The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-08-18
Editor of the Clio Messenger.

CHO, Mlcn.
Dear Sir:
AS former Clio resident and one
who takes considerable interest in
your locality, thought would write
you with reference to a former Clio
boys home, at which / recently had
the pleasure of visiting.
Mrs. Burton and myself were in
vited to spend the weeks end at the
home of William w. Blackney at
Bennett Lake. William Blackney,
commonly called "Bill," has some
home as many of the readers of this
paper know. Mr.. Blackney has al
ways been very much interested in
out of door life and his cottage at
Bennett Lake has given him an op-
rCrtunity of working out some of his
ideas along that line,
In the first place, he has an elabor-
ate two story cottage, or rather home.
The first floor consists of the bath
room and toilet, den and sleeping
room, also furnace room. The ftir-
mace room is the real workshop Of
the house and has full fledged win
ter furnace, Delco electric lights,
Deico water system, hot and cold
water attachment for bath and other
contrivances to make modern rome
The upstairs of the cottage consists
of sun parlor, dining room, kitchen,
large reception room, two sleeping
rooms and inside garage and large
screen porch.
1t is when you come to the outside
of the place, however, that you real
ize that it is an unusual summer
home. Mr.. Blackney has fenced in a
half acre of land sloping. to the lake
and adjoining his cottage. This is
fenced in with fine picket fence
painted the cream and brown colors
that the cottage is painted, has four
cement posts with electric lights, and
also has six hundred ornamental
shrubs of every kind and description,
native of this climate. These shrubs
with the beautiful lawn certainly
present a mighty fine appearance.
Down in front of the cottage Mr..
Blackney has constructed a private
bathing beach for his children with
a cement retaining wall surmounted
by wire fence and has raised the
level of the water within this space
by fine gravel to the proper depth
for children. Back of the house and
lawn, Mr.. Blackney has an acre of
ground, devoted to his garden. On
this garden he has a double garage
with store room and cellar, and cleo
trio lighted. In one corner Of this
garden he has little simmer house
equipped with children equipment.
such as swings, slide, teeter board,
sand box, etc. When you step into
the garden you wake up to the fact
that Bill is not only dreamer but
doer of things, for, believe me, Mr..
Editor, Bill Blackney has some gar
den. l have been farmer for years
and know what garden is, and /
will vouch for the statement that
Blackney's garden is real garden,
consisting of all the vegetables and
fruits incident to Michigan climate.
Mr.. Blackney's cottage is located
bWCiby lullCS lIOi1 llIJ, DclHk
four miles from Linden and 2 1-2
miles from Argentine. Roads are
fine and it makes q nice drive which
Mr.. Blackney makes daily. The name
of this summer home is Lucky
Strike" and l am inclined to believe
that it is mighty good name because
it seems to me that it was a mighty
lucky strike to secure such q home
and grounds as has been secured.
Everybody is made welcome at Lucky
Strike, and l would advise any Clio
people that happen to meander
around that neck of the woods to
call on Mr.. Blackney and I am sure
that he will give them hearty well
come as one Clioite always does to
another Clioite.
Yours very truly,
Don Puritan