Portage Lake Garden Club rededicates memorial terrace

On June 27, over forty members of the Portage Lake Garden Club gathered at the Farr Center in Onekama to rededicate the center’s memorial patio. Over the years, more than 130 memorial stones have been placed to honor those who have had a connection to Portage Lake.

Patrice Beauvais of Onekama Township said purchasing memorial stones is a way to honor her family’s deep roots in the Portage Lake area. “Every time I walk out onto the memorial patio, I am reminded of the generations before me.”

Pat Pomaranski bought bricks in memory of her mother and father. “Even though they only visited Onekama a few times, the bricks make them part of the community.”

According to project manager Faye Backie, “The original memorial stones that were laid shifted and a new stone foundation was needed. Thankfully, Skip and Betsy Berquist, formerly of Onekama Township, had made a wonderful donation to the club. Their money was used to secure a $2,000 grant from the Manistee Community Foundation.”

Casey Chinnock of Stonehouse Builders rebuilt the terrace. As fate would have it, Chinnock’s grandfather, Ronald J. Chinnock, was the brother-in-law, best friend and business partner of AW Farr, the building’s namesake.

The patio was originally built in 2006 by Ralph Dunn, a former member of the Onekama Town Council. Funds to build the patio came from donations in honor of former members of the garden club and the Portage Lake Garden Club.

To purchase a brick, contact the Portage Lake Garden Club at [email protected]. Club membership is not required.