabin Submitted by Nute Chapman From Onaway Outlook May 16, 2014

Caption # 1: The cabin at Black Mountain with some of the Schell family on the porch in 1936. (Photo courtesy
of Schell family.)
 

Caption # 2: The cabin today at its setting on the Badgero Forty.  (Photo courtesy of Jerry Badgero.)
 
  
   
  This cabin was the state of Michigan cabin that housed the fire tower watchman.  It was built by the Civilian
Conservation Corps workers from Camp Black Lake in 1936.  It was located at the foot of Black Mountain and was
where the watchman for the Owens Fire Tower spent his summers while working.

  My father Newton Chapman Sr. worked at this tower in 1943, 1944, and 1945.My sister Cheryl was the baby when
we lived in the cabin.  My dad planted three white pine trees on the circle drive that came into the cabin.  They
were planted for me, brother Chad and sister Cheryl. 

  The trees were still there when the state of Michigan sold the cabin to the Badgero family.  The cabin logs were 
labeled with numbers and dismantled by the Badgero family.  They spent many days transporting the cabin to the 
"Badgero Forty" south of Onaway near the Tomahawk Creek.  They reassembled the cabin and made it their hunting
camp.  The cabin is still used by the family today for hunting, snowmobiling and recreation.  Before our mother
passed we were able to take her and all of my siblings to the cabin for a day and have our lunch there.  Mom
remembered the small kitchen area and the little cookstove.

  The only change the Badgero family made was a new face for the big fireplace.  Mom reminded us of the many
cream cans of water that Dad carried from the pump at Twin Lakes for out use at the cabin.  As I remember, it was 
a good hike from the cabin to the pump that is still in use today.

  
  
From the Onaway Outlook, May 16, 2014, page 3. 


Retyped by J. Anderson