The following news story and photo was taken from Kathleen Firestone’s book, “Meet Me at the Dock: in Greilickville, Grand Traverse Bay.”
South of the developing recreation area, Sears Dock & Dredging Company was still owner of the coal dock, with Burke Coal Dock being the lessee. Sinclair Oil (Refining) Company and Rennie Oil Company still operated their own docks south of the coal dock.
The coal dock became property of Traverse City Light & Power Company in 1969. Coal unloaded at the dock was used to feed the power company’s plant, situated at the foot of Grand Traverse Bay, in Traverse City. Coal was also supplied to the diminishing market of homes and businesses still using coal. In the 1970s and 80s some of the coal was moved by truck to a storage lost across M-22, in Greilickville.
There was always maintenance to do at the docks, if they were to remain in service. Winter ice was one of the worse culprits for dock damage. In April 1979, a wind storm piled ice against the oil terminal docks and tore the pilings from the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay. A construction firm from Cheboygan sank three steel pilings and filled each with concrete. Twenty, wood pilings surrounded the steel-concrete structures, cabled together for sturdy anchorage of oil boats.
Elmwood Township is the most populous of the 11 townships in Leelanau County. In the 1970s, the southeast corner of Leelanau was annexed to nearby Traverse City, in Grand Traverse County, this acreage and business district is no longer considered part of Elmwood Township. This happening has increased the City of Traverse City’s control and influence over what happens in that part of Leelanau County.
The Year 2000 and Beyond
The Standard/Rennie Dock and fuel depot became property of Marathon/BP. Business signs changed over the years and, by 1973, Marathon Traverse City Terminal marked the entrance to the offices and tanks. British Petroleum (BP) stopped delivering fuel on the Great Lakes and made its last delivery to the Marathon Terminal on Nov. 11, 2009. Oil deliveries to the Marathon terminal began coming by truck from BP’s refinery in Whiting, Indiana, but Thomas Wressel, manager of the terminal since 1973, continued to maintain the dock and the supply line that ran under the road from the dock to the storage tanks. In a 2010 interview in the Leelanau Enterprise, Wressel said, “It’s hard to believe commercial shipping has just stopped.”
He expressed the hope that shipping would resume. But it didn’t. Fuel deliveries also ceased at the Sinclair Dock, but in 2019 the area is being converted to boat slips for a new hotel complex across M-22.
Rotary Charities of Traverse City made an offer to the City of Traverse City, in 2015, to purchase the old coal dock property in Greilickville, for $1 million. The property had been closedoff to the public by a barbedwire fence at the foot of the dock. Traverse City Light & Power Company no longer used the dock for coal deliveries, and Rotary Charities & Services wanted to re-open the site for public uses related to maritime history, water recreation, and freshwater education. On Nov. 3, 2015, Traverse City Commissioners approved the offer Rotary Charities had made for purchase of the dock property, and the deal was completed in May 2016.
Rotary Charities expressed its intention that the property be used by the Discovery Center-Great Lakes, an umbrella organization for several water-related, non-profit groups, including the Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay; Maritime Heritage Alliance; Great Lakes Children’s Museum; and Traverse Area Community Sailing.
The “M-22 Commercial Corridor Sub-Area Master Plan” and the “Waterfront District Plan” established by the Elmwood Township Board, have been the subject of many public meetings and formal hearings over several years time.
The people of Elmwood Township, through its township board, continue to make improvements to the waterfront and adjacent areas. In 2017 a $4,300,000 project was initiated, seeking grants from the Michigan Waterways Commission to cover half the cost of improving the township marina. The usual cost for operations and improvements are paid from a Marina Fund that receives money from slip holders, boat launchings and other marina services.
In the meantime, the Elmwood Township Marina and Greilickville Harbor Park area attractions for boating, picnicking, swimming, and for those who just want to enjoy the view of beautiful Grand Traverse Bay.
In January 2019, Rotary Charities and its Rotary Camps and Services, received word that $2 million was being appropriated by the Michigan State Legislature for Rotary Charities’ effort to improve its holdings on the West Grand Traverse Bay shoreline, including the Discovery Pier waterfront areas. Both side of M-22 would received the benefit of this financial windfall.
