Smith's Little Acres - Charlevoix, Michigan

6779 U.S. 31 South, Charlevoix, MI

Clayton Smith's house is on the highway just outside of town, but the entire north country is his home. In younger years he drove a fruit truck far and wide, peddling apples and cherries in upper and lower Michigan. Hunting and fishing trips drew him to far islands of Lake Superior and forgotten rivers of the UP. In down time his hands were busy whittling sculptures of fish, or bears, or Paul Bunyan or other legends that inspired him. On the back of his property, he displayed these creations in a small cabin filled to the rafters with artwork, maps and sculptures. His creations reflect a life well-lived in the outdoors, but they are not just a personal vision. Smith sought to tell a larger tale of the history and landscape of the northern Michigan woods that inspired him.

Clayton Smith self-published several books of tales of his many adventures entwined with his knowledge of local history in the 1990s. He passed away at age 98 in 2015.