Chair Sandra Adams said the commission had noticed the benches were deteriorating, “so we were trying to think what could we do that would be cost effective to replace the benches.”

The commission approached Pine Creek Woodworking, the local nonprofit facility, after deciding against metal ones.

“I contacted Tom (Wender), and asked ‘Do you think the guys that work up there would be willing to make some benches for us?'” she said.

Wender agreed but wanted to wait until after summer, when the former Pine Creek School in Breitung Township was not as busy. He said about a half-dozen members took part in the project, which was completed earlier this year.

The new benches for the Fumee Lake Natural Area will be installed early this summer when the trails have dried up more. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

“We’re happy to work with the Fumee Lake Commission. It’s a community thing. The more people that use that facility, the better,” Wender said.

The commission paid for all the materials and provided a design for how they wanted the benches built. The 4-foot long benches are made with heavy-duty treated wood.

“We will have more benches out there than are currently out there,” Adams said, noting they will retain benches that are not too deteriorated as well. The original benches date from about 1992-93, when the natural area was created.

“These (benches) can also be used to mount horses if they have to get off their horses, which is an issue. We’ve also been asked about how to accommodate that,” she said.

“The horseback riders will be happy,” commission member Jason Asselin agreed. “I think it will be nice. There are a lot of places that don’t have benches now. They served pretty well.”

One of the original benches at Fumee Lake Natural Area in Norway and Quinnesec. Twelve new benches will be installed; benches that have not deteriorated too badly will remain. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

“It’s good for the community and good for Fumee,” said Joe Stevens, the Dickinson County Board representative on the commission. “They will be there for years to come.”

According to its website, the Fumee Lake Natural Area in Norway and Quinnesec was formed when 80% of Dickinson County voters favored a bonding proposal to acquire Fumee Lake for “use and preservation as a natural area.” It was established in 1992, and offers more than 1,800 acres for a variety of non-motorized activities, including hiking, biking, bird watching and nature photography in the spring, summer and fall; cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter months. Horseback riding is permitted as well.

The website noted that the natural area has a number of unique features. Fumee Lake and Little Fumee Lake provide a total of 5 miles of undeveloped shoreline. In addition to numerous wetlands, 507 acres of surface water create a fishery deemed “very remarkable and unique” by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. County ordinance prohibits having fishing equipment on the property.

The area has historically been home to a number of noteworthy species, including bald eagles, common loons and 19 species of orchids. Three plants on Michigan’s Threatened Species list are found here: Walking Fern, Purple Cliff-brake and Marsh Grass of Parnassus.

Fumee Lake Natural Area has public parking lots at:

The entrance to the Fumee Lake Natural Area on Indiana Mine Road, east of Lake Antoine Park. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

— The east side of the lake off the Upper Pine Creek Road, 1 mile north of U.S. 2 between Norway and Quinnesec.

— The west side at the end of Indiana Mine Road, east of Lake Antoine Park.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.