Carp Lake, Top of Michigan Trails Council dedicate commemorative bench
CARP LAKE — Members of a longtime Carp Lake family and local elected officials, along with representatives of the Top of Michigan Trails Council (TOMTC), dedicated a commemorative bench and a sign detailing Carp Lake’s history last month.
The sign and bench are located in Carp Lake on the North Western State Trail at its intersection with Gill Road. The dedication took place July 20 with about 20 people in attendance.
The bench is provided by the family of Carp Lake native Andy Hayes, who is also a TOMTC board member. He said he worked with TOMTC and Michigan DNR to find an appropriate location for the sign, which memorializes his cousin, George Hayes.
“George Hayes, grandson of RG and Lottie Hayes, was born and raised in Carp Lake and lived his entire life there, until recent years when he lived in Mackinaw City,” Hayes said. “He died of Covid at age 85, and family members felt that this sign would recognize and honor Carp Lake’s rich history, as well as other families that have multi-generational ties to the area.”
Hayes, whose family funded the bench and sign, said his family’s Carp Lake roots date back to the early 20th century.
“RG Hayes and his wife, Lottie Keiser Hayes, moved to Carp Lake in the early 1900s,” Hayes said. “RG was a teacher, well driller and served as postmaster of the Carp Lake post office from 1913 to 1948. Together they had nine children, all born at the house in Carp Lake. The original post office building still stands and is connected to the family homestead. Although no longer used as a post office, the inside still has the original post office boxes, service window, etc.”
Jim Conboy, another TOMTC board member who attended the dedication, said such benches and historical signage improve trails.
“Historic and cultural markers along trails greatly add to the trail experience,” Conboy said. “Many communities located on the trail system have great stories to tell. We encourage any community or group with an interest in these things to contact the Trails Council and we can help them develop signage and other amenities such as benches and shelters. This also involves coordinating with the DNR which we are glad to do."
The Top of Michigan Trails Council stewards over 325 miles of trails in eight counties, including the Little Traverse Wheelway. To learn more, visit www.trailscouncil.org.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Carp Lake, Top of Michigan Trails Council dedicate new bench
