For Donavan Roznowski of Clinton Township, “It’s always been about family and the traditions.”

Roznowski’s family deer camp is located off Bolton Road near Alpena.

The family homestead has been there for well over a hundred years. The first housing structure on the property was lost in the Metz Fire of 1908. Rebuilt in 1909, the centennial homestead still stands today.

Though the family hunts the property annually, deer were not always a commodity in the area. Roznowski recalled stories of his grandfather having to go as far as Lewiston to find deer to hunt.

Courtesy Photo Chet Wikaryasz, Donavan Roznowski’s grandfather stands beside his deer blind that he made with pool siding/wall.

It wasn’t until farming grew in the region that the deer population began to increase. In fact, it wasn’t until the late 1980s that the first buck was shot on this property.

The landowner and patriarch of the family, Chet Wikaryasz, spent many years making improvements and caring for the property.

According to Roznowski, his grandfather believed in preserving the environment, planting 500 red and white pines to allow deer protection from winter storms.

Wikaryasz, a tool and die maker, was also a resourceful man. He deconstructed unwanted shipping containers at his job and reused the salvaged lumber and repurposed nails to construct what is now known as Chet’s Polish Palace, a two-story barn-style structure equipped with a wood stove and propane lights, that is the family deer camp.

Though Wikaryasz passed away in 2000, the family continues his legacy.

Roznowski and family still allow local farmers to plant and harvest beans and wheat on the property at no charge.

“My Dzia Dzia knew being a good land steward and helping the farmers in the area is important to the upkeep of the deer population,” Roznowski said referring to his grandfather in Polish.

Every year, family members from near and far converge on the homestead for their reunion.

“It’s more than just a hunting camp, it’s a place for our family to gather and it reminds us of all the good people in the family that have passed away,” Roznowski said. “My Dzia Dzia was a great, great guy. I honor him to this day. He gave us this.

“Our hopes are that our young family members will get in the groove and want to be involved for generations and generations,” he added. “There’s so much history in this area.”