** Is your town like Watersmeet? **
View: thread | inline
-
Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 5 2007 at 4:02pm by Welcome to the Discussion about NIMROD NATION. We would like to know what you think about the series. Answer this question or post one of your own by replying to this post.
Is your town like Watersmeet?
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 15 2007 at 10:30am by was born and raised in ontonagon which is about 45 miles away. had relatives who lived in watersmeet. casino in town now and love to hunt in that area. have deer camp in paulding area which is about 7 miles north of watesmeet. Jarvi's Bar, yahooooo.
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 18 2007 at 5:23pm by My own town, Webster Groves (a suburb of St. Louis, MO and itself the subject of a famous TV documentary) is totally unlike Watersmeet. We were obsessed about where we would go to college nearly 50 years ago. Maybe that's what's so attractive about the Upper Peninsula to many people. It's down to earth.... not without its intellectuals, but down to earth.
A few infobits on Watersmeet. The name Watersmeet comes from being at watersheds of the Mississippi River, Lake Superior, and Lake Michigan. "Minn of the Mississippi," the turtle heroine in a companion book to "Paddle to the Sea," starts out at Lac Vieux Desert, on the Michigan-Wisconsin line, and floats down the Wisconsin River.
For the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Ojibwa, who have an attractive casino/resort north of town, the big lake was originally its summer fishing area.
There are so many Zelinskis because the older Zelinskis in "Nimrod Nation" are 12 siblings, I think. And some of them had largish families. Their father was a caretaker for the Sylvania Tract, a private fishing club, 36 square miles, dozens of pristine lakes in an old-growth forest, that is now a Wilderness Area of the Ottawa National Forest. Many campers, anglers, and paddlers come from the Chicago area. The entire area is surrounded by national forest land.... a boon for hunters and for anglers on many lakes and on the Ontonagon River Middle Branch.
Bob Zelinski of Sylvania Outfitters is a pioneer of U.P. ecotourism — and he's a school bus driver and substitute teacher in all grades. Each day he reads the science section of rotating publications.... the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, etc.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 25 2007 at 2:27am by I graduated high school in 2004 from Jeffers High School - north of Watersmeet. Sports at my high school was pretty much just like this one! We had 7-12 grades with 240 students. I remember we actually played them once every season, and the girls team is no where near as good as the guys - we usually pounded them! Looks like a great series though :) RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 26 2007 at 10:35pm by Just watched the first two episodes. This is an awesome series so far.
I grew up in Chassell, which isn't too far north of Watersmeet, about 60-70 miles or so.
6 miles from Painsedale, where Jeffers is located.We were much the same...fishing nearly everyday, had a high school basketball team, class D..won the State championshio 3 years in a row, back in the 50s.
Lots of hunting, mostly outdoor type of stuff going on. I noticed the kids during shooting for messing around..lots of fowl language...we were about the same..still am to a certain degree...makes for colorful conversation :)
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 27 2007 at 9:46am by I was born and raised in the U.P. and this documentary is in my opinion extremely biased and makes it look like all yoopers are morons. The poor language skills of many of the people in this documentary is not a true representation of who we are and what we represent. Many yoopers have gone to college and made contributions to the world of science, medicine or politics. Anyone who grew up here, as I did, has known people who talk and act like the people in this documentary, most strive to "not" be like them.
Also, Watersmeet has a reputation for being a "wild" town where many of the residents are caught up in a vicious circle of alcoholism and spousal abuse. My hat off to the teachers at the school for trying to better the lives of the youth in this community.RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 27 2007 at 2:16pm by Purrr -
I am sad to hear that you feel this way. Although my town is nothing like Watersmeet, I have a lot of family in the UP and have traveled there often. I find the portrayal of the people of Watersmeet charming. I love the down to earth attitude. Of course there are plenty of successful from the UP. I believe that goes without saying. It's refreshing to see people just living their lives and being happy. I bet if you asked them, they'd say they were pretty successful themselves. It's just a different lifestyle. Watching this show makes me happy.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 27 2007 at 3:05pm by You know, I could see where you might think that, but being an educated "Yooper" myself, I feel that the charm of the accent, the colloquialisms--these are the bits of native naivet that are so fascinating about the residents of the U.P. Perhaps one might instantly feel certain labels of intelligence come to mind, but to listen to the sincerity of the people, and the wisdom of the Zelinski boys, one cannot deny that they are refreshing, witty, and wise people. And for me, wisdom has always transcended the bounds of intelligence.
I think this paints an honest portrait. These are the boys with whom we attended high school. These are the guys at the local restaurant. The Zelinskis are not idiot-savants, they are, in a way, cultural geniuses, who manage to harbor intellect without egotism. That , I feel, is really representative of U.P. natives--smart people, who don't pander to society.-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 27 2007 at 5:17pm by I have to agree, jamalone. Most folks in the UP are very independent. They don't follow all the pc going on in the cities. They do what they have to, live like they want to, and most do not have that materialistic, keep up with the Joneses trait.
What I saw in the first two episodes was not a portrayal of morons or hicks, it was a different lifestyle.RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 27 2007 at 6:30pm by I signed up for the Sundance Ch. just to see the series. My parents retired to Trout Creek(maybe 20ish miles if you take Shortcut Rd.)
They were born and raised there but moved down state Michigan for jobs and they are now back. I love visiting them because my cell does not work and the life style is so relaxed that it is the best vacation ever.
I ran into the assistant coach for the Nimrod basketball team at a restaurant this summer and he told me about the series.
I was born in Ontonogan and although I was never really raised in the UP I loved visiting my grandparents and now my retired parents.
I love Bond Falls but personally I feel adding the lots to the lake would be good for the communities...I see the towns getting smaller and there is really not a lot of work for the younger generation. I also see how much wilderness is really up there and adding 300 lots...like how long would even take to sell and build on them??? I have heard of many people interested in the lots only and not building. I feel it would greatly benefit the communities. I think it has some pros that were not mentioned in the series so far.
I love my visits to Bond Falls, Agate Falls and even the Jumbo...it is all very pristine, beautiful and peaceful.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 28 2007 at 7:07pm by Purr has it exactly right.
It's unfortunate that the director (Morgan) refers to the U.P. (and northern WI, for that matter) as "the last frontier." Unfortunate in that this moniker only serves as an advertisement for further exploitation of the Northwoods (and unfortunate for Morgan since it's terribly clich).
Just watching the short interview with Morgan on this website made me cringe. "Oh, yah! We are so cut off from da rest of da lower 48! Our kids don't play dem video games." If this were only true. Sadly, Watersmeet and other northern towns aren't quite as utopia-like as this advertisement for real estate developers, um, I mean year-long documentary series portrays them to be - We have video games (unfortunately) and obesity, especially among our youth, is a huge problem.
And as far as being cut off from the world? In the summer months hwy 2 and 45 is flooded with colonists, um, I mean Chicagoans and New Yorkers traveling to their quaint second homes with blacktop driveways.
Animosity? Yes. But it's hard not to feel a little bit of animosity. I grew up just a couple miles from the U.P./WI border. I'm educated, and I'm passionate about the Northwoods. And I welcome a quality documentary (how about one on sulfide mining? Michael Moore, your home state needs you), but an exploitive series that plays with reality television's motifs? That's just sad. And shameless. And reveals a true lack of originality.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 1 2007 at 12:52am by Purr,
I am from Watersmeet pretty much born and raised. I am so proud to say that I am a Nimrod from Watersmeet. I think that this was a good show but it has a different take on life in Watersmeet.
I don't like how you say that it is know for a wild town with problems with drinking. I took my sports life at Watersmeet seriously and so did my teammates. When I was in school no one ever called it a wild town. I hope that you will be able to visit there someday and get the true reality of what watersmeet is like; you may just need a good tour guide.
Not everyone's life was like how you saw it on this show.RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 22 2007 at 9:59pm by nlvestic,
I'm guessing that you're one of the subjects of this piece, and if so, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out which one. :)
That said, I was very sorry to hear about your Grandpa Joe's passing last year. Joe was my class advisor and truly a mentor and friend. Plus, he and Marsha were great fun in Florida on our class trip. :D He accomplished so much for that school over his years there; you should be very proud to be his grandson. I'm sure that he was very proud of what you accomplished in your athletic career, as well!
Best wishes for the future!
none Posted on Dec 10 2007 at 8:26pm by -
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Jan 17 2008 at 12:57am by unfortanately spousal abuse and alcoholism is everywhere so to label a small town trying to be someplace in the manner you did is uncalled for. look in your neighborhood and tell me the same problems don't arise
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 27 2007 at 7:00pm by my town is nothing like watersmeet, i live just outside of milwaukee but my family owns a vacation house in white pine, which isnt too far from watersmeet. im semi familiar with some of the places in the show (nordines, the resturant that the old guys are talking in (i forgot the name tho) which is really cool. As a student athlete in wisconsin, ive always wondered how sports worked in the up seeing as it isnt close to the main part of michigan, i love how it kinda shows how things work. i really like this show, and cant wait for next week!
im always a little upset whenever we go up there that white pine doesnt have a school district because that means i cant get any wp sports gear, but i do love the mascot names the nimrods and the speedboys, so i do have some of that gear tho!
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 28 2007 at 1:37pm by I grew up in a small town, Marenisco, which is about 30 miles west of Watersmeet. When I first saw "Nimrod Nation" on my channel guide, I turned it on immediately. I didn't know what to expect, but I was soon brought back to how life in the U.P. exists.
I left for college as soon as I graduated, and I have never moved back; however, my entire family still lives "back home." I cherish the times I spend in the U.P. with my family. It somehow feels different when they come down to see me. There is such a sense of family in the U.P. and not only with blood relatives. Everyone in the town has a sense of unity.
When I first started watching the show, I became filled with emotion. That is for the most part an accurate depiction of my life growing up in Marenisco. I get so sick of people judging "Yoopers." I am proud of where I came from, and I defend us everytime that someone laughs when I tell them that I am from the U.P. The first question they ask is, "Is there even running water up there?" People are ignorant. From what I have seen in lower Michigan, people here have similar problems that people in the U.P experience.
All in all, I'm proud to be a Yooper! I think this show is refreshing, and it brings back so many memories!!RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 28 2007 at 5:10pm by in case you folks are not aware of this site, take a look.
Pasty.com [www.pasty.com]
It has a picture everyday of an area of the UP, mainly in the Copper Country, but from all around...then a discussion usually about the image or the area. A lot of poeple from the UP but living other places. Its a great site with a lot of links to things in the UP, plus an awesome gallery....one person to search for there is E. Neil Harri. He takes aerial photos of places all over the UP. Pictures of wolves, moose, and quite a few towns. There are a couple of pictures of the Bond Falls area, mentioned in the film, Ontanogan, Wakefield, Bergland, and a few other places pretty close to Watersmeet. Here's Neils gallery URL...
Be sure to click the image..they are actualy quite large.
Neil Harri Gallery [gallery.pasty.com]
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Jan 6 2008 at 1:50pm by Hi,
my husbands family is from Marensco. The grandparents owned the Presquile Hotel for many years. It had a soda shop, greyhound bus station and of course rooms to let.,
The family roots are now in Iron Mountain Michigan. We visit twice a year, to see family and friends. The U.P. is such a beautiful place.
What year did you graduate?
My husband graduated from Kingsford in 1956...many many years ago.
We enjoyed the series on Watersmeet. It reminded us of how wonderful life is in the U.P
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 28 2007 at 10:36pm by Ewen, Michigan (about 20 miles northwest of Watersmeet) is another Yooper town -- the character of the people, the culture and the love of the rural life makes it a piece of Americana. Love the Nimrod Nation and hope to see the entire series - brings back a lot of memories of learning to skin deer, growing up hunting and, of course, living and breathing baseketball!!! RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Nov 30 2007 at 5:12pm by Thanks to David for the tip on the Neil Harri photo gallery....amazing.
Post from an ex-Nimrod Posted on Dec 1 2007 at 2:10am by Although I wasn't born in the town, I've speant so many summers there that i can call it home. And when I think of the town I am taken back to a more simpler time--a time of innocence. Watersmeet was my Mayberry, a small town where everyone knew everyone else. You didn't have to be afraid to walk the streets at night and you didn't have to take a car everywhere you went. I can remember when the casino was just a bingo hall, when Nordine's moved to a new location, and when the schoolyard playground was still made out of wood. It's a place where pretty much everyone you know gets involved for the fourth of July parade. Wildlife was everywhere, deer in your backyard, squirrels that would come right up and eat out of your hand, ponds full of turtles and frogs, bald eagles, and plenty of fish to eat. Now that I only go to Watersmeet a few times out of the year I find myself missing it more and more. I live in a big city now where you don't talk to your neighbors, you don't say hello to the postman, you don't know the person who bags your groceries, or pours your morning coffee. It can make you feel cold sometimes, colder than the weather could ever get in Watersmeet. So, thanks to the director and everyone involved in the making of this movie--it brought me back to a better, warmer place.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 2 2007 at 10:59am by [b] i came across this series because it was free on Itunes, so I downloaded it and watched it. I then watched the next episode at my friend's house on the Sundance Channel. I actually grew up worlds away from Watersmeet. I was raised in New York City and I still live here. The only other places I ever went to growing up were Japan, Korea, England, France, etc. I was aware of the cultural differences between even the Japanese and the Koreans and even between Anglicans and Parisians.. However, I have never really thought of the cultural differences between places within America. I just watched one of the zelinski brothers. He is right. America isnt all about 2 gay guys living together.. in his words. What I got from this is that I never really knew how much American media focuses on how people live in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, DC, and other cities at times. Growing up in New York and seeing all the places you go to with your family or with your friends within the media almost reinforces the fact that urban lifestyle is typical- or something to be achieved. I really enjoy Nimrod Nation because its a completely different lifestyle and worlds away from what I know.It's really nice how a town comes together for the school basketball team and supports them. It's interesting how hunting is a favorite pasttime there. I've never even touched a real gun or gone hunting. In fact many of my vegan activist friends would kill me even if i thought of the idea...But this is my real impression of this series. It educates me on how people live in a small town and shows another lifestyle. It seems refreshing to be in a place where no one really cares about ipods, cell phones, the latest fashions from Barneys, and if we got tickets to the concert tonight at Bowery Ballroom. It's a world away from half the characters I know.. I have friends that are vegans who eat tofurkey, ones that work in the music/fashion industry, gay'lesbian activists, and all sorts of other characters. However, I wouldnt mind to spend some time in Upper Michigan and go horseback riding, real hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking etc. The closest thing New York city has to any of this is at Van Cortlandt park wher you can go horseback riding and hiking.. you can go kayaking on the hudson at riverside park.. but nyc nature is weak compared to what I see on the watersmeet chamber of commerce website. I've never seen more down to earth people on TV.. this is a great reality show. Sure beats the junk on MTV half my friends watch. RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 2 2007 at 2:18pm by I live on the Iron Range of NE Minnesota, which is very similar to the UP in many ways. Same accent, same culture (boom and bust mining, logging, tourism, hunting, fishing, high school sports). We downloaded the first two episodes from iTunes and look forward to watching the rest on Sundance.Naterra, the controversial developer featured, has developments on the Iron Range as well, selling lake lots and back lots for big bucks to rich people to build their big log homes on. A tempting tax base for economically depressed communities, but what are we sacrificing? I, too, would like to see Michael Moore do a piece on the sulfide mining issue, which is heating up big time on the Iron Range. Cheers to our soul mates in the UP!
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 4 2007 at 3:34pm by My hometown is a small town of about 500 people in East Central Illinois. My hometown was very much like Watersmeet. I assume it still is, but it has been over 35 years since I left my hometown.
Going to high school sporting events was the only entertainment for most people. This was espacially true when I was in high school in the mid 1960s. The only entertainment in the home was TV, radio, and a record player. Just like Nimrod Nation and Hoosiers the men in town would congregate at the local diner or barbershop to discuss previous basketball games.
I am enjoying the show very much, but it does remind me of my teen years too much.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 5 2007 at 12:02am by Yea my town is kind of like watersmeet but then again im from Bessemer haha proud to be a speedboy!!!! Ya and i know that this tv series is on watersmeet but i also think that it would have been nice if they covered more of the area as well. I mean ya were rivals but i think the it would be more intresting to watch if they went to the other schools like wakefield, bessemer, ironwood. RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Jan 2 2008 at 9:22pm by I see you mentioned other sports towns why would you leave out Ewen Trout Creek Panthers, where you know what a winning tradition we have, asd the rivalry factor as well.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 5 2007 at 12:04am by I checked through all of the responses to this and I was surprised (but also kind of excited) to be the first person from the Lower Peninsula to discuss the topic.
I am from Lake Odessa, MI, which is a town just a smidge bigger than Watersmeet (about 2,200 people) and located exactly halfway between two large cities (Lansing and Grand Rapids). Lake Odessa is frighteningly similar to Watersmeet, and I mean that in a great way and a terrible way.
The great things are that it is a close-knit community (which also means that everyone sees all of your dirty laundry and a lot of people are related either by blood or marriage). I liked growing up there because our schools were pretty small (yes, our 9-12 high school had about a 800 student enrollment when I attended, but the four towns of Lake Odessa, Sunfield, Clarksville, and Woodland all attend the same high school, Lakewood High School). I liked living on dirt roads and learning to swim in the local lakes and I like the fact that my first job was at the Dairy Queen where EVERYONE went in the summer. I liked the snow days.
The similarities that I don't like are the things that I hated when I was growing up. There is a huge trend of poverty, drug abuse, domestic abuse, dropouts, teen pregnancy, and just general disinterest in higher education. A lot of the people are closed-minded religifreaks who refuse real sex-ed in lew of abstinence only, which just perpetuates that trend of teen pregnancy. I always thought that this was because we were pretty cut off from big cities and things but I think the people want to live that way, and I just don't understand that.
We got "Deer Day" (opening of deer season)off from school not just because of poor attendance but for safety reasons. This is fine. But a lot of that hunting mentality goes along with the strong, silent, gun-toting male ideal that is so prevalent in mostly the western and northern parts of the LP. It's backward and it sucks. I got out of there only because I had to. I would have LOVED to have gone off to college to earn a degree and go back "home" but it's just such a hole, and I think a lot of people who grow up in rural areas - but know that the "values" held by those citizens are ridiculous - feel the same way. Visiting makes me depressed because the economy sucks, the houses look like crap, and a lot of the people are warped into thinking they can't get out or do anything else. I want to go back and change it but I'm not sure the people who live there want it to change. I don't want to change it for selfish reasons...I just wonder if they are truly happy or know their potential.
Do they listen to country music because they like it and it speaks to them or because they think they have to like it because of the rural atmosphere? Do they wear confederate flag belt buckles and drive big pick-up trucks because it's what they really firmly believe in, or because they think they should? I don't get the trains of thought of many of the people from my community. Are they there because they think they can't get out? Are they happy?
I went to college, graduated, and moved to Philadelphia to live and work and I watch the show because all of the things shown on Nimrod Nation are so nostalgic and familiar to me and make me homesick. I'm homesick for the familiarity and for the fact that those people know those things that are familiar to me (i.e. walking into a garage and seeing a buck hanging from the rafters and not only not being scared, but not being fazed at all). I'm not homesick for the backward thinking (like prayer at the Honor Roll Breakfast - umm...not everyone who gets good grades is Christian!).
I think it's a general human feeling to love the things that are familiar but hate them at the same time. That's how I feel about Lake Odessa and that is what I have found to be the general thought of friends from other rural areas who went to college and are making something of themselves...but also miss the good parts of a small town upbringing.-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 5 2007 at 1:20pm by It sounds to me as if tia.m.kemp from Lower Michigan is more afraid that others do not approve of the change he/she would advocate. I’d really like to know why it is that you feel the “values” portrayed in Nimrod Nation are ridiculous or specifically, what values do you see that are not “worth” perpetuating? Families praying together? Families supporting each other? Families NOT watching TV or carrying around cell phones but talking to each other? Or how about a community that despite their “differences” are able to allow each other the freedom of growth and expression?
I think you should ask yourself if you truly care if these people (either in your hometown or in the show) are “happy” or you simply want them to be like you and embrace what you embrace? Maybe it is time to head home and relive that culture again before it is gone. A very wise person once told me that, “People are not afraid of change. People are afraid of the loss due to change.” It is a contradiction to say in one sentence that you want change but then to say “I don’t want to change it for selfish reasons”……in that is the “Freudian slip”. Perhaps that is what Nimrod Nation is all about. Perhaps those “old guys” at the diner realize that change is “coming” as it always will but are wise enough to try and instill on this generation that even if loss comes with the change, we do not have to be afraid of that. I would venture to say that you have lost something with your change and it is still bothering you.
By the way……my town IS Watersmeet but I’m a “transplant” by marriage. There are 14 Zelinskis, the oldest being a doctor with one dying in infancy. The entire family must have a cumulative IQ of over 2000! I grew up in Lower Michigan and at that time there was only one teenager who was pregnant in my class and she dropped out in 9th grade. The teenager in Nimrod Nation who was pregnant was only 15 when she got pregnant, two weeks into being 16 when she had the baby and is just now a senior (that was a misprint on the part of Sundance), who will graduate with honors, and plans to be a nurse. She is the "product" of city values. She will be the first in her family of 6 to graduate and break the cycle of poverty and abuse in her family. The “backward” Christian “values” I gave her, saved her. I find that feeling extremely rewarding and can rest easy at night because I did not turn my back on her as I have seen other families do with misguided teenagers.
There is “light” at the end of the tunnel if one is willing to travel the tunnel.RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 6 2007 at 12:06am by Wow...thank you for giving such an in-depth response.
I think I came off differently than I meant. I do miss it, and I do cherish the time that I had there, but I just encountered so much ignorance and closed-mindedness when I lived there that it made me sad. I don't judge them (and also, I'd like to say that I was not talking about every single person of course), I just feel like there is more to life than some of them know. I was also referring more to some of the jerks that I went to school with who only cared about their dirt bike and beating up their girlfriend. I very much agree with your outlook and I'm glad that you shared it.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 5 2007 at 2:51pm by To tia.m.kemp:
I currently live in Lake Odessa, MI, but am a proud graduate from Watersmeet Township High School – Go Nimrods. For both Lake Odessa and Watersmeet, I think that you are stereotyping the residents and only seeing the negative aspects of life in a rural community. I chose to live in Lake Odessa when I graduated from college because of its location (almost exactly in between Lansing and Grand Rapids) and because it was familiar to me (small town USA). Where else but in a small town like Watersmeet can you know or be related to the Fire Chief, the President of the School Board, School Board members, Tribal Chair and Township Supervisor and on and on.
I moved away from Watersmeet 25 years ago, but continue to make the trek “home” many times during the year. The caring of a small community cannot be matched in any large community or city. When my mother passed away 2 years ago and I returned home, the love and outreach from the citizens of Watersmeet was overwhelming. To this day, I still get choked up thinking about the kindness and caring that was shown to me and my family. Thank you just never seemed enough. It is this spirit of caring that a rural community captures, sustains and encompasses.
Are there negatives in a small community, yes, of course there are. But, they are the same negatives that our cities and larger communities are facing. Poverty, drug abuse, domestic violence, teen pregnancy, etc. are societal and systemic problems that all communities are facing. In a small community, you are just closer to the problems than you are in the cities. Living in a city or larger community, you can choose to turn away from these problems by “not seeing” them or avoiding certain sections of the cities. If you choose to ignore societal problems in your community does that mean they are not there? You need to have the strength to step forward and volunteer in the community to make a difference.
As for Lake Odessa being a hole, I disagree with you wholeheartedly – I am currently on the Village Council and see the changes and development of the community. I don’t know when the last time you visited, but the community is undergoing some changes including major downtown revitalization. Also the Village of Lake Odessa was been awarded the “Downtown Development Project of the Year” in 2007 for our downtown improvements (check out the video to see the updates at www.lakeodessa.org).
What comes out of the series I hope is a portrait of community, of life, and of pride.
On a side note for other Nimrod alum who are stalking this site – I know you are here – who remembers “flying” on the old merry go round and sitting down at the Y?RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 6 2007 at 12:18am by Alright...I just have to start (again) by saying that coming from Lake Odessa is something I feel great conflict with so that is probably where some of the comments sounding negative could have come from. I would like to reiterate that I did love living there and I absolutely loved the schools and I had AMAZING teachers and when I meet people from there or from around there, I get extremely proud. I get the Lakewood News sent to me every week to Philadelphia! The big things that bother me are just the ignorance and closed-mindedness and right-wingedness (like prayer in school for example...it's just not respectful and really does alienate some students) of SOME of the residents. I think it was my individual home life that made me hate the ignorance and closed-mindedness and right-wingedness so much. It was hard being in that small area because my mom had quite the reputation, which was hard to move past. I think I felt like it was a hole the last time I was there was because it seemed like none of the businesses were doing well and everything was so much more expensive at the dime store and the houses looked so different and run-down (this was admittedly over a year ago). I have deep, deep love for that area because, like I said, my home life was not great so I grew up just hanging out on 4th Ave. and at Swifty's as late as I could and then I got into lots of activities at school. I just want it to succeed and I got the feeling when I was there, that it definitely was not.
Thanks for the link as well - I'll definitely check it out.
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 22 2007 at 9:53pm by Patti-
I'm old enough to remember "splinters' on the old wooden merry-go-round. :)
I have fond memories of growing up in Wa-Me, but at the same time, I'm glad I got out into the world. The unfortunate lack of opportunity in the area perpetuates the type of town where the school is not just the primary outlet for the town, but really the ONLY one. That was very much true then, and from this series it seems that little has changed.
In a way, it was sad to see that some of the kids were so focused on basketball as a way of life, and as a ticket out, when the reality is that only the precious few really get to ride that train. Still, the genuine nature of the people of Watersmeet shine through in this series, and despite some of the obvious focus on the more "back-woodsy" type folks, it's a fairly realistic look at life in the Upper Peninsula.
Plus, I'm one of the few who can say that BOTH my alma maters were represented (Wa-Me and MTU) :)
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 5 2007 at 12:54pm by I, too, grew up in the UP and find that this series captures an important but not the only aspect of UP culture. In typical Sundance fashion this series is brilliant. It is genuine, but we must be careful not to overgeneralize about how much Watersmeet represents the entire UP culture. Just as there is heterogeneity in the USA and it would be hard to answer the question of "What is American food like?" Watersmeet may not be Channing, or Escanaba, or Marquette...though there are more commonalities than differences. The remarkable retro pioneer-like values and traditions of the UP can be seen in other areas where the resilient people have to struggle against the climate, harsh elements, and a rich tradition of being neglected, unrepresented, and stereotyped. One can see this in Alaska, Maine, and parts of the Canadian experience as well. For another take on the culture and people of the UP take a look at Blood Ice, a thriller novel set in the UP, Hong Kong, and San Francisco that deals with elements of black bear poaching as a source of black market material for traditional Asian medicine...a wild ride of a thriller that treats the setting and the people of the UP with reverance and respect. Find it at http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/ItemDetail~bookid~14264.aspx
Can't wait for the remaining episodes of Nimrod Nation. Very close to home and filled with the nostalgia of an earlier life.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 5 2007 at 7:43pm by Patti -
We remember sitting at the Y and "Grubby Dude" was watching! Your Dad's mail was in our post office box today (again). Where could this happen but in a small town - we'll even get it to him today.
Infobit on the Zelinski clan: The 13 brothers and sisters have a variety of careers that include: a doctor, nurse, teacher, architectual engineer, forest service employee, contractor, self-employed business owners, civil engineer, artist, homemaker, and logger/excavators.
All 13 have had some type of higher education - most have graduated with four year degrees or more. All but four live in or around Watersmeet. The 13 brothers and sisters have a total of 36 children.
We are ALL proud to be Nimrods!!-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 5 2007 at 8:55pm by LOL! We always thought we knew when "Grubby Dude's" days off were and that we would never get caught!!! By the way, I am still scarred for life from being stopped by Grubby at 16 and told that I ride the clutch in Dad's big purple truck! :-)
Infobit on the Zelinskis - 6 of the Zelinski grandkids are also my niece and nephews who are also proud Nimrods.RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 7 2007 at 11:52am by Here is another bit of info for you. I an a fellow nimrod. I lived there for almost 30 years. As do many of my friends and fellow graduates from Watersmeet, i also have a college degree. My son is in law school, my daughter in pharmacy school. I have 4 nephews who graduated from watersmeet who are in college, and a niece who has already graduated from college. All still live in the U.P.!!!!
I raised my children in the BIG CITY!!! I prayed to God everyday that they would be safe.You never really knew your neighbors, let alone the rest of the people in your subdivision. My children went to schools that had 600 or more in a class. They had to compete with 100 others for a spot on a team for sports. Many schools have metal detectors and police at all times, and we lived in the BETTER part of these cities!! We have lived through racial lockdowns, racial; profiling, and anything else you see on tv. My children all had cell phones, and played video games. At least that way we knew what they doing and where they were.
Watersmeet is a place where we always felt safe. I wouldn't trade it for anywhere else in the world!! Many things have changed in the twenty yers since i left, where there used to be a lumbermill, is now a RV shop.We now have a casino, which has provided jobs, and brought in business for everyone. when I was in school in watersmeet, there were still schools in Mass City, Trout Creek, Ewen, Bergland, White Pine, and Marenisco. Some have consolidated, others are gone completely. The copper mine is gone.Yet through all of this Watersmeet has an amazing new school, state of the art gym, and more kids that ever. Someone must be doing something right.
One more thing, hey MTV, try taking ten people from the BIG CITY and puttin them in a house in the U.P., see if they last the day!!!!lol
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 18 2007 at 3:21pm by Hi Patti and fellow Nimrods,
I have been following these conversations more than the series. To be honest, I have not heard many positive comments about the series. But, we all have our own opinions and memories of growing up in Wa-Me...of course there is a mix of good and bad. On one hand I try to remember only the good memories of growing up there, and on the other hand there are memories I choose not to dwell on such as the "touchy topic of racism" in the area. And believe it or not it has always existed and still does exist in our small town. For example, I remember when the local Native Americans were told not to use the water, cemetery, etc... For the most part, I appreciate growing up there instead of the cities where we moved from to Wa-Me to live on the LVD Reservation. I loved growing up on the Rez. across the street from my Grandparents. In my mind I see the natural beauty of the area we were exposed to, the beautiful sounds of the wildlife, and the memory-provoking clean scent of the fresh air. I also enjoy the memories of the old playground, town gatherings at Bass Lake, The Light, and good friends. I am proud of who I am, and where I come from. I still call Wa-Me my Home...and that is what I strive to teach my daughter whether it is good or bad...that's Life. My only criticism is that Wa-Me is made up of so much more than the series covers, but I suppose that should be a whole series by itself. Happy Holidays and Go Nimrods!RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 18 2007 at 6:08pm by I think it would be interesting to delve a bit deeper now into the area.
Maybe even expand to more of the UP.
I'm not really seeing all that much negative...suppos eits how you interpret it.
The ending was a bit sad. One thing that is interesting, is the fact the men all act pretty rough, but you see their softer side come out every once in awhile. The move by coach Peterson to head over Nathan's to see if he was ok was a great thing to do.
There were a ocuple of other somilar scenes. It wqas much the same when I was growing up in Chassell. My dad and uncles were about the same. Fishing, hunting, talking trash all the time...but real decent people willing to help out anybody that needed it.
I think the humor and mentallity of the yoopers in Watersmeet was perhaps misinterpreted a bit. Even some of what appears to be racism. Like the asst. coach said, he treats the greeks, and Italians the same, or whatever was said. I've seen that over and over...stuff is said, in a kind of blunt way, but it isn;t really meant from the heart, or the soul...its more of a bluff. Its hard to explain.
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 12 2007 at 4:47pm by Ah, don't we all remember grubby and the Y. You never had to guess who's mail it was in your box, because you know everyone. I remember when my parents' house burned down. The whole town was there to help out with whatever they needed, or when my dad got cut with the chainsaw. The whole town came to help cut up firewood which was donated by someone I believe to make sure that we had heat. These things just don't happen in the big city. I know, I have lived in a few bigger cities, and nothing can compare to life in Watersmeet. Patti, I was so sorry to hear about your mom. She was an awesome lady, I worked with her in Land O' one summer at the Tia Juana. I graduated from Watersmeet High School in 1989, I believe with your brother. I moved away shortly after graduation, but found myself living back in watersmeet some 12 years later, and now in Iron River. I kind of miss the days of grubby and the y. Go NIMRODS!!!
-
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 10 2007 at 7:01pm by First of all, I do I live in the UP and want to say, yes spiritually I love it here, but sometimes I do feel isolated. I often dream about other places while I'm driving on the vast highways looking at the snowcovered trees and miles of wilderness. I'm forunate to see the wolves and even watch them from a distance take a leak on a bush, look me in the eyes and walk off. Where on earth, other than Alaska or nature preserves do we have an oppurtunity like that? The UP is like the second last frontier (Alaska being the first) of unspoiled territory. We are lucky to live in such a place and have other people experience that with us. However, in a world of growing populations and lights to lure us in, we yoopers are faced with a growing problem. Do we join the rest of the world or do we remain untouched and undetected? The Nimrod Nation will come and go and t-shirt sales will grow and cease, but we are still left to the quietness of the land. Our future will face a bigger dilema, more than any movie or documentary will show... Do we save what's left or do we give in to the thurst of consumerism and development. Give in to the idea that bigger is better and having little is not enough...??? RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 10 2007 at 7:18pm by I moved from the UP right after I graduated from high school. It wasn't the lights, it was work. I've been gone now for nearly 40 years. I've grown up..become more wise ,(I think)...
Now that I'm older, I see what the UP is really about. The Native Americans may have a better grasp on it than most whitemen. Its about nature. About being close to the Earth...with the trees, the sky, the wild animals. Its spiritual.
Do you know how it smells when you walk through the woods in the fall...when its 65degrees..sun shining through the branches...most of the leaves on the ground?
The crunch of the snow and ice under your feet when its -20?
The smell of the ground when you're digging worms..or rolling over a log...have you ever dug those little violets from the ground and eaten the bulbs? The dirt has a smell that is special.
Have you ever fished on a stream or small river up there? There are no people around. You can hear the water trinkle by. See tha water skaters near the shore. Hear the little bugs buzzing by. Its quiet and peaceful...maybe a small breeze and leaves rustling in the trees.
Ducks taking off. a lone wolf howling at the moon.
That's what its all about.
you ask about the city lights. You have fireflies. You can develop the area, but all that and the spiritualness of it will be gone. Go to the city. Look around...smell the concrete and asphalt under the sun. Smell the exhasut...the smoke. Hear the roar of airplanes...cars honking. People bustling about. the bright lights. Yes..its maybe cool for awhile...its exciting for awhile...but it leaves your heart empty. The materialism leaves your heart and your wallet empty.
Keep what you have in the UP. Cherish it with all your soul. Once its gone, its gone. You will regret it all your days, as will your offspring. Its a special place up there.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 12 2007 at 12:46am by I grew up in Watersmeet, and have lived in many bigger places over the years, and now live just thirty miles away in Iron River, Michigan. I have to say that there truly is no place like Watersmeet. You can let your kids play outside without worrying about someone picking them up and taking them. What this series didn't show is what happens here if someone (anyone) in the community runs into tough times. The whole town comes to the aid of those in need. I am proud to be a Nimrod, as was my mother before me. (She still works at the school, too.) I do think that there is so much more to Watersmeet than what this series portrays. It is too bad that there wasn't time to explore more of the town and local culture.
I am also proud to call Jeff and Phil my friends. They are good friends to have.-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 13 2007 at 4:55am by I am just wondering does ever living in a place like watersmeet feel lonely or isolating? I'm ust curious to see how it is for younger people in their teens and twenties if they're not interested in athletics or hunting.
kk.RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 16 2007 at 12:15am by I grew up in the UP not too far from Watersmeet. I now live in New York and heard about Nimrod Nation through friends while having coffee with friends in the West Village. Funny where your past catches up with you. They were giddy with excitement and amazement when they told be about it. I left when straight to iTunes to download the series.
Honestly I find the series to be accurate although the accent and dialect are a little light compared to what am use to. In my hometown football was the priority with basketball a close second and the world stopped for hunting season. I have to say it took me to leave to appreciate the beauty though. There is nothing like the silence and the snow, it's grounding like little else.
I really wasn't interested in sports and I had no interest in hunting. It may have been a little isolating and lonely but then again, what teen doesn't feel that. I had my friends and participated in other activities such as band.
As much as I was ready to leave as soon as I graduated I'm glad I grew up there and love going back.
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 18 2007 at 6:44pm by Wow, no. We live south of Detroit, very urban. My sister lives in Wakefield, works in Watersmeet for the tribe. She married a yooper 20 years ago, and will never come back to Detroit. I swear that is him narrating in the promo!
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 20 2007 at 12:58am by I am from Negaunee, about 100 miles east of Watersmeet, and my town is much like Watersmeet. Like many high schools in the UP, we have amazing school spirit and amazing fan support for sports. The UP is a wonderful place unlike any other. I am proud of our accents and different ways. You would be hard pressed to find another place where you can find such kind and generous people who are genuinely willing to help you out. Please do not cut down Watersmeet or any of the UP without first experiencing our one-of-a-kind little peninsula.
Thank you :)
-
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 22 2007 at 2:13pm by I grew up in Minocqua, WI South of Watersmeet. I went to college in WI and later moved to Florida where I have lived and raised two daughters for the past 20 plus years. I was drawn to this series as it reminded me of my life growing up in the North. I have watched some episodes with my daughters and have enjoyed sharing stories related to some of the episode events. Growing up Minocqua felt like Watersmeet but at the time I am sure we thought it was differant......today it looks identical. RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Dec 22 2007 at 7:47pm by I grew up in Bruce Crossing. I played against George Peterson in baseball and basketball. I live in Georgia now. The show is great. The show brings back fond memories and growing up in the UP. I look forward to visiting soon hopefully. Pat Codd
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Mar 11 2008 at 10:39am by I lived in Bruce Crossing and worked at Watersmeet School for 7 years, then moved to Columbus, GA. Boy do I miss the U.P! The people from the U.P are SO much different from those here in the South! I miss all the friends I made during the 7 years up North and I miss my job at the school as well! The scenery was beautiful and so serene! Traffic there was never an issue, (except on a snow covered road, alone at night, then I prayed for more traffice to travel eith me). Here, in GA it is a military area and more soldiers and their families are coming in to the area every day! My husband and I are seriously planning to return to the beautiful U.P one day. The people there touched our lives more than we ever realized and we hope to make our home there again soon! I am so PROUD to say that I am a NIMROD and ALWAYS will be! GO RODS!!! I miss you all!
RE: Is your town like Watersmeet? Posted on Sep 22 2008 at 4:15am by I lived the first 18 years of my life in Gladstone, a town just to the east. I graduated from Gladstone High School in 2000. I was packed-up and moved-out 5 days later. It was too much for me personally to stand. I had to escape to civilization, I've been living in the lower half of the state since.
I just saw this show for the first time tonight. I am impressed beyond words. I've struggled with how to explain the rural U.P. to people here that just have never experienced it. Now instead of trying to get my friends to leave the comforts of civilization to take a 6 hour car ride, I can simply show your program. I've paused the episode half way through to write this post; already I can feel the fear of white tail deer and small town police creeping up my spine. Even the music is spot on!
I plan to look into the background of whoever is responsible for this later. Regardless, my interest is caught. I'll go finish my first taste of the program now. If it continues to slide-show my former life so appropriately I'll most likely be back to comment more.
Wow, this gives me a reason to tell the 'Paulding Light' story tomorrow. Anyway, again great half an episode so far. I'm sure the rest will be equally fulfilling for me.
