From Marge Porter:

Hi, I just saw your web site. I spent a great deal of my childhood on Harsen's Island at my grandparent's cottage. They were William and Amelia Dornbrock. Their cottage was on Green St. not far from San Souci. Amelia's sister Theresa and her husband Emanuel Stricker had a cottage on Green St. near the Catholic Church. My dad's cousin Arthur O. Misch had a summer home farther down the road. Another relative, Wesley Herschelman owned the grocery store in San Souci. This was all in the 30s-the 50s. The Strickers still own their place on the Island.

 

I'll see if I can find some pictures, when my parents died a lot of their pictures disappeared. I do have a lot of memories of Harsen's Island.

 

Marge Porter  ~May 22, 2004

Hello Beth...I just stumbled across your website.  I love what you are doing.  I, too, have an interest in preserving Harsen's Island history.  I run a community website Harsens Island News. 

I am Mary Ellen "Melon" Schrieo, maiden name Smith, a 3rd generation Harsens Island native. I'm raising our 4th generation of Smith family Islanders, Shannon & Sean.

 My family first came to Harsen's Island when my grandfather, the late Captain William Smith, settled here in 1911. He was captain of "The Harvester", a great lakes freighter.  The original Smith homestead is still in the family.

 My parents, Packy & Ann Smith, my sister Gail Zawada (Smith), and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and more all live here on the Island.  My brother, Patrick J. Smith, is a realtor specializing in Harsen's Island properties, and lives in Algonac. 

 Keep up the good work!

 Melon Schrieo

Editor, Harsens Island News  (May 25, 2004)