Introduction to Idlewild
Yates Township vs. IdlewildLattitude: 43.8902646Longitude: -85.7718353 US 10 West, road side sign. Not a stop. Tour begins.Welcome to Yates Township, Michigan. A zoned township that embraces the Historic African American community of Idlewild. There is a Year-Round population of 714 persons living in Yates Township, however during the summer season, "Idlewilders" return to open up seasonal cabins which brings the local population to 2714 persons during May - September on average.There are about 300 livable households and 180 families with children who live in the area. Yates Township's racial makeup is reflective of the African American community that rests within its boundaries, there is 51% White, 42% Black, 1.5% Native, and 5.5% mixed or other ethnic identification.The community is mostly identified as a "retirement community" where persons 45+ make up 48% of the population. There are about 25% of young people in the community of school age, and 27% middle-aged adults.The household median income for a family in Yates township is about $25,000 - where the federal poverty level is set at about $28,000 for a family of 4. For Lake County, the median family income is near $39,000, a $14,000 difference from families in Yates Township. Out of 83 Counties in Michigan, Lake County is listed as the "poorest" per capita. While Idlewild is neither a subdivision of Yates Township, nor its own census designation, but a unique enclave within the poorest township within the poorest county in Michigan. It is safe to say, that Idlewild is the poorest community (per capita) in Michigan.Author(s): Historical Idlewild Tours, Micala Cochran, Ph.D.2024
Entrance to Idlewild
A Historic CommunityLeft off US 10 West at the corner of Broadway. Broadway serves as the main entrance to Idlewild at the intersection of US 10 and borders our community at the intersection of Forman Road about 5 miles West of Baldwin.US-10 & S Broadway St A large brick sign Welcomes you to Idlewild, Michigan! Often described as an "Affluent" Black Community, its foundations began with Middle-Class African Americans who had achieved a level of wealth and experienced Jim Crow segregation during the 1900s regardless of their capital. Its history is built upon the fact that the community was created specifically for African Americans to have a place to resort as their own. Initial seeds were planted by African American Doctors, Surgeons, Lawyers, Entertainers, and Entrepreneurs - who had the financial and social capital to develop a thriving community.The sign rests at the corner of Broadway and U.S. Highway 10 where a yellow blinking light separates Yates Township from its adjacent neighbor - Cherry Valley. U.S. 10 extends as the main highway into Idlewild from East State crossways, I-75, US 127, and US 131 - crossing the communities of Midland, Clare, Evart, and Reed City - as well as Westside connections of M-37 and US 31 - as the highway extends from East to West ending at the beautiful Lake Michigan Beach in Ludington, Michigan.
The Whistle Stop
The Old Train StopLatitude: 43.8989882Longitude: -85.7717871Directly off of Broadway - a few streets down - is the old Rail Road station, called a "Whistle Stop", and was used by anyone traveling to or through Idlewild. Many people came to Idlewild to work with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1900s and logging industries in the 1800s.Typically formerly unemployed, single African American Men participated in the CCC and would get off the train at the whistle stop in Idlewild in search of a room, meals, and a hot bath.Research is underway by HITS, LLC. to understand more stories and the use of the Idlewild Whistle Stop.
CCC Cabins
Broadway & MLKThe right side of the intersection toward MLK.The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a job creation experiment created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt with the "New Deal" in 1933. The idea behind it was to put thousands of young, unmarried men, to work by creating work on state and federal lands. Executive Order 6101 was signed on April 5, 1933, and by the end of the program, over 3 million young men had been placed in employment camps across the country.While doing work in many communities in and around Lake County, African American men we still subjected to segregated camps, and facilities. Similar to the U.S. Army, the CCC stationed men at camps according to the color of a person's skin. The colored camps that served Northern Michigan forest areas were: 1691-C, 2692-C, 2693-C, 2694-C, 2695-C. The "6" in the camp name designates is the region of origin, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin belong to the sixth designation. However, the "C" included behind the Camp number only pertained to segregated troupes which were all colored. These platoons served the areas of Baldwin, Bitely, Caddillac, Custer, Irons, Free Soil, Pine River, Walkerville, Wolf Lake, and White Cloud. Yet, they slept in segregated cabins in Idlewild.The CCC men would share facilities while in service in local communities. Each service community would only be about a half-hour to an hour commute each way in a vehicle.After the attack at Pearl Harbor in 1941, the CCC projects died down, and it was re-birthed as Job Civilian Conservation Corps Camps (JCCCC) better known as "Job Corps". Today the program exists as a High School/GED completion program and Trade School for unemployed civilians seeking a chance. Additionally, the Civilian Corps was reborn in 1994 with the addition of the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), projects for 16-24-year-olds, and the birth of the Americorps that provides post-college grants to individuals of all ages and backgrounds to serve in US communities to help solve challenges.As far as the unmarried, young Black men who took up service with CCC during the 1930s - 1940s, many settled in towns where their camps were set. As in Idlewild's case, There were many "Idle Men" who relocated permanently to Idlewild to stake new roots, get married, and start families. Few CCC men returned back to their original locations during the CCC movement as they found a place and belonging in many communities they had never imagined existed.
Yates Township and Yates School
also the last location of the Idlewild Public LibraryYates Township Offices: Services offered M - W & Friday from 10 -2. Includes Township Supervisor, Clerk, or Treasury. Inquiries include Tax payments, Property Location, Ordinance violations, Fire permits, Event permits, Vendor permits, and other local administration and voting location for the township.Yates School: Middle School & Elementary, And Adult Education. All Schooling was consolidated on the campus of Baldwin High School in 2000 to form Baldwin Community Schools, a Public High School for all local and regional children under the school of choice. Up until the late 1950s, Baldwin High School was integrated, however, its middle and elementary schools did not accommodate African American children. OR Rather, Idlewild CHOSE to educate its children as far as the community could provide in our own local school house. Yates School is NOT that schoolhouse but was erected during the 1960s as a way to incorporate multiple Townships into the community schooling millage being put forth by a common schooling act for the county. Up until the mid-1950s, Idlewild had a segregated school within Yates Township.Idlewild Public Library: The Idlewild Public Library is mislocated at Yates Dial-a-Ride on Google Maps, and was dislocated by a vote in 2013 to close the public library due to lack of funds. After the library was closed this time, it was relocated from its original location shared with the Township offices, into a new shared location with the township, and shut down and dispersed. The books were shipped off to various schools and libraries across the state of Michigan as donations. The library Penal Fines, for Yates Township, is currently being sent to the Baldwin "Pathfinder" library to support the Yates citizens' library needs. - More information on the Idlewild Public Library's history will be provided during the official tour of Idlewild.
Dr. Lorenzo Nelson (M.D.) Property
The story of the Doctor and his FamilyOriginally, across the street from yates Township offices, onward to 56th street.Dr. Lorenzo Raymond Nelson (M.D.) was Lake County's 1st African American president of the county-wide chapter of the American Medical Association. Dr. Nelson was also the President of the Tri-County Medical Society from 1951-1953. While making accolades as an African American Physician, his practice was not limited to any race or area.Born in 1902 in Greenville Texas, the soon-to-be Dr. Nelson progressed through elementary and secondary education and obtained an internship at a Hospital which gave him the "aha" moment he needed to enter Medical School at Provident Hospital in Chicago, IL.Dr. Nelson served over 10,000 people in the Lake County area as a staff physician, with approximately 800 African American patients. He earned his invitation to Lake County and Idlewild from his encounters with Dr. Daniel Hale Williams at Provident Hospital, and his U.S. Army Medical Corps colleague who also worked in the area as a physician.Dr. Nelson married Blanche Crawford, of Wichita Kansas, and they had one daughter - America E. Nelson, who attended the University of Michigan and obtained a BA in 1952 and her MA in 1954. Given the segregated conditions of the time, Ms. Nelson took up teaching biology at a Chicago High School before enrolling herself at Howard Medical School in 1957.The Nelsons owned multiple properties in Baldwin and Idlewild areas. Dr. Lorenzo Nelson had the elementary school named after him in Webber Township, and Nelson Road is properly named after him in Lake County, which serves as the main road in Webber and Yates townships - solidifying his county-wide impact through his medical service.
Idlewild Historic and Cultural Center
also the Mable Williams conference room.Latitude: 43.88738Longitude: -85.772568Idlewild Historic & Cultural Center A community plan since 1973, the Idlewild Historic & Cultural Center has been designed to function as a center for education and performance activities on a scale appropriate to Lake County.Once the Yates Township Hall, Five-Cap Nonpro!t Housing Corporation purchased the building and remodeled and enlarged it for a museum, meeting space, and theatre facilities. Open seasonally. Visit www. historicidlewild.com for dates and times.The Idlewild Historic Cultural Center is a wonderful tourist attraction located in Idlewild. It tells the story of the founders of Idlewild and the famous African Americans in all walks of life---entertainment, business, medicine, education, religion, and civil rights—who visited and made their summer homes and permanent residences in this Lake County retreat with exceptional natural beauty.
Sgt. Albert Johnson’s House and Paddock
The Spanish-American WarBroadway & Lake Dr, across from the Cultural Center.Sgt. Albert Johnson’s House and Paddock Spanish-American War veteran Sgt. Albert Johnson and his wife owned the Clover Leaf Ranch and 21 horses. These horses were trained to go only on the trails around the lake.Some Idlewild residents purchased horses of their own and had stables alongside their cabins. Elders reminisce today about their time riding SGT's horses or their own along the unpaved streets and horse trails of Idlewild. Some remnants of the old horse trails can still be seen today along Foreman Road and Park Ave. while some have been converted to snowmobile and ORV Trails.The Spanish-American War was an 1898 conflict between the United States and Spain that ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in the U.S. acquisition of territories in the western Pacific and Latin America.The war originated in the Cuban struggle for independence from Spain which began in February 1895.Spain’s brutally repressive measures to halt the rebellion were graphically portrayed for the U.S. public by several sensational newspapers engaging in yellow journalism, and American sympathy for the Cuban rebels rose. Did you know? Yellow journalism was the original fake news. The term was coined in the early 18 century to indicate journalism that relies on eye-catching headlines, exaggeration, and sensationalism to increase sales.
Idlewild Lot Owners Association
ILOALake Drive,Incorporated in 1921, the ILOA was charged with rendering constructive, civic, and social service to the community. Among programs sponsored by the ILOA were Sunday Forums featuring guest speakers such as the Governor of Michigan.In 1920 Idlewild's founders, Wilber Lemon, Alvin Wright, and brothers Erastus and Adelbert Branch, joined William Jennings to form the Idlewild Lot Owners Association (ILOA). The ILOA was responsible for public improvements and maintenance of the resort, in addition to promoting fellowship and community pride. Sunday forums featured speakers like fellow resorter and author Charles Chestnutt. In 1934, the Women's Club of Idlewild merged with the ILOA where women often assumed leadership roles. The ILOA hosted a fashion and variety shows as fundraisers for improvement projects. In 1954 the IOLA purchased this site and began developing youth programs. This building the Robert Riffe Youth Center opened around 1962.
Idlewild Lake DNR Access Site
Baldwin DNR AccessTown/Range/Section: 17N 12W Sec 7Latitude/Longitude: 43.883185 / 85.782631Site is on the SE portion of the lake. From US 10, turn south on Broadway St. It will turn east and become E. Michigan St. Then turn north on Lake Dr. Park will be on left.This is Idlewild Lake, the biggest lake located in Yates Township.The lake is 40 meters deep and is an excellent lake to fish for bluegill, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Tourist may fish from the Shore, by the Pier, or by Boat.All Fish Species Available in the lake are: Bluegill, Rock Bass, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Yellow Bullhead.Bait allowed include: Worms, Minnows, and Artificial Bait.Hours of operation are from Dawn until Dusk. There ae no Fees to enter the park, although guests are recommended to obtain a state park parking permit. The site includes a canoe and kayak launch, and a rustic style bathroom. Picnic tables and a drinkable water pump. The water pump is sourced from an individual well, which taps into the underground springs which feed Idlewild Lake.
Fondulac, Madame CJ Walker, Sweetheart Motel, and DuBois St
Lake Drive & DuBois St.in 1921 Crisis Magazine, Scholar WEB DuBois described his trip to Idlewild as, "a place where a Black man could walk down the street free."DuBois purchased a property in Idlewild, and this street was named after him. He has since sold the property and never developed a home here. While it is not clear yet what lots were exactly within his purchase, researchers believe his ownership was somewhere on the street named after him.
Idlewild Public Library
and SchoolhouseBaldwin Rd.The Idlewild Public Library was approved and received designation as a national literary landmark. The Library analysis provided by the unpublished MA thesis of Micala D. Evans, Ph.D. (2013) The original Idlewild Public Library has been closed since 2013.Since Idlewild Public Library closed, as it could no longer be funded What if: The People start A Community Library The People operate it as a non-profit Partnerships with schools, state, and other organizations. Begin by collecting Books and beginning book clubs Turn it into a technology center, with electronic look-ups and databases. Begin Idlewild's own History Room/Section. Begin a Michigan History Collection. And of course an Other History Section/ Room! Section of books on Black History Sociology, History, Psychology, etc. Books Geographic information Classes and Workshops through Partners for the community More.
Historic Wilson Drive, House, Store
Paradise SubdivisionWilson Dr & Paradise PathIn 1915 Herman and Lela Wilson came to Yates Township with twenty-five people from Chicago to inspect the real estate that would become the African American resort of Idlewild. The Wilsons promoted and sold property in Idlewild. In 1921 they moved here permanently. Between July 1922 and August 1925 the couple platted three subdivisions, giving the streets names such as Paradise Path, Righteous Road, Wisdom Way, and Kindness Avenue.Built-in 1927, this fieldstone bungalow reflects the prominence of its first occupants, Herman and Lela Wilson, who were among Idlewild's early promoters and developers. The Wilsons owned motels, seasonal cottages, and a grocery store located behind their house until they built a market kitty-corner from here in 1948. The Wilsons also owned the Paradise Club, which stood directly across Wilson Drive. The Club's Fiesta Room featured the IdlewildRevue, a nationally known floorshow.
