Over a year ago, Dan Bisher, member of Hillsdale Rotary Club and author of “Faded Memories: Examination & Profiles of Hillsdale County’s Pioneer Period,” submitted a request to the Michigan Historical Commision to have a historical marker placed on Sandy Beach at Baw Beese Lake. The Michigan Historical Commission held the last meeting on Nov 17 before approving the installation of the sign.
The historical marker will be a reminder of Hillsdale’s Native American heritage. One side will tell how Sandy Beach came into existence, the other, how Baw Beese lake got its name.
“They’re really starting to place value in our history,” said Michelle Loren, director of Hillsdale city recreation.
The local folklore holds that a small tribe of Potawatomi was ruled by its chief, Baw Beese, who extended friendship to the first settlers, who arrived in 1827. He aided the settlers during the first winter, helping them to survive. The tribe camped on the shores of the lake, where there was abundant fishing and hunting on hand.
Even after the tribe had gone from Baw Beese, history still played out on its waters. Tragedy struck when, in the late 19th century, a crowd from a local church took an excursion on the lake. The boat sank, and 11 people drowned in the wreck. In spite of the tragic history, Baw Beese lake has been a place of many happy memories for local residents and outsiders alike.
By the early 1900s, a hotel was built on Baw Beese Lake, and visitors at the resort slid down a waterslide into the lake.
“It was a recreational park,” said Lori Zeiler at Mitchell Research Center. “People rode the train there and spent the day.”
Sandy Beach was made into a recreation beach in 1955. Just this past year, the Rotary Club put in paths, a concession stand, basketball and volleyball courts.
Students and residents still enjoy the beach, play volleyball on the shady lawns, and swim during the summer and early months of autumn. A place of rich local history, Sandy Beach on Baw Beese Lake continues to be a place of happy memories.
