Charlevoix county herald., 1909-07-03
RambleS About
East Jordan
Many Pretty Views In and
Around Our Little City.

East JORDAN offers many an invit-
ing pastime for the leisure hour and
the half-holiday. II one is fond of
boating the South Arm of Pine Lake,
with its elght-mile reach, affords
every opportunity for swimming, row.
ing or sailing. If he be disciple of
Walton. not only the lake but the Jor-
dan river and tributary streams will
yield the best results. No finer fish
Dng can be found ia the north. But
this article has to do with still more
healthful, tho perhaps less popular,
form Of recreation, that Of hill-climb-
ing. East Jordan has hills,-little
hills, big hills, hills everywhere in
overflowing abundance; some of them
still forest-crowned, some cleared but
too rugged for cultivation, while
many are covered with rich pastures
and beautiful orchards.
A walk OF fifteen minutes across
Browns Creek and thro the woods, or
by the roadway along the right bank
OF the stream. leads to the summit OF
RoundtOp, the first big hill east of
town. This conical elevation rises
about two hundred and fifty feet
above the lake and affords good
view of the upper end of it ana OF the
northern part Of the village. It's
proximity to town makes easily acces-
al Ia 10 N naaA nf i1a
for breakfast or has friends he wishes
to give bird 's-eye view OF the place.
But this is only one Of the foot hills.
A half mile or so beyond. path leads
up charming little valley to the
y ills that skirt the Maddox farm on
the east. This range is still higher
and affords finer outlook, especially
up the Jordan valley. Another half
mile to the north east, across inter
yening gulleys, rises the Mct;ool hill,
the highest point IN the vicinity, four
hundred feet above Lake Michigan.
From the various points upon this
eleYation one may gain beautiful
outlook in every direction, the range
being anywhere from twenty 10 sixty
miles, including, on clear day, the
Beaver Islands.-And all this section
yields, in season. fine harvest of
wild raspberries, blackberries and
gooseberries. From the north base of
the McCool hill roadway leads back
to town, or more delightful ramble
may be found down valley to the
southeast, thro the Haley farm and
into town along State street.
Up the Jordan are many points
from which most. delightful views
may be obtained. On the eastern
side is the old Barber farm, with its
fields and orchards somewhat seclud-
ed but affording an impressive out
look over Deer Greek valley from the
bluff where the house stands. A pleas
ant drive may be had along the ridge
road leading to Mt. Bliss; and from
this well-known hill. standing out as
IL does from the neighboring range,
there is commanding view both
north and south, and all along the
western slopes Of the valley. And the
western slopes have their many pro-
jections also, from which the by-hills
TO the north are seen with the village
and lake nesting at their feet.
But the finest OF all the views of
East Jordan itself may be found at the
Murphy homestead and from the big
Harrington hill just across the Arm.
The latter especially is accessible and
commanding In its outlook. A brief
walk along the Ellsworth road to the
gravel pit brings you opposite the hill
on your right with an easy climb
across the fields. And once you have
gained the top you are amply repaid
for the exertion. Straight before
YOU, away to the north, stretch the
waters OF the lake as far as the bend
at Ironton. every little bay and pen
insula, and the island, clearly out
lined upon the sparkling surface, with
the fields and orchards and wooded
hills rising upon either side. doz-
en- or more crafts, ranging from the
light canoe and launch TO the lum ber-
laden steam barge and schooner, may
be seen almost any summer day pass
Ing along the channel. To the east
lies the town, the residences OF the
west side lying at your feet and the
east side spread out upon the slopes
and terraces beyond the water. Here
is the unequalled panorama of lake
and docks. mills. stores, residences,
churches. school houses and cemeter-
les, and the beautiful hill ranges that
encircle them. One views with sltis-
faction, too, the rapidly increasing
foliage of the shade trees, and won
ders why some OF the streets have not
been better provided for 10 this re-