We had driven to the little town of Laurium, MI years ago in search of a good pasty. Folks in Houghton pointed us to a little cafe called Toni's as the best place to eat a pasty. "No carrots in their pasties" was one reason they recommended this place. The Cornish do not like carrots in their pasties.
This year I wanted to drive along the shore out to the end of the peninsula. To Copper Harbor where the ferry leaves 0n a 56 mile trip to Isle Royale National Park, an off shore island closer to Minnesota than Michigan.
We took the scenic, winding lake hugging road. Near Eagle Harbor we spotted a cottage-like little business called The Jampot. The sign said jams and bakery and drew us inside the tiny building. We were surprised to see chokecherry, wild berry jams, honey, fruitcakes and goodies bearing the label "Poorrock Abbey". Looking up we saw a monk working the cash register. He was bearded and dressed in orthodox looking robes. He told us this was owned by Byzantine Monks. We bought jam, honey and ginger cookies and left.
About a block down the road and around a curve we saw an unusual site for this area; a big golden wooden building with onion domes bearing crosses. Very unusual site in this sparsely populated area. We stopped to take a picture and spotted a monk on a ladder washing windows.
The Abbey. Built on the rocky shoreline stood gleaming in the sunshine.
That evening we talked to the owner of a tiny general store in Eagle River. He knew about the abbey and The Jampot store. He did not like the fact the monks had refused to let the snowmobile trail run through their property. He thought they were standoffish. I'm not sure he understands the monastic life.
I found their website to do a little research. I knew the Byzantine rite was a branch of the Roman Catholic church but was interested in why they settled where they did. It seemed oddly like modern day pioneering, but I guess that is the history of all monasteries. Interesting. You can buy jam by mail from them but no website sales. No monk -e -business.
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