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Jeez, it took me forever to re-locate this crypt from the 1850's. I actually thought maybe I'd imagined the whole thing last year! Turns out we'd walked right past it. Well, here it is, anyway. Just in case you're wondering, go ahead, look through the cracks; all you'll see is some dead leaves. I'm betting there hasn't been anything in there in a *long* time. |
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All right, all right, ONE more grave, but we've got to get going!! I'm feeling stifled here!! O_O |
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Here is the nearby Post Cemetery, which, admittedly, isn't much to see. Most graves are small and unnamed. The lady in purple is Ma, BTW.
Come on, we've got a crapload of climbin' just ahead of us! >:) |
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*Huff-huff-huff--* Here's the view down the stairway leading up to Fort Holmes, and we've still got a ways to go!! Ha ha ha ha--*urgh*--side hurts--must keep moving-- |
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We've reached Fort Holmes, the highest point on the Island.
Guidebook: "When the War of 1812 broke out, the British under Capt. Charles Roberts moved quickly to capture American Fort Mackinac. British regulars and hundreds of Indian allies landed secretly during the night of July 16 and moved to high ground overlooking the Fort. The American garrison under Lt. Porter Hanks, taken by surprise and faced with bombardment from the heights and Indian attacks on the civilian population, surrendered. For the next three years the British fortified this high ground and called it Fort George...
"The Americans regretted the loss of Fort Mackinac to the British in 1812. Led by Col. George Croghan and Major Andrew Hunter Holmes, American invaders came back in force two years later. They landed at British Landing and advanced to the edge of the woods at the north side of the present golf course. In the meantime, the British garrison and artillery from Fort Mackinac occupied high ground just beyond the present clubhouse. After an exchange of gunfire, it became obvious to the Americans that the British and their Indian allies were well entrenched. Major Holmes and a detachment were sent by Croghan to outflank the enemy, but the young officer was ambushed, shot, and killed. Col. Croghan lost heart and ordered the troops to retreat to British Landing.
"The English held Fort Mackinac until 1815, when the United States regained control by treaty. The fortification at the top of the island was renamed Fort Holmes to honor the young officer who gave his life in the futile attack."
Let's take a closer look and go climb around on the thing like hyper little kids!! :D |
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The view from the base of the fort, with Bois Blanc Island ("Boblo") to the left; the teeny-weeny Round Island, with the Round Island Lighthouse, is right in front of that, but you can hardly see it here unless you know where to look for it. We are currently 320 feet above lake level and 896 feet higher than the Atlantic Ocean, according to the trusty $1 guidebook, and "Five thousand years ago this spot would have been a very small island with lake water lapping gently about 75 feet down the hill. Most of the land masses now visible were under ancient Lake Algonquin."
Okay, okay, enough about 5000 years ago, let's go climb around on that fort! |
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AAGGGHH, you are KILLING me!! Okay, take another look, there is the BRIDGE again in the background. Yes, yes, yes, all right, TO THE FORT NOW!!
(Actually, I *thought* we climbed around on the fort next, but, I, uh, forgot there was another picture here to upload. So, I'm stupid. Phhbbblllbbttt. <;P ) |
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Ta-da, this is what the fort looks like from the outside. It isn't much of a fort. In fact, all it is is a hollowed-out "hill" with logs lining the top, and this little doorway right here. Yep. That's it. I like it, however, because of the view, and because it reminds me vaguely of dolmens and megaliths and such that you see in Ireland and Great Britain. (Don't ask me why.) Not that I've ever *been* to Ireland or Great Britain, but...oh hell...who cares... |
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Wheeeeee! Told you this'd be fun!! This is what the view of Boblo looks like from ATOP the fort. Jeez, I really can't even think of anything else to say besides "Wheeeeee!" :D Ahh, I'm reminded of elementary school! Except we didn't exactly have nineteenth-century forts around on the playground... |
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And again, a view of the fort entrance, this time from inside. Hm, doesn't look much different from the outside.
HEY, is that my shadow down there?? HELLO!! HELLO!! C'mon, wave, maybe someone'll see it!!
Am I getting too hyper now? Okay, I'll stop. It makes me dizzy anyway. |
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CONTINUE THE TOUR... ---> |
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