Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union with offices in Manistee, Ludington, East Lake, and Bear Lake and the Mason County Historical Society, which operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, Historic White Pine Village and the Rose Hawley Archives in downtown Ludington.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
South Lakeshore Drive is one of the most scenic roads in Mason County. The winding road travels north from the Ludington channel to the Oceana County line, and offers spectacular views of the Lake Michigan shoreline. Between Chauvez and Bradshaw roads, Lakeshore Drive enters into a valley and routes into a sharp “S” curve. This wasn’t always the case. At one time, the road in that locale was mostly straight. This changed on Saturday, March 17, 1934 when the road collapsed in what became known in that area as “the washout.”
The area that would wash out on that St. Patrick’s Day, about 150 feet above the waterline, includes springs that empty into Lake Michigan. It was the scene of a previous washout years prior and had been filled in with dirt. A road ran over the site.
Constance Andersen, 93, is the granddaughter of Joseph and Veronica Draminski and has lived on the land most of her life. She was 2-years-old when the washout occurred but grew up hearing the story, which became a legendary tale of the Phillips School District and throughout Pere Marquette Township.
The weather that early spring had been rather dry. When heavy rains came on March 16 and continued into the early hours of March 17, the land was too dry to allow the water to soak in, causing the fill dirt to give way. Andersen said 15 acres of land washed into Lake Michigan, creating a 150-feet deep ravine.
Joseph Draminski woke up that Sunday morning and was surprised to find people and automobiles gathering on his property, Andersen said. Word had quickly spread about the washout.
The washout became quite the spectacle attracting visitors from around the county.
“Many persons have been attracted this week to the large washout in the road north of Phillips school,” an article in the March 30, 1934 edition of the Ludington Daily News stated.
The washout expanded further following rains in early April.
Modern view from Lake Michigan.
“The rain Tuesday deepened the washout on the Lake Shore road and started new ditches,” an April 5, 1934 article in the Daily News reported.
Seeing the washout became a popular activity. People made a point to come see the big ravine and also report on it in the newspaper, which was the social media of the time.
The June 28, 1934 Daily News reported:
“Circle 2 of Woman’s society of Community church, of which Mrs. Fred Roth is chairman, met Tuesday afternoon with Mrs. L.H. Beach at her home in Buttersville.
“There were 12 members present and, as they sewed on the dish towels they are hemming, they visited and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings.
“At close of the afternoon they enjoyed a luncheon served by Mrs. Beach and Mrs. H.K. Hansen, and then visited the washout in the road south of the Beach home.”
Joseph and Veronica Draminski were both immigrants from Poland. Joseph (1864-1938) was born on Jaworowo, Poland on Nov. 7, 1864. Veronica (1867-1949) was born in Stare Budy Osieckie, Poland on Sept. 24, 1867. The two were married in Poland on Nov. 26, 1885 and immigrated to the United States in 1910.
Constrance Andersen has one of the best views in Mason County.
“My grandfolks fled Poland because they had four sons and feared they would be conscripted into the Russian army,” Andersen said. “At that time, Poland was always being invaded by Germany, Russia and Austria.”
Joseph and Veronica initially immigrated to Ohio. In 1918, they purchased land along Lake Michigan south of the Buttersville Peninsula.
“My grandfather found this land which was very similar to the land he grew up on,” Andersen said.
At one time the Draminski farm occupied land from Chauvez Road north to Bradshaw Road and then Inman Road west to the shoreline.
The Draminskis raised potatoes, livestock, cherries and apples, Constance said.
Andersen’s mother, Kaziemara (1908-2006) was the youngest child out of nine and ultimately inherited the land. In 1931 she married David Boguszewski (1902-2000); the sir name is also interchanged with Bogus. Eventually Kaziemara and David would move to the family farm where they would raise their three daughters and son (Constance, Janet, Alice, Alexandra, and David). Like Constance, David continues to live on the family property as does Constance’s son, Lloyd.
Sadly, losing 15 acres of land to the washout was not the worst tragedy to hit the Draminski family in 1934. On Saturday, July 23, the family’s three-story home was destroyed by fire.
Months later, the washout was still in the news. On July 3, 1934, the Daily News reported:
“The washout on the lake shore road south of Buttersville is a main topic of conversation in that vicinity and lures many sightseers.
“Almost without warning, the big culvert that had been placed under the fill at this point to carry of the water from the springs and creeks went out into the lake with a great rush. It is supposed that the long delayed rain did not soak rapidly into the over-dry soil and that quicksand, also over-dry added it suction. Whatever the power it carried the big culvert into the lake to the second sandbar and made a chasm by bridging it and a bridge to be safe for traffic would have to be built far back from the present banks on both sides, for the earth is still caving and the chasm widening.
“This chasm presents a serious problem to the highway commissioners. To bridge the chasm would be such an expensive undertaking that they feel that the proposition to do so is out of the question. They are negotiating with a nearby farmer for a strip of land for highway purposes and if they cannot come to terms with him, father than undertake the lengthy and tedious process of condemnation by the courts they saw they will have to make a long detour, which will be disappointing to nearby residents and to those who have been anticipating completion of the scenic highway along the lake shore.”
Even the Boy Scouts visited the washout: “Boy Scouts of Troop 10 enjoyed a marshmallow roast at Buttersville recently,” an Oct. 18, 1934 newspaper article reported.
“After the roast Scouts played tackle on the beach. The group visited the washout before returning to Ludington.”
By fall, the public wanted the road repaired. The newspaper published an editorial in its Sept. 15, 1934 edition:
“It is to be hoped, most earnestly, that the bridge committee of the county board of supervisors and the county road commission will consider very carefully all the angles of re-routing the Lakeshore road in Buttersville before any definite and final decision is made.
“As is generally known, the huge washout which occurred in that section last spring created a very difficult problem for the road commission. It became at once evident that to fill in the washout would be out of the question. Therefore the issue became solely a matter of determining the most practical method of rerouting of the roadway.
“Two factors are uppermost in arriving at a solutino. First, there is the question of expense, and secondly the equally important matter of retaining insofar as possible the scenic attractiveness of that widely-known Buttersville shore roadway.
“A proposed solution, we understand, would route the road from Phillips school east one half mile north one half mile and then west one half mile. Naturally in effect this would amount merely to installing a permanent detour on this route and hence in many respects would be far from a satisfactory solution. In fact, already many property owners and others in that region are objecting strenuously to this proposed plan.
“The Lakeshore road in Buttersville, as the road commission of course realizes, holds much possibility for sound resort development in Mason county. This means increased land values and in turn more prosperous local conditions for all. The actual and final rerouting of this stretch of roadway is therefore a matter calling for the utmost in careful consideration, without unreasonable delay. Present and future needs of the community in regard to development of the Lakeshore roadway must necessarily be balanced again present condition of county road commission finances, if a fair solution is to be reached.”
A decision was finally made in late September to re-route the road after the road commission had negotiated with landowner Joseph Draminski.
The Daily News reported on Sept. 25, 1934: “Rerouting of the Lakeshore scenic road in Buttersville, necessitated by a huge washout which occurred on the highway last spring, was settled Monday when an agreement was reached between the Mason county road commission and Joseph Draminski, abutting property owner, whereby sufficient land was acquired by the county to permit construction of the road around a hill to the east of the washout.”
Over the years, the washout became a place where people thought they could throw their trash, Andersen said. At one point, the family had to fence the property off. It is still visible today but remains private property.
Editor’s note: Many people often confuse the Draminski farm washout with what was known as King’s Canyon. King’s Canyon was located further site near the modern Ludington Pumped Storage Plant.
Sources:
Mason County Historical Society Rose Hawley Archives
Ludington Daily News
“Pere Marquette Remembers,” published 2006
Constance Andersen
The Mason County Historical Society is a non-profit charitable organization that was founded in 1937 that does not receive any governmental funding. It owns and operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum in Ludington, Historic White Pine Village in Pere Marquette Township, and The Rose Hawley Archives and the Mason County Emporium and Sweet Shop in downtown Ludington.
For more information about donating to and/or joining the Mason County Historical Society, visit masoncountymihistory.org.
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