photo by Peter M. Mann |
North Manitou Island was home to Paul Maleski for many years. His grandparents came to the island about 1875. Their farm was more than three miles from the village, making their lives isolated. Of the island farm families they were probably the oldest. Paul still visits his island home and talks of his boyhood:
Many winters the lake was frozen all the way to the mainland. They staked a route with trees across the ice.
My brother and I couldn't start first grade until we were eight and nine because of the three and one-half mile walk to school. My mother always said not to sit down and rest during the winter but keep going, walk slow if you have to but don't sit down. Our lunch would sometimes freeze just walking to school and we would put it by the stove to thaw.
Paul Maleski, North Manitou Island
Interviewed by Betty L. Mann
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