By Julia Borak, former guide and cook and Theresa Ekdom
Editor’s Note: This story originally ran in the October 2017 issue of Up North Voice.
Julia Borak was a frequent contributor to the Roscommon County Voice, with her articles highlighted as ‘Roscommon Memories’. Julia wrote this article in the fall of 2016. I talked to her about her experience on the boat while growing up and added to her story. ~ Theresa
UPPER PENNINSULA – Joe Beach was a game warden (with the Michigan DNR) out of Newberry in the 1920s. He had frequent requests from Lansing to take some privileged personnel to see the Big Falls with his patrol boat. There were no roads near the Tahquamenon Falls at that time.
He visualized the opportunity, quit working for the state, and coalesced a round trip to the Falls and back to Soo Junction (a spot on the Railroad tracks between Trout Lake and Newberry).
Robert Hunter, owner of a quiet sawmill on the river, became a silent partner. His property included the five miles of tracts from Soo Junction to Hunter’ Mill on the river, the proposed boat landing. It was 21 miles from that point to the dock near the Falls (leased from the State).
Beach had a boat built by Julia Borak’ grandfather and named it Betty ‘B’ after his daughter.
The first years, the ‘train ride’ to the Betty ‘B’ launch was on a flatbed Railroad car pushed by a tractor on a narrow gauge track.
In peak years the train consisted of two engines and nine or 10 open cars, each holding 30 (more or less) passengers, sometimes a few on the roof.
The train went through the swamp and woods about as fast as a good sprinter, and generally loosened up any uptight tourists.
Anyone could ride all day (children under 12 were free) for $2.50, including a half mile walk through the woods, from the dock to the falls.
The boat service was back in motion every November. It dropped off deer hunters and all their gear at the hunting shacks along the river, and returned them and their deer and bear and beards to Soo Junction.
In 1938, business was so good that Beach needed a new boat. He went back to Saginaw for another boat. This time, Edward Trombley, Julia’ father, built the Tahquamenon. It could hold over 300 people at a time.
According to Borak, the Tahquamenon was hard to handle on the river. Joe didn’t like piloting it, so he had Ed Trombley come up and drive it.
‘Each year it was a decision on whether to do it or not,’ Julia said.
Ed would bring his wife and daughter to the UP with him each summer. Julia was guide and cook on the boat.
‘Hamburgers were 35 cents each. There was a bar, we served beer, pop. I had to keep people from climbing over the counter to get food,’ she said.
Students from nearby Newberry were recruited to work the boat during the summer. Julia met the Borak girls one summer, who thought they should introduce her to their brother – Bob Borak, whom Julia later married.
After WW II the government began building highways. Now, you can drive to Tahquamenon Falls State Park to see the falls. Or, you can still take the Tahquamenon Falls Wilderness Excursion train ride and river boat tour now owned by Robert Hunter’ grandson.
The Toonerville Trolley still leaves from Soo Junction. After a 35 minute ride, you board the riverboat for a two hour trip down the river to the falls. Food and drink are available on the boat. There is a one hour fifteen minute stop for a 5/8 mile hike through the woods to the private view of the upper Tahquamenon Falls. Recently repaired stairway will lead you to the bottom view of the falls.
For rates and schedule of the trip, see their website at trainandboattours.com.
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