While its unclear how the property for Wilson Cabin was located or even how the decision was made, a map was found that contains the hand written notes of Elmer Richard Wilson. The handwriting indicates the early search for land. The map is titled “Official Road Map of Ogemaw County Michigan” and is dated 1939. There are several handwritten marks on the map identifying various property around Ogemaw County. One mark indicates property near "T. Lake" for $5 to $25 and other writing identifies a large lot near "S. Dease Lake" for $200. Ultimately, a lot in Oscoda County on the banks of the AuSable River was found and became the Wilson cabin.
Creation of a Very Special Place (1940)
Back in 1940, a significant portion of land, including the plot of land which would become the future location of the Wilson cabin, was owned by John A. Young and his wife Leah A. Young. On October 17, 1940, the Young's had their land surveyed, laid out and platted as recorded in Liber 1 Plats, page 31 on January 9, 1941. They named this area of land “AuSable Banks” and it was platted and more particularly described as follows:
Covers part of the SE1/4 of NE1/4 and NE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11; and a part of S1/2 of NW1/4 and S1/2 of NE1/4 of Section 12, Town 26 North Range 3 East, in Mentor Township, Oscoda County.
As a result of the Young’s subdividing the AuSable Banks, the property that would become the home for the Wilson Cabin was created.
A Lot is Found and Purchased (1945)
In 1945 Elmer Wilson and four other men decided to purchase lot in the AuSable Banks area. Some, if not all the men worked at General Motors Truck and Bus with Elmer Wilson. The lot was purchased from John and Leah Young on 28th day of March 1945. The five partners that each purchased a 1/5 interest in the lot were:
Frank and Louise Tucker Frank and Grace Lucas Henry and Rena Brown Elmer and Floy Wilson Jacob and Cora Whitmore
The exact purchase price is unknown as the Warranty Deed states the lot was sold for the sum of one dollar and other considerations. What the ‘other considerations’ included is not known.
The Cabin Adventure Begins (1945)
Our story begins in early 1945 after five partners purchased land on the banks of the majestic main branch of the AuSable River. The five men envisioned the ultimate hunting cabin and set out to build it. They planned on building a one room log cabin, but since this was there first log cabin they decided to start with the outhouse. They designed a very roomy two seater outhouse. During the construction of the outhouse there were so many arguments and disagreements between the five partners they decided it would be best to commission the construction of the log cabin. Some time later in 1945 the one room log cabin was constructed. It had a round potbelly stove with the chimney going out the west sidewall of the cabin. The stove was located at the current spot of the Franklin fireplace. Drinking water was obtained from a hand pump mounted on the well pit outside directly behind the cabin. Sleeping accommodations included bunkbeds that were fixed to the walls of the living room. Two heavy wires were strung in the living room and secured with eye hooks and turnbuckles to separate the living room into two bedrooms and curtains where hung to provide privacy. The curtain material was the cloth GM Truck and Bus used for making seat covers for their buses. The original wire divider system and curtains still hang in the cabin to this day and are periodically used.
The Partnership Fractures (1950)
The daughters of Elmer and Floy Wilson recall hearing of disagreements between the five partners. The partnership declined and eventually it fell apart after a few years. On April 3, 1950, the four partners (Tucker’s, Lucas’, Brown’s and Whitmore’s) each sold their 1/5 interest in the property to Elmer and Floy Wilson. The purchase price of the property is unknown as the Warranty Deed states it was sold for $1.00 and other valuable considerations. The Lucas’ built the cabin next door down stream and the Tuckers built the second cabin down stream. One partner, believed to be the Brown’s, was so unhappy that they built a cabin on the opposite side of the river from the other former partners.