My Tenbuck Story

And as I sit let us think of this bible verse. "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all else shall be added unto you".

Have you ever went to sea wondering what is in the vast beyond? yes, I'm sure is the answer. Well maybe that is the way I should describe my feelings one afternoon back in the fall of 1959 after Bob Eldred and family left my yard when I said yes I would work during the hunting season for them. My saying yes with miss-giving as my cousins wide had told so many terrible things she had encountered while working at different camps. To be sure, I had vowed never would I work in a camp, but still here I had said yes.

When working at Curran Cafe for Myrtle Giedbrugh (sic), Charles Sparks (another camp) had asked me and I said no. JB took one look and also said no. We had had long standing dealings with him and enough is enough.

Then came the day hunting season was here and I left food cooked for JB and a hunter that was staying at our house. I was not to go out as they were to send some one after me. The day dragged on, no one came but alias just before the dinner hour in drove a beautiful care and out jumped Bob Eldred. The driver turned out to be the honorable Judge Adams, saying they were taking me to the unknowns and JB was to follow so that he would know where the camp was.

On arrival I found Mr. Goldie and Bob Armstrong hard at pealing potatoes in the kitchen. Upon looking in the dining area, found the table set ready for dinner so back I went to kitchen like I knew what I was doing. (and didn't) and relived Mr. Goldie of the knife and finished the pealing. Dog me if I remember what else was on the menu for the evening. I'm sure at the time of day there was not much time to fix anything special.

Somehow I got through the dinner hour and at last was ready to go to my room for the night. I'm it. I found my bedding and suit case and bunk (single) bed so I had a choice of top or bottom. At that time I weighed some two hundred and when I sat the springs hit the floor. After entering I turned to lock my door cause after all, me among ten strange men yiks! And again what a shock. I found I had a door with no lock. Was I scared? There's really no words to describe how I felt. But I sat down on the bed and shook like a leaf in a hundred mile wind for what seemed like a long time. I kept thinking. What I have let myself in for. You know all the stories Lovda has told. If I'd had a car of my own there and then would have ended my cooking career for 10 buck. Finally I controlled myself with the thought there are ten out there and they surely cant misuse me. I'm sure as god will look after me and let no harm come. And just like that, I was off to dreamland.

This was quite a year at camp at the building was far from complete. I walked over lumber to serve meals but always managed I hope with a smile.

Next day upon taking inventory of the food supply I found something like ten bottles of marchinno cherries, ten bags of dry beans, 12 loaves of bread and four more that was to be made into dressing for turkey. Yes four for dressing. Enough canned goods to last a couple of months and about as much meat. To be sure the bread was store bought too.

The first few years I believe it was Mr. Armstrong that ordered the supplies and when I was given the privilege to revise the list the first thing to be removed was the hunk of salt pork. Oh I used it as it was there. Used it for bean soup. But I grew up with the stuff and enough is enough.

I believe the second or third year in hunting season it was decided to have an auction on the many surplus bags of beans, jars of berries and various other articles. To be sure fun was bad by all and at last the supply was gone ready for new the next year.

Seems as tho the first several years not many buck were taken. I believe Adams brought down a spike the first year I was there. This brings to mind, for several years I never let on I knew the first thing about cooking venison, but alas! I made the mistake of saying yes, as one of the members was going home early and would like a bite so bright and early the next morning I prepared a feast of venison and very little store bought meat. One year we are a whole venison even to the neck. That reminds me too that one year sorta at the beginning of the season a deer had been hung just south of the kitchen. I got up in the night to go pottie and upon looking out and see the deer moving and dumb me thought sure must be windy. Went back to bed and the next day news came in that the deer had been mostly eaten by a bear. Now if I had been enough awake to realize could have called someone and perhaps saved most of the venison.

For several years I never needed to call the men in the morning as the big coffee pot made so much noise with its moans, groans and pops one never needed an alarm. It finally gave up and the next made no noise, and as the story goes morning by morning the guys slept later and later. Well one morning is was starting to get day light and not a creature was stirring save for Ralph Allen and I and Ralph getting more uneasy by the minute. He headed for one of the bedrooms and says "In just a minute, I'll give my Indian war hoop and I think they will waken. And did they ever. That in the still of the morning was enough to scare anyone out of a years growth. We had men coming from every door.

PAGE 4 There was another time when it is a wonder that no one heard the pop in the still of the morning. As was a habit Mr. Armstrong to always cobble things up and get away with it this once it was somewhat of a disaster. I had the table set even to the grapefruit on waiting when I over heard a pop. At that time is was though the coffee urn should be in the middle of the table and needed an extension to be able to plug it into the ceiling and may I add to plug it in meant getting on a chair and then the table to reach the outlet. Very inconvenient. Upon hearing the pops and seeing the flash and bright light continuing I seemed to have realized what was wrong and as luck would have it I was at the oven so I grabbed the towel on the wall and in I went. The ceiling was already burning. On the chair and table I went and put out the fire. What a mess as when it blew up it blew suet all ever the table so that meant cleaning the grapefruit off best I could and cleaning all the dishes best I could to be ready when the folks started getting up. Wasn't as clean as perhaps it should have been and perhaps they are a little suet with their grapefruit but a little suet mattered not as the place was saved from another burn. How fortunate we were that some one was there to catch it immediately.

Another incident that amused me was about an unseen friend - a mouse no less. Every morning I'd take the cover off the big toaster the would be his pellets he'd left, but come a morning I didn't use the toaster and IU just left his toilet, believe it or not next morning no more toilet, so it went and any morning I had pancakes and didn't use the toaster and just left his toilet he went elsewhere. How that's what I call a funny clean mouse. I had another mouse un-be-known to me that got on top of my bed while I was sleeping and went pottie too and he or it was lucky I didn't waken and bat it one. A mouse in bed was not needed.

Many joyful hours was spent watching from the corner of my eye. And I remember so well watching the folks one July after a heavy rain swimming in the swollen creek. The knee deep creek had become a river and they could float over the log which ad been placed across the creek with the greatest of ease. Another flood I remember was at the tail end of the hunt. I headed for home only to find the water up ready to run over the banks by the big culvert. I breathed much easier when I was through that area as these was still only a small culvert and it had a habit of being washed out.

As was my habit I would go to Alpena to grocery shop the day before folks came and then take them to the cabin. As usual I was to cook for the spring work bee. It so happened that Gosha had worked there all winter and had made some terrible ruts. They looked very innocent tho. U had tried to stay out of them but eventually dragged into them and didn't go far before I was sitting high and dry close to half a mile from the cabin. I walked to the cabin as I didn't have a shovel in the car and all I found was a spade which I considered a poor excuse for a shovel and proceeded to try to dig myself out but eventually I gave up as the hour was growing late and it looked very much like I'd have to walk home, so I headed out and after leaving outside gate I heard a car and sure enough it was the jeep I'd seen at the big culvert on the way in. It was three young long haired men. They ask me if I was in trouble and I replied I was headed for Curran for help. They insisted they could help. I hesitated as I knew it was against the rule to let strangers in on the club but again I took the bull by the horn and took them in. Two stayed at the car and one went on with me and the groceries and when we returned they had the car pretty well dug out and with help of poles to lift I started up and was soon out. They stayed till I returned from turning around and see that I got out of the club. By that time I discovered I'd ripped my muffler system loose so they wired it up and by driving carefully I made it home with no further trouble. I'd left Alpena before four and arrived home about nine only to find JB waiting for Deputy Sheriff to go with him to look for me. Another time I went in after a wind and thank goodness the power company was cleaning the road and helped me on in. Another time I went out ahead of the folks the last of the hunting season only to find a tree across the road on Bay so out come the axe and I went to work. Another trip going in shortly before the hunt proved to be something else. I had my brother and his daughter along and every thing was fine until on the way out. Going in was fin then there was this huge elm across the road near the big culvert and no way to get around. We had it pretty well to one side when a car came from the west and with much huffing per man and bloyer?? we cleared the path.

Then there came the broken leg - rather ankle - which I acquired on a trip to work for Eldred. I went through the hunt with a cast with flying colors and lots of extra help from the men. JB bought me a tea cart too which helped immensely.

Only once did I ever wet a line in the creek and that was because Eldred had been out and didn't have even a fish apiece for his guests, so while they were golfing I went down by the pole and caught the need two more.

One evening when doing dishes I heard a pack of coyotes quarreling near the garbage pit so I called the folks to the kitchen so they could hear too., Its quite an eerie feeling to listen.

One evening on the way home I run over a rattle snake just east of the old cabin sign. I got out and his tail said he wasn't all that dead so I proceeded to run over him again. next morning Mr. Armstrong showed me the rattle he had removed. A short time later I was walking for Murphy and they shot a rattler by front porch.

Another trip I was as usual at the kitchen windows and there was a bear coming down the path from the garbage pit. I presume he hard the lawn mower going so turned around and left.

I shall always remember when everyone was sitting around the fireplace enjoying a cocktail and a pat crashed thought the front door and landed in the kitchen. A "Pat" for supper was the order of the day. There was glass all the way from the front door to kitchen. Adams once had a experience of one flying through kitchen window. Moral of the story - Have dirty Windows that they can see.

A turkey broke a north window when no one was there.

Finally someone became tired of trying to cross the creek on a log so a foot bridge was built which is not only useful but very attractive. That's as far as I had ever been that way on the property.

I on several occasions heard the men speak of the remains of a cabin. Having written a story on Flynn Valley area it rang a bell so I ask JB and he said yes it would have been trapper Chapman's cabin. He would come up from southern part of state in the winter and trap. At least one winter a some stayed with him. He never made much but loved the outdoors. His furniture was of make shift blocks of wood and such. As many years ago as he had the cabin here it is a wonder there was anything left to find. A relative of his lives in Lachine and she gave me quite a history about here uncle.

It wouldn't be right not to remember camp 24 as they join with this property and have been long standing friends here as well as in Pontiac area.

Somehow they seem to had a habit of waling in at lunch time and that brought me into action sometimes to have enough for so many extra. I was always equal to the challenge and I remember one time in particular we were having vegetable soup so out came left over bean soups and in it went a little more seasonings and water and it was fit for a king. This one time the ginger bread was jut cut smaller too. Maybe what I remember most is the first year the groups came at what should have been anyone's bedtime and wanted to see the new building. And as I've related these as no lock on the door so it meant that some one had to stand guard of my door to keep in particular Bob Oliver out. Jim Clark said next morning they would certainly have looked other wise. On the fireplace mantel rests the 10 Buck Trophy. The old pot which thank goodness 24 had swiped the year before the fire or otherwise it would no longer be. There was a feud between the camp for many a year over the "Pot" and yearly cards were played to see who would keep the trophy that year. Bob Oliver is a friend to everyone and certainly keeps cap 24 on its toes with his age old jokes.

Now comes a turkey story. One spring Fagan as well as others had permits so with the Turkey callers took to the woods, being Fagan was the only one to bag a turkey it would never do to split it ten ways so I proceeded to cook the turkey in camp. That I think was about the best turkey I ever ate. And I had wondered how it would be after foraging on winter food in the woods. It brings to the mind about when the electric power went out and thank goodness the turkey was cooked as all I had to do was cook the rest of the supper in fireplace. I had lots of help keeping the fire just right for cooking too.

I feel I should relate a stranger than fiction story that happened at the Orion Club where JB and I were guests turkey hunting. Big John took JB and I to his hunting cabin and in due time as near as we could count a flock of seventy-five came through. With 22 in hand I shot. I thought I missed but JB said I hit so I went out but didn't find it. Perhaps I didn't go far enough. In due time John came after us and I informed him I had missed so no turkey for dinner next day. He says that's OK I got one. So out came the metal garbage can and hot water and I scalded it. Then to dress it out. And this is the stranger thank fiction part, I found where the bullet (22) went in the back and it came out the bung and ticked the tail. Not one bit of body meat was spoiled. But when I opened it I found the intestines were a mess and after laying so long I didn't save any of the giblets as I figured they would be tainted. Had anyone ever told me a bullet could enter and go out as this did I never would have believed them but as I dressed this turkey I know it happened thus. It was very good eating the next day too. Later I was down to the "White House" in flint and a friend of John ask if it were true so I told the story over again. John says why spoil any meat.

Over the years I have fried many a pan of brook trout and some far from small. I think fifteen inches was the longest. Anyway we had no frying pan big enough so those kind of fried on the pan cake griddle. Eldred always insisted the only way to cook then was with the heads on so that the way I cooked them. Same difference to me if they were cooked that way.

Used to be an unusual event to dig a garbage pit but then there came the day a compactor was purchased. I use to have the job most of the time going to the pit but with compactor everyone liked to work it so I seldom had that worry.

I've been writing in general now its time I must talk about the man I love so dearly. I wrote down the names of those that were these the first year and could only come up with nine. So I'll story on them one by one. First Mr. Goldie whom I have no story about as I was strange and that was his only year with us as he passed away that winter.

Next in line I think Bill Bundy should have credit where credit is due as he was a building contractor and through him the cabin was built. Lloyd Bugg of Mio was the carpenter. On arrival one hunting season Bill came decked out as Robin Hood. What a sight to behold. I went in to greet him and he picked me up and whirled me around as tho I were a ten pound sack of sugar. Somehow he always was in need of a going to bed snack and usually made cocoa. I didn't ever mean to let him know I was leery of him but I was even tho he never gave me any reason either, and the last time I ever saw him he said "Goldie you are afraid of me and you needed be". He was a great man and enjoyed life very much.

Then there was Jim Clark and again he has left camp by death. He was quite the hunter too.

One time when every one else was leaving camp he wanted to stay on but I refused to stay with just one man in camp so very peeved he left too. I even today would rather think I'd say no to staying with just one. Just general principle.

There was Andy Dickerson who was close to eighty and far from being a hunter but always venture out but I'm told always marker his way. He always came back to camp earlier than the rest and like to visit with me. He was my informer as to who was leaving camp and when. At the stage of the new camp the men come to the kitchen to mix their drinks and Andy spent much time there. Art Compton said anytime he bothered me to say so but I didn't mind. I so remember Art asking him if he had washed his finger before stirring his drink as he always stirred his drink with his finger. He for a long time brought guests in over labor day and it was ritual for me to be there and was also ritual for me to play a game of cribbage with one of his guests. And to be sure where playing cribbage was concerned I took no back seat to anyone.

Bob Armstrong was another love of mine. He reminded me very much of my father. Especially when he wore the mustache. he was charter member and was looked up to by all. he tried over and over to make life better for the cook. One year he seen that a better bed arrived. Another year for my Christmas present he said get a comfortable chair so I bought an arm lawn chair and everyone in camp enjoys that. I always enjoyed it very much too. Another year he and Adams gave me a mirror for back of door for Christmas present. I always enjoyed the days spent working for him during the summer.

Next comes the two Arts. Nick as we called Nicholie was an original too but finally realized they needed young blood in camp and resigned. He is a lover of trees and set out a row of evergreens by the house/ As they were ill shaped I yearly took trimmers and shaped them. Also topped them to keep them from growing too high too fast. Nick enjoyed his pie and many a time didn't eat all the main meal as room was needed for pie.

Now as for Art Compton, his joy was a meal of beggies which he said didn't get to home. I also found he liked buttermilk to drink so I'd get a extra supply especially for him. Before all I ever bought it for was home made buttermilk pancakes. Art often brought his son Robert as a guest. A story is due Art as being the one to climb tree and get a porcupine and if my memory serves me right must say that Nick was his helper. It was brought to camp and put in Jim Clarks closet which eventually created lots of laughs.

Adams is next. He and I have something in common. We had to have cast on a leg and still come to camp. The first year found all the men bringing the dishes from the table but never the "Judge". One day out he came with his and said just to show you I'm house broke. But you're working for you're living and without thinking I says - and so do you. He left the kitchen with a smirk on his face and I thought there goes my job after that back talk. We became very good friends and one time while visiting the Tuckers we went to the Adams for a drink and Clark related an incident that had taken place an 10 buck. And Mrs. Tucker says Why Goldie you never told us about that and I promptly replied - "No cause I'm not paid to tell what foes on there". The subject was closed then and there. I might add even JB never knew what went on.

Last on the original list is Bob Eldred. I learned to love him very much as well as his wife Mary. And I especially enjoyed the times when they brought their sons. And then one by one their some brought their wives and children. I was so very proud of young Robert when be became a priest that I'm sure brought especially Bob and Mary great joys.

Bob brought many a guest and one trip each winter was the bank group. I never knew there was a drink called moose milk till then and I dare not really say what it looked like but should as I've spilled milk in the gutter that looked just like it. Then there came a time that Bob talked the camp into a sauna bath and he and his boys done a great deal on the building of that.

Now for a new chapter in the camp life. One by one as a member left a new one arrive and Ralph Allen came in to the picture by way of being a friend of Bill Bundy's. I could bet on his usually being the first one to be up in the morning and have fire going so that them rest could enjoy a cup of coffee by the fireplace before breakfast. Some said his wife was jealous of me and cared not to have him talking to me. Ralph managed one season to be in the right place at the right time and bagged a bear. The smell was not so great so he headed out for Pontiac and fast with it. He often brought his sons as guests and one time one ask what I had that he liked best and he replied her mashed potatoes. Somehow again time changed life and Ralph and family moved to Florida and are greatly missed.

Then comes Murphy. He was a mighty good hunter and could bet if a buck came around he'd nail it. This brings this story to mind. One hunt we had a buck coming to the feeder and everyone was sure where he hid during the day and were sure to steer clear of that spot. Next season "Big Red" made a mistake and left his stamping grounds. And here is a nice buck in front of Don. And then "Big Red" was history.

Somewhere along the way Bob (Doc) Lyons came on the scene. I one evening said as he came in sure a beautiful sunset and his reply was "I don't know about the sunset, but sure is a beautiful sky!". There was a time when he thought hay was hay and alfalfa was alfalfa. he bought his son Mike hunting too and one time he and Mike Murphy came into camp early and started playing with their guns very careless like and the cook balled them out. These was another time that Bob was lucky he smoked. As someone had dumped a 22 bullet in the coal scuttle and he dumped contents in fire and bullet went off hitting cigarettes in shirt packet. That's what I call being careless when such things are put where it can be thrown in a fire.

Andress - Jack is his name and he comes to mind for two special reasons. First he uses peanut butter on most everything he wants including pancakes. The peanut butter candy that wife Marge makes is very good tho. Second, he especially likes brown sugar on his oatmeal. And that brings to mind on mornings we have oatmeal Bob Lyons gets soft boiled eggs. He no like oatmeal no how.

Then there's Bill Fagan and he is very special too. I've looked to him for advice more than once. He brought in a guest that brought in two guests that were something else. The guest and guests didn't stay long and because of the affair we had a very late dinner. Bill knows what it is like to take me for a ride and have me get car sick and end up losing my false choppers. I ended up having to buy new choppers.

Bill Doerr. yes another Bill - Was my growing boy for food he likes and somehow I think he could smell cake baking a mile away and managed to come in and help me enjoy a piece of cake hot out of the oven. Yes that's the way I liked cake best.

He, so he says, told his bride quite some stories about me so she really didn't quite know what to expect when come time to meet me. One morning one Bill came out of his bedroom in his pajamas and says "Goldie come here". One look told me something was wrong. I says "What?" - Come to my room - So I went to the door - No go in - Hear the noise - No noise could I hear - No go to the window so I proceeded and alas it was some coyotes having a "parlee voo" just east of the cabin. Upon explaining, he calmed down and I went back to getting breakfast. Lo be sure they are something to listen to in the wee hours of the morning.

Dick Heinlen entered in the picture next and often helped with dish drying and always had a limerick to relate. Dick came in late one night only to tell us he had a buck and which got the worst of the deal is the question as he had a bloody forehead - and for real. One of his daughters found log with a happy face which she had her dad saw off and hang on the dining room wall. Kathy, his wife, is as big as a minute and just as lively. They are quite a pair.

Now comes Stanley Gutowski. He is new so I haven't any tall tales on him. He is very quite but yet very interesting to talk to.

Last comes Jack Porter, always trying to impress the world of his wares. I found for the first time a man I couldn't feed with pleasure. Somehow he got a wrong start in life as far as food habits are concerned.

Seems I've rambled on long enough.

Love to one and all.

Goldie
July, 1979