Free Tours of Governor's Summer Residence Draw Lines of Visitors
By Sean Ely

Lifelong friends and out-of-staters (from left) Debbie Swinehamer, Kathy Steele, and Ann Ellerbrook pose for a photograph outside of the Governor's Summer Residence Wednesday, June 13. On a summer trip to the Boyne City area, they decided to drive to the Straits area to view the historic sites.

If someone walked up Fort Hill to the Governor's Summer Residence anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 13, they would have encountered a long line of people waiting to enter the home for a free tour by volunteer docents and honor guards from Troop 290 of Grand Rapids.

The summer residence, built in 1902, stands three stories tall and spans 7,100 square feet. The building consists of 11 rooms, 9.5 baths, and a basement, perched high atop the eastern bluff that overlooks the Straits of Mackinac. Originally, the building was constructed as a private residence for Chicago attorney Lawrence Andrew Young, then was owned by the Hugo Scherer family of Detroit.

In 1944, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission bought the building for $15,000, its original cost. Ever since that year, the agency has maintained it and the gardens that surround it. It was restored in 1996-97 with private funds.

Sean Moore (left) and Ryan Bylsma of Grand Rapids Troop 290 stand on the governor's porch which overlooks the Straits of Mackinac. The weekly scout troop serve as honor guards until Saturday morning, when they will be replaced by another troop.

Scouts answered questions and took photographs of visitors at the home.

"It's great to give service back to the state and Mackinac State Historic Parks," said Bruce Bylsma, a troop leader. "It's an honor to be chosen and to be able to come and be with the boys from so many different troops. We have boys this year from 12 different scout troops. It's my seventh year up here, and the neat thing every year is to see the boys come together and work as a team, like they do at the summer residence here."

A sense of satisfaction comes over the scouts while they are here, just by standing on the steps on the home, which is used by the governor and her family when business allows.

"It's kind of an honor to be standing in the governor's mansion and guiding tours and helping take pictures for people," said Sean Moore, who has been a scout since he was in kindergarten, 10 years ago. "It's just something that is one of those momentous things that you do because it's something you'll remember forever."

Added Ryan Bylsma, another 10-year scout: "I feel a lot of pride, and it's a great honor. Not a lot of people get to do it, so the moment I did, I began to fill with a sense of pride."

At one time, the state flag flew over the home when the governor was in residence, and a glance to the bluff to see if the flag was up was a routine practiced by many Islanders. During Governor Jim Blanchard's term in office, however, the practice was stopped as a security measure, and now the state flag flies under the United States flag all the time.

Board games such as Monopoly, Connect Four, and Apples to Apples are tucked into bookshelves throughout the first floor, a hint at one of the hobbies of the current residents, Governor Jennifer Granholm and her family. Some of the original items to the residence include a tall case clock, many books, a children's chair in the dining room, a tea cart, Young family crystals, maple chests of drawers in the bedrooms, assorted wicker pieces throughout the house, and fire axes and pikes in the hallways.

Governor Granholm became the first female governor of Michigan November 5, 2002. She, along with her husband, Daniel Mulhern, and their children, Kathryn, Cecelia, and Jack, come up from Lansing whenever they get the chance.

The tour starts as soon as a group gathers in the living room to hear interesting facts and history about the home. In view is a tall case clock, Arts and Crafts-style mirrors, and early Sevres French vases. After that, guests proceed into the dining room, which has a large oval-shaped table with six red padded chairs. It is then off to a small sitting room, with a telephone and a tremendous view. Guests are then allowed to roam across the giant porch area that looks out onto the Straits. They can take their time, snapping photographs and sitting on the outdoor furniture.

Lifelong friends Debbie Swinehamer and Ann Ellerbrook from Indiana and Kathy Steele from North Carolina planned a summer trip to Michigan this year, and found themselves making a stop on Mackinac Island.

"We've been friends for 50 years, and we have a little vacation together every summer, so this year we decided to come up to Michigan and see this beautiful location," Mrs. Ellerbrook said. "We're staying in the Boyne area, but we wanted to make sure that we included Mackinac on our trip because it's historic, and there is so much here to see, not to mention it's absolutely gorgeous.

"The entire house looked so comfortable," she continued. "I really thought that it [would be] ostentatious. I liked the woodwork. And I enjoyed the furnishings, because they were comfortable and tasteful."

Loxie Simms of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania, was vacationing with family. She was shocked at the price the Park Commission paid for the home.

"I thought the furniture and paneling was very impressive, but it was crazy to hear that they only paid $15,000 for it," she said.

The docents enjoy the guests who are awestruck and those who want to hear every little fact.

"It's great to see how very interested people are in the cottage," said Barbara Hellis, a hostess in the building. "It is a representation of all the cottages on the bluff. People are always wondering about them, but never actually get to see them, so this is their chance. It's great to see everyone so interested and asking questions, like 'Does she really come here?' and 'Can I see her living arrangements?' It's wonderful to be able to show the building to everyone who is interested."