Sports
Charlevoix has always been noted for its sports programs. Many teams have achieved district and regional championships and participated at state finals levels. A few athletes have gone on to the professional level as both players and coaches. This is the baseball team circa 1912. At far left in the middle row is Robert Bridge, who, after receiving his education at the University of Michigan, returned to Charlevoix to become the longtime president of the Charlevoix County State Bank and one of Charlevoix’s most influential mayors in the 1930s and 40s. Bridge Park above the city dock is named for him.
The Charlevoix High School football team of 1902. Middle row, fourth from left: John Paddock Bottom row, from left: Allan Campbell, Mont Withers, Rollie Lewis whose father built and ran the Lewis Grand Opera House. The rest are unidentified. They are wearing the pleated shin guards of the day, and nose and mouth protectors hang from their necks of some of the players. Local women knitted their heavy sweaters.
Charlevoix’s first high school basketball team, 1910. Top row, from left: Harrison Wallace, Leland Cram, Coach Dwight Wilson, William Mitchell. Seated, from left: Guy Durgan, Hubert Paddock, Harold Jacobs. Basketball was introduced in 1909 by the placing of a regulation basket in the upper floor of the Bonthron Plumbing & Heating building by the bridge. This basket was used only for shooting practice. The first regular basketball game was played in the Lewis Grand Opera House across the street in 1910, where the seats were removed from the auditorium
Also in 1910 the high school girls basketball team was formed. From left: Helen Jacobs, Lulu Krulik, Vera Nowland, Gail Burns, Mae Swartz, and Edna Ward.
The 1908 track and field team. From left: future shoe store owner Don Campbell, future master builder in stone Earl Young, Sam Levinson, Emerald Emery, and Henry Partridge.
The Chicago Club golf course was founded in 1896. Willie Watson, one of the nation’s top course architects, laid out the nine holes. In the beginning the first tee, seen here, lay close to Chicago Avenue that bordered the resort. All club members had to do was step out their back doors and onto the course. But the construction of The Inn hotel in 1898 (background) meant that East Dixon Avenue had to slice through the first fairway to reach its front door. So in January of 1900 the club purchased 100 acres to the north, reoriented the course across Dixon, and soon doubled it to eighteen holes.
Charlevoix’s second Willie Watson creation, the Belvedere Club’s Belvedere Golf Course, opened after a year of work for the 1926 season. It was considered at once to be one of the finest courses in the country. For years the Belvedere hosted the Michigan Amateur Tournament. Golf greats who have played the Belvedere include Tommy Armour, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, and Tom Watson. In 1999 Watson was quoted as saying, “My favorite course is Belvedere . . .” In Watson’s opinion, the 16th hole is one of the best holes of any golf course anywhere.
Charlevoix has been populated by hunting enthusiasts since the earliest days. There was no limit at first. Camp Good Luck enjoyed very good luck in 1897. From left: Wallace Whitford, Morris Cram, Al Vote (or Voght), Frank Ackert, Amos Webster, Frank Whitford, Morris J. Stockman, Hubert Ackert, and cook Mally Cram. The Crams and Mr. Whitford owned a lumber mill on the Pine Lake shore near today’s Ferry Beach area.
Round Lake and the city dock used to be filled with rowboats and anglers every spring for the annual perch run. The south shore of Round Lake is now chockablock with condos.