MY INFAMOUS NEIGHBOR!
I'm on vacation in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan at Carolyn's family cabin. There's no electricity or internet. That means no weather charts or forecasts from me for a week. Instead, I have crafted a number of posts about the U.P. and the cabin so you can still get a taste of my daily blogs and a feel for what we call "our special place".
Carolyn offered to write this one based on the mysterious death of union leader Jimmy Hoffa, a frequent visitor to the area in the 1960s.
Just down Federal Forest Highway 16 is one of the more beautiful spots on earth. Tepee Lake. 124 acres of clear water. Encircled by larch, pine, and balsam. Swimming below are bluegill, largemouth bass, Northern pike, and walleye.
The Federal government kept the place up for camping, boating, even grooming a small beach. We spent hours on that beach. Swimming, wading, sand castles, chasing minnows…the whole works.
We did have to share this bit of paradise. Just down the shoreline from the beach was a cabin with a wide front porch. A long pier stared across the lake. Inside this cabin lurked a mystery. Bigger than life. I had heard the stories from folks who had settled in these woods during what I considered to be the Stone Age (or more specifically, the Paleolithic Period). In my child’s mind, these tales from the past left me feeling I had missed out. I marveled over these glamorous times of the backwoods when such things didn’t seem possible.
But they were.
Johnny Jacobs saw it all. Johnny’s camp was upstream from our cabin. He was a Lebanese man who had immigrated to America and found his piece of paradise on the banks of the Paint River. He owned a specialty store in Iron River, but his heart firmly belonged in his large, one room log cabin that featured wide windows overlooking the stream. Even after a stroke robbed Johnny of his ability to walk, he still came every chance he could get, strolling through the woods in his wheelchair. He was simply unstoppable.
Johnny was a handsome man even in his old age. He and his wife, Doris, had three boys. Each one more dreamy than the next. My sister and I sighed over the sons, but we were considerably younger, and it was simply unrequited puppy love. (The boys grew up to be a doctor, lawyer, and dentist.) Johnny loved my father and called dad, “My Dear Relative.” His affection drifted down to my sister, brother, and me. We would sit spellbound as he spoke of the wild west days of the Northwoods. He was an effusive man with kind brown eyes who talked passionately…his hands gesticulating as he emphasized a point. His long fingers mesmerized me. Each wore a sparkling diamond ring. Johnny would often point to one diamond or the other with promises that one day they would be ours. (That never happened, but Johnny was always a generous man to our family.)
The most exciting stories involved Tepee Lake and the mysterious cabin. Intermittently throughout the summer, Johnny would see long, black, stretch limousines flash down FFH 16. The limos were crammed with cooks, housekeepers, servers, and bodyguards. “There would be a regular parade of big sedans and limos,” he told us. Riding in the front vehicle was quite possibly one of the most infamous men in the country. James Riddle Hoffa. Best known as “Jimmy”. Hoffa was an American labor union leader who served as President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union.
JAMES HOFFA
Hoffa’s Tepee Lake retreat was his special go-to place. The home had been built in the 1930s and passed through several owners before Hoffa purchased it. It was a large square log cabin with plenty of space for his family and staff. Outbuildings for guards and sentries surrounded the encampment.
Whether Johnny personally knew Jimmy Hoffa or not was something he would never confirm or deny. It was simply another mystery. But Johnny was an outgoing social man with many, many friends. It wouldn’t surprise me if the two had been acquaintances.
Both men embraced the outdoors. Johnny was an avid fisherman, and Hoffa could also been seen rowing around Lake Tepee in his fishing boat.
Hoffa took no chances with his security at the lake. His compound was secured with a chain link fence that featured coils of steel at the top. That fence even ran into the lake. When in residence, guards were posted on the grounds.
As a child, I remember the fence and often wondered why it stuck out into the lake. The small beach we frequented sat next to Hoffa’s cabin. Of course, a silly fence in the lake didn’t dissuade me from swimming around it to explore the forbidden territory. I was an excellent swimmer and had no difficulty making it over to the pier. There I would crouch next to the dock’s pylons and peer intensely at the home, waiting for the specter of the infamous man. But by this time it was the early seventies, and Hoffa didn’t come up to the UP as often as he had. The place was mostly deserted and quiet. The only excitement I ever dredged up was an old tin coffee pot under the dock. It was pocked with bullet holes. I imagined Hoffa staring gimlet-eyed from the porch taking shots at his metal target.
Stories from Johnny told of feasts at the Hoffa camp. When he and his staff departed, they would throw a party for the neighbors with their leftover provisions. Apparently it was quite an event.
The laughter was over by 1975. On July 30, 1975, at the age of 62, Jimmy Hoffa disappeared without a trace. He was last seen outside a Bloomfield Hills, Michigan restaurant. Two weeks before his disappearance, federal investigators discovered hundreds of millions of dollars missing from a Teamsters' pension fund
A nationwide search for Hoffa captivated the Northwoods. FBI agents descended upon the cabin on the lake, searching for signs of Hoffa’s body. Had the man been killed and thrown in Tepee Lake? Theories were as thick as the blueberries in August as to what had happened to Hoffa.
The next time we returned to our beach on Tepee Lake, I was surprised to see the chain link fence was gone. Unfettered access now lay within my grasp to the mysterious cabin. I often crept through the woods carpeted with shiny green pine needles to find myself staring at the former stronghold of one of America’s most infamous men. It was now shuttered and quiet. The windows filmed with dust. Age showing on the rough pine logs. The glory days gone for one of Hoffa’s most prized possessions. His sanctuary in the woods.
Johnny had told me the stories of the missing money and the missing man. I understood that something nefarious had happened. The scandal ignited my imagination. Standing on the porch of the cabin I wondered if the money was buried within…hidden in a secret compartment. Or was Hoffa’s body truly decomposing in a watery grave off his own pier on Lake Tepee?
Of course, I conducted my own investigation, but nothing ever surfaced. Hoffa’s body was never found. He was declared legally dead in 1982.
Johnny Jacobs is also long gone. He remained mum on the subject of Hoffa’s disappearance. There are some mysteries the Northwoods will never give up.
TERRY FISHING ON LAKE TEPEE
THE BEACH AT LAKE TEPEE. ME SITTING ON THE LAKE BENCH WITH JAY HEFEL
A FALL VIEW OF LAKE TEPEE
Terry and I are planning a visit to the lake this trip. Last time we were there, he claimed he heard a loon yodel "Jimmy" in its haunting, one of a kind way. He's got a big imagination. Roll weather...Carolyn
PEOPLE LOVE IT. OUR AIRBNB IS A MOST LOVED GUEST FAVORITE!
ANOTHER 5-STAR REVIEW....thanks Myriam
AIRBNB has rated my renovated church in Galena A GUEST FAVORITE, A MOST LOVED home according to visitors. Check out some of our reviews and get in on the flexible deals we have available below.
Christa-Monument, Colorado
The Little White Church is amazing!!!! Pictures do not do it justice. I would absolutely recommend it to my friends and family. It is just so unique. Carolyn is an amazing host and super responsive. I would give our experience 6 out of 5 stars if I could.
Phillip-Queensland, Australia
Amazing and thoughtful renovation. Stayed in a piece of history. Great location and modern amenities. Would stay again!
Jill
The Little White Church is beautiful. The decorations are perfect, and it was redone with impeccable taste. Carolyn was a great host.
Brent
Such a gem. Relaxing in the countryside in a historic church that was beautifully decorated and recently renovated was exactly what we experienced. Everyone loved our stay, and we will be back!!!
Leigh
Beautiful and unique. We were all captivated by the adorable chapel turned AIRBNB
Jenny-Frisco, Texas
It was a magical place for our family to celebrate Christmas!
Kelly
What a gem! The Little White Church exceeded our expectations. It was the perfect spot to meet up with another couple to relax and explore nearby Galena. We enjoyed the beautiful great room with its fireplace and amazing views of the rolling countryside. (The photos simply can't do it justice). The charming church/home was quiet, well appointed and clean. And Carolyn was proactive with instructions and a terrific communicator. We will definitely be back!
John
Absolutely incredible! Loved the tranquility and the beautiful views. The decor was so inviting. AND the bell tower works!! Would 100% stay here again!
Tori-Cedar Falls
This place is so beautiful! Carolyn and Terry were so thoughtful and kind to let us have our wedding at the church. They even provided extra supplies in case we needed them. The private garden worked perfectly for our ceremony, and the backyard easily fit our reception needs. Not to mention, the balconies make perfect photo spots! My husband and I recommend the Little White Church and will be telling all our friends about it.
Mahesh-Buffalo Grove
Carolyn was a great host, very flexible! The place is super clean, spacious with a private backyard overlooking the fields and bluffs! We spent a lot of time on the deck. Great kitchen, clean bedrooms and baths. Highly recommend the place.
William
Great place. Great host. Will definitely book again and tell our friends.
Miriam
Carolyn and Terry's place is BEAUTIFUL! The Little White Church is a wonderful place, way more beautiful than the pictures. Everything is brand new and extremely clean. Staying at the church was a unique experience and I would love to come back soon. I strongly recommend the place if you are looking for a 5-star location!
Vanessa-Chicago
Carolyn was great! Absolutely beautiful place! I would not hesitate to go back. We spent Thanksgiving and the next night. Very well stocked and above and beyond with extras included. Thank you!
MAKE US AN OFFER...
What about pricing? Right now, we are able to offer you our best pricing ever. We have 3 nights for the price of 2 which, depending on the days, can save as much as $300-$400 dollars. If you book directly through us, you can also eliminate booking fees and taxes that the big chains charge. Cleaning fees are also drastically reduced. It all adds up to exceptional deals at a destination worth visiting. Let us assist in finding a time and price that works for you. Here's a link to some pictures. https://www.tswails.com/galena-airbnb
Carolyn and I will do all we can to make sure your stay is a memorable one. Please call or text Carolyn for more details and options and get a prime date while they are still available. Again, that's Carolyn at 563-676-3320. Or carolynswettstone@yahoo.com
Now that it's vacation season, there is no better place to visit than Galena and no better place to stay than my newly renovated AIRBNB, the Little White Church. We are located in the bluffs, just 5 miles from the 2nd largest tourism destination in Illinois. In fact, "Tourist Destination", rated Galena as the 2023 top place to visit in the entire Midwest.
Now is the best time to enjoy all there is to offer, and my 5-star AIRBNB is the perfect location to stay. Set in the rolling hills just outside of town, our completely renovated church is designed for you to unwind and relax.
Again, we are an AIRBNB Super host and can accommodate up to 8 guests. We've got cable, hi-speed WIFI, Sirius XM and a sparkling full kitchen. We are a home away from home and take great pride in cleanliness and comfort. All of our ratings have attained perfect 5-star status!
Hope to see you soon,
Terry and Carolyn
7 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT GALENA
1. It’s Steeped In History
2. It’s Home To One Of The Best Main Streets In America
3. The Restaurants Are Amazing
4. There’s A Lot To Do Outdoors
5. You Don’t Have To Travel To The Mountains To Go Skiing
6. It’s A Great Place To Spend The Fourth Of July
7. Did I Mention The Shopping?
