Happy 130th Birthday, South Frankfort

Elberta is a Capricorn.

January 8, 2024. Photo collage of the “back forty” behind the Village Office by me. Photo of bald eagle captured a few days earlier by Justin Towle.

An Elberta eagle gazes across the swampy mouth of Betsie Bay on a sloppy January day (before I scared it away trying to get a picture). What is it thinking? What does the future hold for this and other denizens of a century-old Village?

On this day in 1894, so saith Mr. Blacklock and a plaque in the Community Building, South Frankfort was incorporated, two years after the first rail car ferry steamed across Lake Michigan from our shores. A few years after that, the village, already developing a strong identity distinct from its neighbor to the north, changed its name to honor some delectable local produce, and fairly promptly suffered a major crop failure that probably made the name change seem like a bad idea. But Elberta is still here, and so are we.

If you’d like to learn a bit more about the Village’s history, as told by a native son, you can pick yourself up a copy of Blacklock’s History of Elberta at the Village Office for the low, low price of $25, while supplies last.

And, on the subject of birthdays, would you like to add some to the new Community Calendar on the Village website? If so, send them along to me at emilyvotruba@yahoo.com, or post them as a comment below. I’m looking for birthdays of people who live here now, who used to live here, or for whom the case can be made that they’re honorary Villagers. I would also love to hear your candidates for oldest living Elbertian (is it Ken Holmes, born November 28, 1935?) and youngest (most likely Magnus Towle, born December 12, 2024).

And if you have any other events you’d like added, please let me know.

UPDATE (1/10/24): I’ve received some responses.

Charlie Hendershott, May 4, 1934, going strong at 90.

Jim Gilbert, 1931, turning 93 this May 24. <3

UPDATE (1/11/24) Here’s a link to the online archive maintained by the Benzie Area Historical Society. What a great resource!