The Legs Inn / The Legs Inn
The Legs Inn, named for the stove legs that trim the roofline, is one of Michigan´s most exuberant and unusual landmarks. The building reflects Stanley Smolak´s creativity and the craftsmanship of local Odawa (Ottawa) Indians. A Polish immigrant, Smolak came to the United States in 1912 and settled in Cross Village in 1921. During the 1930s Smolak enlisted the labor of Odawa and other area residents to construct the inn from locally gathered timber and stones. A self-trained artist, Smolak used tree roots, limbs and driftwood to carve fantastical creatures into the furniture and decorative objects used in the inn. He called the carvings "nature´s oddities." Until his death in 1968 at age 81, Smolak continued his creative work at the inn, which had become a social center for the community.Legs Inn jest jednym z najbardziej orginalnych i niezwyklych zabytkow w stanie Michigan. Nazwa pochodzi od bialych, zelaznych nog piecow wmurowanych na froncie dachu. Budynek jest obrazem tworczosci Stanislawa Smolaka i artystycznego rzemiosla Indian szczepu Odawa (Ottawa). Smolak, polski emigrant przybyl do U.S.A. w 1912 roku, w Cross Village osiedlil sie w 1921. W latach 1930-tych, przy budowie Legs Inn pomagali Smolakowi Indianie Odawa i inni mieszkancy okolicy, ktorzy wykorzystywali znalezione w pobliżu drewno i kamienie. Smolak, artysta samouk wyrzezbil z kamieni, galezi drzew i drewna wyrzuconego przez jezioro niezwykle przedmioty i meble, ktore nazwal “osobliwosciami natury.” Legs Inn stalo sie centrum towarzyskim dla lokalnej spolecznosci. Smolak kontynuowal swoja prace do roku 1968, gdy zmarl w wieku 81 lat.
Plaque via Michigan History Center