History

Aunt Ella’s Cottage

Presque Isle ~ Michigan

History

History of Aunt Ella's Cottage

This cottage was built in 1955 by Edward “Eddie” and Eulalia “Ella” Woloszyk. The cottage was a labor of love for my Aunt and Uncle. Black Bass Bay Road was a narrow, twisting two-track that meandered through a dense, mosquito-infested swamp where an occasional Michigan Massasauga rattlesnake would cross.

They built the cottage by themselves on weekends after working long days on the farm and running their family business known as “Eddies Garage”. Although they both worked on the cottage, it really was a most favorite “get-away spot” for our Aunt Ella. Although our Aunt and Uncle are now gone, our family continues to called it “Aunt Ella’s Cottage".

Our family (Andrew and Virginia Woloszyk) and siblings (Carl, Jeanette, Diane, and Darlene) spent many summer days and weeks vacationing here. We all learned to water ski and fish on Black Bass Bay (black bass is a term used for smallmouth bass, a great fighting fish).

The Story of Edward and Eulalia Woloszyk

Edward “Eddie” was born on August 13, 1911 to Peter and Victoria Woloszyk in Posen at the family homestead where his family worked a 120 acre farm. Eddie was one of 21 brothers and sisters (14 boys and 7 girls). Eddie’s father was a master carpenter and built the home, which has now been designated, as a Michigan Centennial Farm. Many of the fine wooden barns still standing in the Posen area were built by him with the help of Eddie and his brothers.

Eulalia “Ella” was born at the family farm to John and Julia Wodkowski on August 16, 1919 in Cathro, Michigan (near Alpena). She was one of six children (2 boys and 4 girls). Her parents owned an 80 acre farm in the area. Her father worked as a lumberjack during the winters and later as a quarryman for Rockport in Alpena.

Eddie and Ella met in Alpena, while he was working as a mechanic at Enos’s Garage on Chisholm Street. They were married on October 29, 1938 at St. Mary’s Church in Alpena by Father Woloszyk (Eddie’s brother). The wedding reception was held on the farm in Cathro. Attendants for the wedding were: Henry Woloszyk (Best Man), Harry Wodkowski, Harry Wysocki, Virginia Woloszyk (Maid of Honor), Lillian Woloszyk and Helen Harkiewicz.

In May 1939 they purchased the Woloszyk homestead and opened Eddie’s Garage. They also operated a dairy farm and raised pigs, chickens, potatoes, and grain crops until 1952. Eddie quickly established himself, as one of the best mechanics in the area. He sold Massey-Ferguson farm implements and performed general mechanical repairs on just about everything which had wheels and could be driven. In fact, it was not unusual to see several tractors, trucks, cars, school buses, and even construction equipment in the yard at any one time. They had a total of 32 nieces and 33 nephews, who considered them their favorite aunt and uncle (15 from the Wodkowski family and 50 from the Woloszyk family).

Among their favorite hobbies were entertaining family and friends with Ella’s great cooking, gardening, and working in the orchard behind their house. They also enjoyed relaxing at their cottage on Grand Lake and their hunting camp in Posen. In 1980, they traveled to Poland and Italy and later enjoyed traveling to large cities throughout the United States. Edward passed away on May 3, 1990 and Ella passed away on May 20, 2007.

Both Eddie and Ella believed in giving back to their community and established a scholarship fund for continuing education. The Edward and Ella Woloszyk Scholarship Fund has been designed to provide Posen High School students with assistance to meet their post secondary education needs.