JANUARY 30, 1979
Jackie: Are you sure Michael you want to buy a camp with your inheritance? Especially this one? Look at it. Spreading his arm out. It’s run down and in need of repair. Hasn’t been used in 20 years.
Michael: I’m positive. It has potential. Besides look at the lake. It’s breathtaking. I know we can get this camp up and working again and it will be open for next summer.
Jermaine; Michael, you didn’t spend all you money on this thing did you?
Michael; No man! I got it for $300, 000 but it 6,500 acres of property basically this whole monuntain top as far as you can see is mine. And all the buildings and outbuildings. Which means this camp and the lake.
Janet: $300,000 is still a lot of money and that is half or your share for our inheritance!
Marlon; She’s right! Whoever you bought it from ripped you off. Frowning
Michael; Why can’t any of you be happy for me? Why are you all so negative?? I bought it and that’s it!! I got it on auction anyway, this was the starting price and no one wanted to bid on it. The family of the owner prior didn’t want it and did not pay taxes on it all this time so that’s why the cost. I already had it appraised it’s worth just on acreage alone Two million and I got it for the $300,000 which is nothing. Now you can be a part of it and help me or get off my back. But either way, it’s mine and I’m going to get it up and operational. So Either help or leave me be. With that he turns and walks down the path towards the main cabin which Michael assumed was the camp directors cabin.
Michael’s siblings look at each other and decide that if he wants’ to take his half of their inheritance they couldn’t stop him. Each received $600,000 of the $3 million their parents had left them when they died. The lawyers got $1 million and the IRS the other million for taxes of all things. They had bought homes and cars and are living wisely but leisurely. Michael just blew half of his and it looked to them like it would take another third of the inheritance money just to get this place cleaned up and open. They loved their brother and decided to help him. They knew that once Michael set his mind on doing something he was not going to be detoured for nothing. So they reluctedly followed him and told him they would help him in getting it up and running.
They all surveyed the grounds and sat down to work out a plan that would be cost effective but still good quality to ensure it all was put back in a paying order and met codes and regulations and safety standards for the children. Jackie and Michael would take care of getting rid of any pest, filling holes and going through wiring and plumbing. Marlon and Janet would clean up all the cabins and check the bathrooms. Jermaine would take care of the mess hall make sure all the equipment was in working order and replace all that was outdated and in ill repair. As well as check all the roofs. Together they were going to buy supplies such as blankets and medical supplies and equipment just in case for the children to have that stocked and the food stocks would come just prior to opening day when Michael was completely ready to reopen the camp.
Jermaine. Well, We need 7 roofs and a new stove and grill and a new refrigerator and food storage unit.
Janet. Two bathrooms and the shower area by the pool is in need of repair. It looks like from the many winters did most of it but the shower area looked like an abandoned animal den.
Jackie: Well we found the plumbing to the bathrooms and mess cabin is in need or major repair.
Marlon: Only one cabin is uninhabitable all the others are in great shape once we got them cleaned no holes or burroughs or weather damage that we can’t patch ourselves.
Michael; The wiring is pretty good except in the mess cabin. Phone lines work all the switches are good. Medical is great. So we don’t have a whole lot there to deal with. The grounds themselves are workable. I know several people who would be willing to help with that, clearing shrubs and overgrowth around the cabins and trails.
