Get Up and Grow: A natural value
This year has certainly been unlike any other in recent memory, and like many other people most of my social activities have looked very different than usual. Rather than head out to a movie, go to a concert or find myself in crowds, I’ve instead been spending more time this year in my own yard, walking through my neighborhood and exploring nature.
While my spouse and I have been keeping our distance from others during our daily walks, we’ve enjoyed watching the change of the seasons. We have also noticed the amount of children playing outside. Of course we have always seen the neighborhood kids out and about, but lately it seems like they are out in their yards and stretching their imaginations a bit more than usual.
Seeing the joy that children are experiencing as they get outside for fresh air, sunshine, and to run off some pent-up energy makes me think of the many stories of imagination and play that are part of the Heritage Collection and the history of our site at Minnetrista.
Of course many of us have heard stories about Betty Ball’s active imagination as a child and her love of fairies. But we have to remember, Betty was not the only child to grow up along Minnetrista Boulevard. In total, the five Ball families that lived along the White River had 12 children between them. This created quite a network of cousins living in close proximity to one another in the early 20th century. Needless to say, lots of outdoor play ensued.
Dress-up and pretend play were regular occurrences both on the Boulevard, as well as at the families’ summer cottages in Leland, Mich. There were of course fairy costumes, but also suits of armor and many other homemade costumes for each occasion. Joining forces, cousins would mount plays, performances, and circuses for their families. Before Nebosham (now the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center) was built, several large boulders dotted the property, creating what Betty remembered seeming like a “secret palace” for her and her cousins to play in. Down the Boulevard, Dr. Lucius Ball, built a treehouse in their backyard where his daughter Helen warded off dragons. Occasionally, a knight (looking very similar to Lucius) saved the day.
Over at Frank and Bessie Ball’s home (Minnetrista), their daughters had a lavish outdoor playhouse where they kept their dolls, but it was certainly not the only place to play make-believe. Their daughter Margaret remembered setting up an outdoor school for her stuffed animals and younger brother Frank. With pussy willows and wild violets growing near the river, Margaret’s older sister Lucy fondly remembered hunting for nature’s beauty along the banks, taking breezy boat rides in warm weather, or skating on the frozen waters in the winter.
Next door at Nebosham, young Ed Ball explored every inch of the property and house — climbing up walls, under porches, and down trees. On the third floor of their home, Ed and his siblings rode tricycles and also discovered that open windows led to roof tops and stunning views of the world around them.
These and other stories of play and outdoor exploration can be found in the many letters, diaries, and documents in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection. Through the memories of the Ball children, we not only gain an understanding of what their lives were like, but we are also reminded of the value of nature, the great outdoors, and imagination. While technology has opened up new and exciting worlds, there is still something magical about getting outside and exploring the world around us, no matter the season.
So as we navigate this unique time of social distancing, remember, nature and all of its wonders can be found right outside your front door. While the rest of the world may be moving in slow motion, the outside world is full of exciting beauty to explore. From the scent of the fresh breeze to the last of the autumn leaves nature is certainly a valuable asset that we can all enjoy — so let your imagination run wild.