By Charlie at Pasty Central (Chopper) on Sunday, September 4, 2016 - 08:12 pm:
Here's the rest of the 1987 visit we started last week, with a bonus near the end, a quantum leap through the mist of 25 years. The confusion in the beginning of this home movie was because Edie was tickling me :o)
By 2012 the family was a bit larger, Becky with 2 girls of her own (Kira and Kit), and Jonathan with his wife, Dr. Katriina Hopper. Plus over the last 4 years, Jon and Katriina have completed our collection of granddaughters with Ellie and Claire. I bet they'll enjoy Fort Wilkins some day.
There's something I'll always remember about that visit 4 years ago, besides the wonderful time Edie and I had with all the ladies and Jonathan. In the other side of the cabin where the girls come running out toward the end of the clip, this visitor's center features a play-on-demand educational kiosk with The Fort Wilkins Story. Kira ran up to the big TV and pushed the button. (The second video above.) After a few seconds of listening to the narration she exclaimed, "That's Grandpa!", pointing to me. I said yes, that's my voice, and the button she had pushed was a computer designed and installed by her Uncle Jon! We had come a long way from just being visitors from 'out of the area' 25 years earlier, to providing technical assistance and Internet service today.
As we have mentioned, in the last couple of years that she was able, Edie herself became one of those re-enactors at Fort Wilkins, modeling period dresses in the fashion shows. The whole family has been involved with the Fort over the years. They even sell Pasty Central pasties in the gift shop!
Fort Wilkins will always be a special place to us. If your family is visiting the Keweenaw this Labor Day Weekend, we highly recommend it.
Have a safe and happy holiday, and have a good week :o)
By jbuck (Jbuck) on Sunday, September 4, 2016 - 08:44 pm:
Watching these videos make me think how many there are like them, families having a good time together in the UP. What's cool is that you have now contributed to those family's memories by being involved with the "Fort experience". Thanks Charlie for showing us the rest of the story!
By Donna (Donna) on Monday, September 5, 2016 - 10:06 am:
Charlie...you have "Left your Mark" on the Copper
Country....for sure! Thank you and yours for all
you have done to promote our beautiful hidden gem!
God Bless!
By Deb S. (Usedtobeayooper) on Monday, September 5, 2016 - 12:41 pm:
Thank you so much for your trip down memory lane.
I know that Edie's smiling down on you and that
wonderful family of yours.
By Thomas Baird (Thomas) on Monday, September 5, 2016 - 03:35 pm:
Like the stuff on the shelves.
Printed on Recycled Internet