You may recall seeing Jack Stevens, snowmobile entrepreneur, on the Pasty Cam last fall with his granddaughter Liisa. Today's shoebox memory takes us back to when the old man was a little boy. What a difference about 70 years makes!

Photo by Donn de Yampert

Great submission from the Stevens/Beck Family and very nice contrast of the photographs. This contrast is very seldom done and should be done more......... Jack is a wonderful person.
Regards,
Donn

Did anyone else notice that Jack's expression is almost the same in each photo?

Well, I think I just read the last past pastycam message avaliable. Since I discovered this neat site about 3 weeks ago I've been rivited to it ! Vastly enjoy every word and photo. So nice to see so many others love the UP as I do. The history and shared memories give me a little insight to where and how my mom lived before leaving after high school in '29. Her stories have more meaning. As a side note to all , esp. yoopers, please, please record and/or write down whatever memories you or your elders have. This is so invaluable to the future! Now as an add on for other bookaholics...I've read 4 of the 5 pocketbook mysteries centered in Paridise Mi. If you like interesting but not gory mystery check out a Steve Hamilton's "North to Nowhere", "A Cold Day in Paridias" ""The Hunting Wind" and "Winter of the Wolf Moon" So cool! And how many of you are familiar with the "Lake Superior" magazine ? Happy reading....

Katie: Welcome aboard! I'm also addicted to Steve Hamilton books. He has a new one out called Blood is the Sky. Another favorite U.P. author is Joseph Heywood with his woodland cop series. Read his Icehunter, Blue Wolf in Green Fire, and others. One more favorite is Lady Unafraid, which is an old book and a true story of a young woman who comes to the L'anse area to teach the Indians for a year. It is written by her son. I got all these books from my local library downstate. I'd like a copy of Lady Unafraid to keep, but couldn't talk the library into selling it to me. I heard about that book from the pasty cam webmeister, Charlie.

Thank you both Marcia and Katie! I read both A Cold Day in Paradise & Winter of the Wolf Moon a few years ago or better and have wanted more but did not know their titles. WAL-MART here I come for some new book purchases! Thanks ladies!

Hey Donn: Really nice portrait of Jack and
Liisa (or is is Lisa?)! Nice job of getting in
close. There's a great feeling of comfort
between these two. Hope all is well up north.
It's hotter than the hinges down here and dry
as a bone! Send us some yooper coolness.
Dave.

Great pictures as always and notes too.

I also want to add the book, "Legacy, A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Personal History" by Linda Spence, as a valuable resource. I have it in paperback, published in 1997. I got it as a way to try to write down some of my memories for my kids, but could also see using it as a means for family discussions, or as Ms. Katie, Ill. above said to write down what your elders remember. It takes you in a fairly organized manner through the different stages in your life, asking questions to jog the memory.

Since everyone is talking about books today, There is a writer named Dwight Boyer who has wrote 6 or so books about shipping on the Great Lakes. He gives the history of many of the shipwrecks on the lakes and the men that sailed those ships. They are a very interesting and good read.

Steves last book 'Blood is the Sky' was excellent, and was said to be his best yet. I think his first book 'A Cold Day in Paradise' was by far the best. If someone is intersted in info on Steve or just would like to check his book signing dates/locations (he does come to da U.P.) you can visit his site at www.authorstevehamilton.com.

Try author, John Smolens, a NMU director of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. I just recently finished his novel, COLD. Murder story, tastefully written, with a move-along story, and likeable main characters. Good author, good book!

I may be wrong but if Jack Stevens lived on Calverley St.in Houghton then he was my neighbor at one time. I was just a kid then. We lived across the street from the Stevens family. If that is him, it is great seeing his picture. Give us some cool air down here in Alabama. The U.P. is certainly GOD'S country.

That is the Jack that grew up on Calverley St. and now is living at the Hougton County Medical Care facility. He was able to attend the recent All School Alumni Reunion for Houghton High School and old friendships were renewed. This is also the Jack that the snowmobile trail from Hancock to Calumet is named after. Our roots are deep and friendships many. Greetings from Jack and his family.

How appropriate for a trail to be named after Jack Stevens. If you have ever had the opportunity to ride a snowmobile in the Copper Country, there's almost no way you could have done it without some involvement from Jack Stevens. What a great guy!

Thanks Charlie and all from Pasty Central.
I just returned to Minnesota after 5 beautiful days in the Copper Country, celebrating with Jack the Houghton High School "all class reunion" and with my class from 1975. It was a joy to open pasty.com and see my Dad!!
Thanks Connie from Colorado. Dad is also known to some as Mr. Ski-Doo. He had the dealership in Houghton and helped keep many snowmobilers on the trails that way and by working with easements too!
Happy rest of the summer to all!!

I have a picture here of Lake Linden High School with a lot of people from there that some one may like I'll have to put on the internet
Therese

Thanks Julie for sharing a wonderful memory of a remarkable man. My best to your dad.

Copies of "Lady Unafraid" can still be found in antique or used book shops, especially in the UP of Michigan. I remember Dr. Nelson so well as I mowed his lawn and did various chores for he and his wife during the summers of '51 thru '54. He owned a cottage adjacent to our farm home in Ironton, Michigan. He presented our family with an autographed copy of "Lady Unafraid" when it was published but I no longer know the whereabouts. I do have an unsigned copy, however.
Dr. J. Raleigh Nelson, truly an unforgetable person.

Is this the same Jack Stevens that owned the marine and small engine shop in West Houghton?

That's him! It was better known as the "Superior Service Garage". If you bought a Ski-Doo in Houghton, that is where you bought it (or had it fixed!).

to the person who posted about Lady Unafraid, that book was written by my third great Grandfather, I'm Rebecca Jewels namesake. Copies are hard to find but I would suggest contacting school districts around you. Many of them taught this book at one time and may know where to find them. ~Rebecca

I'm looking for info on J. Raleigh Nelson. I'm trying to finish a practicum on a farm home site (located on Lohr Road, Ann Arbor, MI) he owned, after teaching at the University of Michigan. I have read "Sunny Pastures" but will get a hold of a copy of "Lady Unafraid". Most of the information I have about him was from the Sunny Pastures book.

You have an interesting site! It was a pleasant surprise.

I'm a vintage snowmobile collector from lower Michigan (although I have always considered the U.P. 'home') and wondered what role Jack Stevens played in snowmobiling? Does anyone know? Thank you. -Marc.