26 July 18 • 2019
jn
on the cover/travel
arts&life
A
sk Michiganders what they
most frequently associate with a
Michigan summer and likely the
answer will be an Up North vacation. Ask a
Jewish Detroiter and the answer could very
well be time spent in Charlevoix.
The number of Jewish visitors, especially
those who own property in Charlevoix, is
so significant that it’
s nearly impossible to
spend a summer weekend in this pictur-
esque town without seeing a familiar face.
And Charlevoix, unlike any other vacation
destination in the state, is a getaway loca-
tion that transcends the memories of gener-
ations of local families.
Those who spent time there when they
were young now bring their children and
even grandchildren to this charming city
known and loved for its pristine beaches,
quaint downtown, memorable drawbridge
and iconic red lighthouse.
“This is where we always went on vaca-
tion to spend quality time together as a
family,” recalled Glenn Wachler, originally
from West Bloomfield but now a perma-
nent Charlevoix resident.
Wachler, 54, thinks back with fondness to
his childhood, recalling time he spent with
his family, particularly his dad. Together
they would fish, search for Petoskey stones
and watch the sun set over Lake Michigan.
Wanting to create similar memories for his
children, he and his wife, Ellen, along with
their three kids, spent many summers in
Charlevoix and moved there 13 years ago.
Despite what was once a seven-hour
drive, Jewish families have been vacation-
ing in Charlevoix for at least 100 years. In
1916, the year the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
was founded, the paper’
s community gossip
page began mentioning it as a travel desti-
nation.
Wachler’
s father, Jeff, 91, started going
to Charlevoix in 1932. Eventually, he pur-
chased a condominium there. His father
(Glenn’
s grandfather) also owned property
in this northern Michigan town. Glenn still
finds it amusing that at one time his grand-
father rented an apartment in Detroit but
owned a home in Charlevoix.
There was a period in the city’
s history
where openly anti-Semitic sentiments, such
as deed restrictions in a few neighborhoods,
were hard to ignore. However, Jews were
not deterred from vacationing or owning
homes in Charlevoix.
Rick Berman, a Charlevoix aficionado,
has a postcard from a now-defunct hotel
that says: “Having a great time, beautiful
hotel. They do not allow Jews or dogs.” It’
s
one of approximately 1,500 postcards in his
collection from the city and surrounding
areas. These days, blatant displays of dis-
crimination are gone.
Up North getaway has attracted
Detroiters for generations — here’
s why.
Charlevoix
the Beautiful
JENNIFER LOVY
JENNIFER LOVY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
TOP TO BOTTOM: Todd and Jennifer Kroll with their
daughters, Marlee and Lilley, Charlevoix Apple Fest; Paul
Hooberman with his granddaughters, 2010, Kilwin’
s tour.
COURTESY KROLL FAMILY
COURTESY HOOBERMAN FAMILY