Fred Bear's Last Visit to a Friend Since 1940

Wade Phillips · April 05, 2009, 10:27:00 AM

Have no idea what Fred's itinerary was for that entire trip. Heaven knows Fred had hundreds of old friends to see all over Michigan. Floyd usually had the collection at Anderson Archery and if so undoubtedly saw Fred there too. Joney usually took care of the shop while Floyd was on a trip showing the collection.

Wade Phillips · April 07, 2009, 11:50:00 PM

Bernie & Tom I.

Tom, your guess for the year was right on the money. Bernie once Tom had the year pegged for you, your guess on the month and day was even better, even though you missed by one day.

I made two copies of the photograph, one of each of you. Thought you guys might want to see the frame that Floyd had the photograph mounted in, just in case you wanted to make your copy like Floyd's. Also thought you might like to have your copy shown in this backdrop before it leaves the Antique Archery Arsenal. Could get complicated trying to describe it... a photograph of an original photograph and copies of the photograph, taken where Fred is sitting in the original photograph...

PM me your mailing addresses and I will get these copies out to you guys....

Note the date on the back of the photograph 6-24-86, also note the Kodiak Paper date, the print was not processed until Aug 1986. Oh yes, back in the days before digital photography...

Tom I. · April 08, 2009, 08:51:00 AM

Wade, my logic for choosing the year was: knowing that Fred was on oxygen for the last year or so of his life and that he died in '88.
The picture showed no evidence of an oxygen tank.
The thread title said "Last visit" so I figured it had to be about 2 yrs before he died...thus 1986.
I sent you a PM.....
Thanks so much for letting me share in the reward! It's something I'll cherish.
Tom I.

CrookedStick · April 08, 2009, 07:10:00 PM

Wade,

Thanks for printing two...I figured the trip/time of year, but had no idea of the year without Tom I.

I think I pm'd you my address, but I'll send it again just in case.

And by the way, we photogs call it Kodak paper - but I guess I understand your habit of adding the 'i'!

Bernie

CrookedStick · April 20, 2009, 04:49:00 PM

Wade,

You are a gentleman and a scholar. The photo arrived today. I appreciate the comments you included.

Shoot straight!

Bernie

Wade Phillips · July 31, 2009, 08:13:00 PM

Bernie - It has been a three months since we did this thread. Glad you liked the photograph.

Since you just asked on another thread, thought it was time to post a little update...

Did get some information about the chair.

I was floored when the person who took the photograph told me that the chair was from Fred's office in Grayling and in 1978 when Bear moved to Florida, the chair was given to a gentlemen (now deceased) who took it to Floyd's place.

The chair was at Floyd's shop until 2008, when it was moved to its present home.

Have looked though several sources trying to find the chair pictured in Fred's office, but have only found two other chairs... Would like to find a photograph of the chair in Fred's office to go along with the one of Fred sitting in it in Floyd's shop. Such a photograph would sort of complete the story.

I'll keep searching...

Yes, all collectors are crazy...

CrookedStick · July 31, 2009, 09:14:00 PM

Once again great story Wade.

Thanks for the addition--ended up finding an all-glass frame for that photo because you had a note on both front and back. Looks mighty fine...great memories.

So.....when should I expect that pic of the successful bear hunter?

By the way, we should check with JohnnyRazorhead, if there is a Bear pic to be had, he's probably seen it--maybe he remembers the chair in one of the pics that passed through his hands.

Bernie

Wade Phillips · July 31, 2009, 10:57:00 PM

Bernie,

That poster of the successful Bear Hunter is 24" tall x 35" wide. My scanner is only 9" x 12"...

Any suggestions except send you the original poster?

Cody Roiter · July 31, 2009, 11:04:00 PM

Wade- I just spent the last hour looking for info on your chair.. Well I didn't come up with any thing.. So I will just come and get that old thing from you.. It would look good in my room.. Just let me know when I can come get it...LOL..LOL

No anyways Wade I looked in a few books on Fred and the book Mr.Lattimer wrote and spent the last 30mins looking for pics on google and didn't come up with a thing..
I will keep looking..

Cody

Wade Phillips · August 01, 2009, 12:15:00 AM

Cody - If you can pick it up before 9:00 AM tomorrow morning Aug 1, 2009, you can have it.

About 9AM I'm leaving for the monthly breakfast with old class mates. If you are not here before I leave, I'll probably just keep it until I croak.

Cody Roiter · August 01, 2009, 12:25:00 AM

Wade it can be done... I will be at your dooor rigth at 9:00 Am.. If mapquest

is rigth it will only take me 10hr to get there.. Plus you guys are an hr behind us.. Which would put me at your door right at 9:00.. Make sure u have the coffee ready when I get there

...LOL...

Wade great pice of history man... I will see if I can find any pics..

Cody

Hud · August 04, 2009, 01:08:00 PM

Cody, did you make it?

69RECURVE · August 04, 2009, 09:08:00 PM

What a wonderful thread. Reading it makes one feel like I have just been made priveledge to a slice of Archery heaven.

Run Cody Run.........

Wade Phillips · August 04, 2009, 11:13:00 PM

Hud & 69RECURVE - Cody never showed up here Saturday. So guess I will have to continue as its caretaker.

Was thinking it would be great to bring Fred's Chair to Compton next year so everyone who attends could have a chance to sit in it.

artifaker1 · August 04, 2009, 11:52:00 PM

Wow what a thread.

Jack Shanks · August 12, 2009, 09:06:00 AM

Just ran across this thread, great reading!

I spent the better part of last week in Mount Pleasant while attending the powwow on the reservation with my wife. Kind of ironic but I had thoughts of driving past the old Chippewa Archery Shop while we were near there. We had driven to the shop a few years ago but by then the business had already closed so I never got a chance to walk in and experience the treasures that were held inside.