Tom and Doris Cornwell with the portable ramp purchased by the Crystal Falls Lions Club.

CRYSTAL FALLS — The Crystal Falls Lions Club recently purchased two portable wheelchair ramps to be used by local resident Tom Cornwell.

Tom and his wife, Doris, are managers of the Big Foot Hideaway Motel, 1309 U.S. 2 in Crystal Falls.

The Cornwells came to Crystal Falls from the Detroit suburbs. They met later in life and had previously settled in the Lansing area with their four children, who now have families of their own.

Tom moved to the U.P. in October 2016 and lived out of his camper in the parking lot of the motel. Doris came up to Crystal Falls later, after Tom made some improvements to make the motel livable.

Tom worked very hard on repairs needed at the motel, which led to a serious knee problem resulting in a knee replacement in 2018.

The Cornwells officially became residents of Crystal Falls in March 2017. Together they finished the remodeling and the motel was ready for a grand opening in June of that same year.

“They love managing the motel and enjoy living in Crystal Falls,” said Gene Schiavo, Crystal Falls Lions Club spokesman. “They said that they ‘meet new people every day.’ They have met many residents and have been participating in many of the local community activities.”

Tom’s health has been strained for some time, with a great deal of pain, Schiavo noted.

After years of pain, knee replacements that his body rejected and five surgeries, he had his right leg amputated at mid-thigh.

He now is doing remarkably well since his last surgery in April.

“He has had the support of many of his new ‘Yooper’ friends,” Schiavo said.

But getting in and out of the motel has been difficult, with two ramps needed.

When Lions Club President Joy Fredericks became aware of his needs, club members all agreed to help out by obtaining the two portable ramps.

Some with as many problems as Tom has endured might have given up. “Our club is very proud of the Cornwells and we are sure that they will be an asset to our community,” Schiavo said.

The ramps will be used by Cornwell for as long as he needs them and then they will be made available to others.

The Lions Club already is known to provide assistance to those in need with eyeglasses, exams and more.

“We are also able to help with many other problems, such as these wheelchair ramps,” Schiavo said.

The Lions will host their annual Bass Festival this weekend, which raises money for the club’s various projects including high school scholarships and a Halloween party for the kids.

They have assisted with building special ramps that may be needed and last year they cleaned up military markers at the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

The club has needs as well — it always could use new members.

“The Lions Club continues to function quite well, but it is getting tougher and tougher to keep up, as our membership has dropped over the years and our members are aging,” Schiavo said.

Club membership has gone from 59 to now 26, but still continues to provide many community services because local residents who are not Lions provide help. “Without them, we could no longer do it,” he said.

Men and women who might be interested in joining the Crystal Falls Lions Club can get an application from any member.

“We have several (women) now and without them, we may have not been able to continue this long,” Schiavo said. “We work hard to keep the club going, but also have some fun doing it, and we get a great deal of satisfaction as a result of our efforts.”

The Crystal Falls Lions Club thanks the community for its many years of support.