When I met one of my best childhood friends at Washington Junior High, Zoë Fawell, my grandmother said she knew her grandparents, Harris and Ruth! In fact, Harris and Ruth actually had their first date on the porch of my grandparents’ house, while both attending North Central College in Downtown Naperville. At the time, the house was owned by my great-great-grandfather, Louis Oswald. Built by his Father-in-law, and first-generation Oswald’s owner William Wallace Wickel.

Zoë’s grandparents were longtime Naperville Residents. Harris was both a State Senator and Congressman. Ruth, like my grandmother Jean Anderson, was a teacher. Later in life she was deeply involved in her husband’s political career and a civic leader locally in Naperville.

Summer Vacation

During summers while Zoë and I were both students at Naperville North, we’d travel with her family to visit Harris and Ruth’s summer home on Beaver Island in Michigan. Beaver Island is the largest Island in Lake Michigan, part of an Archipelago consisting of 14 islands in total. It has a year-round population of around 600 residents.

This summer was the first time I’ve visited the Island since I was in college almost 20 years ago. This time I had the joy of bringing my own children, who had an amazing time! We took a small propeller plane from Charlevoix, MI to the island—a quick 15-minute flight. On our return, we took the ferry, which takes a little over 2 hours. The Island offers unapparelled stargazing (declared a dark sky sanctuary this year!), sandy beaches to read on, lake Michigan, and smaller inland lakes for swimming & fishing and so much more! Beaver Island also has an interesting history, as the only place where someone was crowned King in the United States! It didn’t end well… Look up Beaver Island on Wikipedia for the story, or read The King of Confidence by Miles Harvey.

Harris and Ruth passed away in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The island home in now maintained by their three children, who take turns visiting it all summer long with their children and grandchildren. I’m grateful to still be friends with the family and share in the wonderful tradition started by Ruth and Harris. In high school the family called me their ‘vacation son’ – now that we all have kids, we called my children the ‘vacation cousins’ on this trip. 

What’s the most fun of all, is my childhood friend Zoë ended up meeting her husband on my parents’ porch! Around 60 years after Harris and Ruth had their first date across the alley at my Grandparents’ house! What are the odds?

Naperville Plaza Sidewalk Sale

I hope you and your family were able to take some time off and get away this summer! Between our Sidewalk Sale, Thursday night Oswald’s Softball games and vacation, I’ve been keeping plenty busy! Make sure to visit our Back to School event on Saturday, August 3rd, and our Diabetes Health Screening Fair on Saturday, August 17th. Enjoy the rest of your summer!    ꝶ