Ware/ Alexander/ Vellano Belvedere Memories - Cottages 212, 135, 222 – Back to Book 3
 
Cottage 212 was my first memory of Belvedere and Charlevoix the  Beautiful. Growing up in South Texas with brothers, Bob and Tom, and much later sister Amy we were always eager for our station wagon treks to Northern Michigan. We exclaimed over the very different flora and  fauna found there. “Michigan grass” and “a black squirrel” were commonly  shouted by us all through the years.
 
We looked forward to the freedom of bicycles, park play with friends, and  gang activities. In the 50’s and 60’s Gang activities were somewhat  different than today. We went horseback riding, paddled the Jordan River  in canoes, and slept under the stars on Michigan Beach near Fisherman’s  Island. My group was part of the first ever Teen Gang! There were lots of  us expertly corralled by Ann and Butch Mullen as our Gang Leaders. What  wonderful memories I have with friends from Bisbee, Bemis, Flanigan,  Kukn, Orr, McKay, Mudd, Shelton, Scherer, Leland, Hill, Leatherman,  Rutherford, Mueller, Payne, and Perkins families.
 
In 1960 my parents, Amy & Ralph ( Mike ) Ware, bought cottage 135 from  the Kuhn family. Baby sister Amy joined the family in 1965. Now we were  “ in the woods” and added bats, bunk beds, and an occasional badger at  the back door to our family memories. My daughters , Kim and Lettie, first  experienced Belvedere in cottage 135. They each have their own favorite  memories of scavenger hunts, overnight trips, and sailing regattas with life  long friends.
 
Ann and Don Kelly then became a welcome addition to the Belvedere as  they took ownership of that cottage in 1985. The Wares and Alexanders   were back in 212 then with intermittent cottage rentals for many summers  until 2010 when it was purchased by Dail Loyd.
 
Lettie and Mike Vellano purchased cottage 222 in 2020. It happens to sit  directly across the street from 212 which originally belonged to her great  great grandfather, Elisha C. Ware. Life on the Belvedere has come full  circle for the Ware/Alexander/ Vellano families. We couldn’t be happier!
 
Sudi Ware Alexander