Mystery of Little Finland Rd.

To the editor:
Back in the summer of 1968 my mother and father did something highly uncharacteristic for them. They spent some money on something unnecessary. They purchased a small camp at the end of Little Finland Road in Bates Township.
It was somewhat of a scary time with the former USSR having invaded Czechoslovakia. The whole world was on pins and needles reminiscent of the Cuban missile crisis. In the drama of those times we gingerly negotiated a stretch of ruts and rocks to arrive at the spot on the Paint River. Our mode of transport was a 1966 Dodge Coronet packed with endless bags and coolers, some fishing gear, two parents and four boys.
This was our attempt to regain some of our rural roots after having transplanted ourselves to the big city. The tension in the car was palpable and every thump of an iron filled rock on the bottom of the car made us question the journey entirely. We reached the camp, amidst the darkness, in one piece.
As morning broke the next day, we found ourselves in wonderment at our surroundings. The morning light and the mist on the river brought an unfamiliar feeling of peace and calm. We were going to have a good time.
The splendor of that moment survived for 53 years. Little boys grew up and had families. Their little boys created adventures of their own. Family challenges were always soothed by the gurgling of the water, the rolling clouds and the tall cedars. I myself, at 15, learned to drive in Iron River and 30 years later brought my new wife to the place for our honeymoon. My next youngest brother, father of three boys died and his ashes were dispersed in the Paint. To say that we had a spiritual family bond to the 1/2-acre parcel would be an understatement.
This grand story all ended in July of 2011 when tragedy struck. Somehow and someway this little log structure, filled with our family history was burnt to the ground intentionally. This, is the “Mystery of Little Finland Road.”
Lost in the fire was a 45-year-old logbook all were required to write in upon departing, photos, original artwork and all of the peace and calm we experienced on our first morning there. Having never experienced the slightest contentious moment in this paradise, we, to this day lose sleep over the tragedy. It is truly a mystery.
My family would like to close this era with some peace of mind by determining who would have done this. We don’t own the property anymore, the deep hurt is mostly over but if there is any chance whatsoever that we can find out why this happened it would help to heal us. It would also heal the old neighborhood at the end of Little Finland Road.
The investigations have not, as of yet, been successful. The Michigan State Police barracks in Iron Mountain have the police report. There was a determination of arson.
I ask all of the good folks in the Iron River area to help me and my family close this chapter. Simply keep an ear to the ground and report any inside information to the State Police or the County Sheriff.                                 
Thank You and God Bless.
-s- Mr. Glenn Meine 
Wisconsin