Preservation and Preparation of an Island Hotel

North Manitou Island holds a special place in the hearts of Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear and its volunteers. The lure of interesting island history, and the long days and years invested into the restoration of the Katie Shepard Hotel brought us back again for our 13th year. We are grateful to
the park service for providing accommodations, and transportation for us and our boatload of equipment. Work sessions in August and September —eight days total—allowed us to complete restoration of all five exterior doors and refinish the upstairs floors. Long days were spent sanding. Hand sanding door panels was especially tedious. But many hours and two coats of stain
later, they were restored to their original beauty. Upstairs, the original pine and hemlock boards were not milled to be flooring. A floor sander and generator rented from our friends at Northwood Hardware worked like a charm. Years of dirt and grime disappeared with the patience and steadiness of volunteer Ken Pratt behind the machine. A few of us returned in September to fill knot holes and apply an aluminum oxide clear-coat known for its hard finish and easy maintenance. The result was even better than expected, and the lighter floors brighten the entire upstairs.

In the evening, we learned some contemporary history from new volunteers Kevin and Sue Marks. Kevin grew up summering on the island and had many pictures and stories to share that were both educational and entertaining! We continue to hope that our work is preparing the hotel to one day open for rustic lodging. The current challenge is fire suppression. Working with the
park, we remain hopeful that a solution will unfold allowing more people to experience the magic of North Manitou

Manitou Island Memorial Society

The Manitou Island Memorial Society (MIMS) made the decision to dissolve in 2023, and has donated their remaining funds to Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Funds will be earmarked for North and South Manitou Island preservation projects. MIMS evolved from the South Manitou Memorial Society, a group of about 100 former island residents and descendants who met for
an annual reunion potluck at the Empire township hall. Later, they became a partner of Sleeping Bear Dunes dedicated to preserving the history of North and South Manitou Island. Julie Morris, the group’s treasurer and a recent Preserve volunteer explained it was time to dissolve MIMS, with most of their members having passed. We look forward to identifying island projects that will honor their legacy, and to sharing their stories of the islands in new engaging ways.