The Gem of the Month for May includes two old postcards I found among my mother’s things. The first is a picture of Sable Lake taken from the bluff of the dunes. The photo was taken by John Penrod of the Penrod/Hiawatha Company out of Berrien Center, MI. On the back there is the following notation:
Grand Sable Lake and Dunes — This is a part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a region of outstanding beauty between Grand Marais and Munising, Michigan.
Although there is no date on the postcard, the fact that it mentions the National Lakeshore places it after 1966, when the lakeshore was formed by federal legislation. Also, the existence of the swimming raft and buoyed swim area dates the picture to the late 1960s or early 1970s. Lastly, note that this picture was taken well before the new road was constructed in the 1990s, which changed the shoreline of the lake and eliminated most of the swimming area.
The second picture, also taken by John Penrod, is of an assortment of Lake Superior agates. On the back of the postcard is the following information:
Lake Superior Agates from Northern Michigan. A beauty often hidden by a rough outer surface reveals vivid colors and strong translucent designs when cut and polished.
I am not sure where and when this photo was taken, but there are some nice agates among the assortment!