Pine River 1960 - By Mrs. William Steele

As a girl I went many years, fishing with my father, Mr. David Walden, (who, as many of the earliest settlers, was an ardent hunter and fisherman as much of their living depended on it, in the early settling of the township) to the mouth of Pine River to fish for black bass, and many we caught. It is now several years since I visited that part of the river, and the changes are just unbelievable. Last time I was there I walked out on a log about a third of the way across the river, and while standing on the log, a tide came up and I was unable to get back, till my daughter and cousin carried logs for me to walk to shore on. Many will tell you there is no tide, but that is my experience. How often it comes or how high I don't know, but that it comes I do know. Now the mouth of the river has been dredged as I found out on a visit to it this summer. Along the south bank are docks, many of them, and boats of all kinds, not too large any of them, but lovely ones, two chained to each dock, one on either side. Part of the northeast side is also filled with docks and boats. Years ago I could walk out most of the way across, no boats come in and out even in the driest season. Not only is the river so different, but on the north side the shore is pretty much as it was and we still see people fishing, but on the south side it is all built up, cottages so lovely and modern, stores for the convenience of those living along the shore in the summer months, and even telephones and all modern conveniences. Delivery of milk and other goods are made each day to add to the comfort of those who wish to eat in the open, a huge umbrella and seats and table under it. An ideal place to spend the summer and a wonderful place to keep children busy and off the streets and an ideal place for a person with a lively imagination to find plenty to do, such as archery, fishing, fashioning of driftwood which I noticed in abundance, leisure to read, and catch up with any unfinished work. No wonder so many go to the lake to rest and revive there tired bodies and souls, which is inevitable in the hurry and rush of every day living.