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Fourth of July Memories of
Hamlin Lake
Judy Hoxie Thorp
In the late1970’s the Indian Pete
Bayou Yacht Club (IPBYC) was formed.
While there was no real Yacht Club, the purpose of the group
was to organize activities on the lake for the Fourth of July
celebration. The annual
event consisted of regatta, a neighborhood picnic and fireworks all
organized to enable people to enjoy both the events in Ludington and
on the lake.
The boat regatta began in the
afternoon in Indian Pete Bayou where the decorated boats gathered
and then began a parade out of the bayou, around
Sunset Bay,
through the Narrows and into the
lower lake. Crowds
gathered around the shoreline and many families decorated their
lakeshores for the fun event.
In the evening, a pot luck picnic
was held in the early years on the tennis court of the Herman
property on Sunset Bay
and one year it was held at a bed and breakfast hotel next to
Barnhart’s. At dark the
fire works were enjoyed from the same locations.
The Hamlin Township Fire Department
took over the celebration and moved it to Wilson Hill.
There was an annual pig roast with lots of side dishes and
desserts followed by the fire works in the evening.
As the years went by, the fireworks
were moved to Camp Douglas Smith where they can be viewed easily by
all on the upper lake.
The pig roast evolved into an ice cream social that continued for
many years.
The fireworks are sponsored by the
Hamlin Lake Preservation Society and are funded by donations.
They continue to be an event enjoyed by the residents on the
lake, drawing both a large boat crowd and an audience of spectators
along the lake shore.
I do not have dates. If you know any dates, please add them. I
have attached the article I wrote and some photos that I have from
past regattas. I know that in the begining the IPBYC funded
everything and then the HLPS took over but I do not know dates.
Judy Hoxie Thorp
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