Silver Birches on the Lake
Mrs. Edna Troop owned the Langham Hotel Company (known for the first luxury hotel in London) and built Silver Birches on a lot she purchased from the Early family. This Adirondack Lodge was built as a respite from modern life during the industrial era. Built from 1907-1912, Silver Birches is two and half stories with a gabled roof and shingle clad exterior. She took a considerable mortgage to build three rustic cottages on the lot but eventually lost the entire property to the Lincoln National Life Insurance Company in foreclosure.

In 1920, the Beck family who owned Corner Cottage at Market and Main Street bought the property. During the Great Depression, the Beck's sold the property to Elmer M. Tellefson. Tellefson was well known amongst Great Lakes captains and crews for sending messages via his telegraph and radio station WHQ to the ships from the Arnold Line Ferry dock on Mackinac Island until 1942.

Never a dull man, during the fall of 1930, he rolled one of the satellite cottages off the property over the ice to adjacent state park land and was known for having a car which he drove for several years even after personal motor vehicles were permanently banned on the Island. By the late 1930's he agreed to stop using the car (by court order) but refused to move it off the Island and garaged it here for another 40 years.


Cottage Rental
Silver Birches on the Lake offers weekly rustic cabin rentals located about 4 miles from town on the north coast of Mackinac Island. Two cabins, each available by the week or month are furnished and ready for your relaxing vacation overlooking Lake Huron. The Main Lodge is currently unavailable (lodge image at the top of this page). Horse drawn taxi service and delivery via Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. Get away from it all at this rustic oasis on the Island.

Contact:
Silver Birches on the Lake, Mackinac Island, MI 49757
Reservations: (906) 847-3238