Welcome to SCHOCK MCCOY PRODUCTIONS by J.H. McCoy. This website is named in honor of my mother,
Gloria (Schock) McCoy, and dedicated to her memory. Since it was founded in 2015, her JOURNAL and ALBUM have always been prominent features, but now some of her recipes have been added to the website (RECIPES).
The format of the HOMEPAGE changes during the year. It often contains articles from my hometown newspaper.
The NEWS section features recent photographs and comments on the local scene as well as more of my articles.
PHOTO-ESSAYS is a record of my trips to iconic locations in the U.S. A short history of the Schock family, written over 50 years ago (1970) by my great-uncle, Edward D. Schock, is presented in HISTORY. I edited it in 2020.
I hope that you will always find something interesting on this website and that you will tell others about it.
Thank you for stopping by. Please sign the Guest Book, and come back soon!
J.H. (John Herbert) McCoy
9636 Roberts Rd., Harbor Beach, MI 48441 // [email protected] // (989) 551-9487 (cell)
ESTABLISHED:
JANUARY 30, 2015
SCHOCK MCCOY
PRODUCTIONS
***CLICK ON THE NAME FOR A SHORT VIDEO***
(Nobel Speech)
"TEMPUS FUGIT"
(Click on small "pics" to enlarge)
Canada geese fly by.
TODAY
YESTERDAY
SAND BEACH TOWNSHIP
&
MICHIGAN'S THUMB
J.H. MCCOY
11th Anniversary of
Schock McCoy Productions
January 30, 2026
NEW
NEW
NEW
"THE SCHOCK FAMILY TREE" by Edward D. Schock (1970) edited by J.H.McCoy
Read it in HISTORY
REST IN
PEACE
JOHN MUIR (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE VIDEO) "A GLORIOUS JOURNEY" - 22 MINUTES
Born 102 years ago, Jan 30, 1923
FROM THE MINDEN CITY HERALD BY J.H. MCCOY
TIMBERDOODLE ON THE LAWN - 6/9/23
SNOWY OWL AT THE HARBOR BEACH MARINA
APRIL 3-4, 2023
ARTICLE IN "THE MINDEN CITY HERALD" - 4/13/23
THE SNOWY OWL'S "SPRING FLING" ENDED ON APRIL 5!
NOBODY HAS SEEN IT SINCE.
SNOWY OWL IN HARBOR BEACH
THE MINDEN CITY HERALD
APRIL 13, 2023
A Snowy Owl was seen and photographed at the Harbor Beach Marina on Monday and Tuesday of the first week of April. It was sitting among the boulders in front of the rental cabins at the north end of the harbor. The heavily streaked “Snowy” was extremely tame and ignored cars and traffic. It even tolerated pedestrians, walking by on the sidewalk.
I took pictures on both days from a parked vehicle. I left the car only once. On Tuesday morning, I pulled up to the line of boulders without seeing the owl. I was going to check the rocks for signs of a kill. The photographer who took pictures on the first day said that the owl was feeding on something.
I got out of the car, walked around the back of it, and then suddenly froze when I saw the yellow eyes. The Snowy Owl was sitting quietly among the boulders about 50 feet away, watching my every move. I retraced my steps, climbed back into the car, and once again snapped some pictures. (The owl photo was one I took that morning.)
Later, I began to wonder if the owl was sick or injured. After all, I had never seen it fly, and it was in the same general location for two days in a row. But it looked healthy and moved normally.
Then on Wednesday, it was gone - nobody has seen it since. Evidently, the springtime Snowy Owl decided that it was finally time to end it strange sojourn
in Harbor Beach and return to its home on the Arctic tundra.
*********
More pictures of the Snowy Owl can be found on the Homepage of my website, Schock McCoy Productions. www.schockmccoyproductions.com
After the owl disappeared, I posted several iPhone pictures of it on “Birding Michigan,” a Facebook site for people interested in Michigan birds. I also
reported it to eBird, the electronic birding website of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. www.ebird.org
Out of sync with the calendar, a Snowy Owl seems at home in the boulders at the Harbor Beach Marina.
"HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES" - HURON CITY
ICONIC HARBOR BEACH LIGHTHOUSE (1885) AND MIGRATING CANADA GEESE
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS 6/13/24
"THE EARTH LAUGHS IN FLOWERS."
RALPH WALDO EMERSON
OPOSSUMS ON THE MOVE
in THE MINDEN CITY HERALD - JULY 13, 2023
READ THE ARTICLE IN "THE CAMERA SKETCH BOOK"
"O PIONEERS!" by WILLA CATHER (1913)
"The land belongs to the future... that's the way it seems to me. How many of the names on the county clerk's plat will be there in fifty years? ... We come and go, but the land is always here. And the people who love it and understand it are the people who own it --- for a little while." Alexandra Bergson - final chapter
(photo: deserted homestead in Huron County)
FRESH SNOW AND A TEMPORARY "LAWN ORNAMENT,"
ROBERTS RD., SAND BEACH TWP.
posted on Facebook, January 23, 2024
CHANGING FACE OF AGRICULTURE:
BALED WHEAT STRAW IN THE THUMB
LABOR-INTENSIVE SQUARE BALES ARE GONE!
PRESCRIBED BURN 5/2/24
WILD BERGAMOT
LIKED BY BUTTERFLIES AND BUMBLEBEES
GROWING WILD WHERE THE BACKLAWN IS UNCUT
(Photo on "John H. McCoy" Facebook page, August 9, 2023. "Schock McCoy Productions" is also on Facebook with literary and historical content. "Like Us" there.)
FARM COUNTRY RAINBOW
ANDY DUFRESNE - "THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION"
"HOPE IS A GOOD THING, MAYBE THE BEST OF THINGS, AND NO GOOD THING EVER DIES."
BEST "BACKYARD BUTTERFLY" ... SO FAR
EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL ON WILD BERGAMOT
AUGUST 20, 2023
SANDHILL CRANES
IN HARBOR BEACH 5/23/24
"ONCE IN A BLUE MOON"
LAKE HURON - SAND BEACH TOWNSHIP AUGUST 30, 2023
The next BLUE MOON will occur on May 31, 2026. However, a
BLUE MOON, which is also a "SUPERMOON," will not happen until 2037.
MIGRATING WINTER WREN IN THE BACKYARD
October 15, 2023 - through a window
WINTER WREN - "a very round, dark wren, told from the House Wren by its smaller size, much stubbier tail, stronger eyebrow, and heavily barred belly. Often bobs body and flicks wings. Mouselike and secretive; stays near the ground." [from the "Peterson Field Guide To Birds"]
DITTO - MORE MIGRANTS - HERMIT THRUSH
POSTED ON FACEBOOK: "A small flock of Canada Geese at Harbor Beach, flying off to feed as a December day comes to an end (12/6/23)."
Good response: 43 LIKES; 7 COMMENTS.
ANCIENT ENEMIES IN HURON COUNTY
NOVEMBER 14, 2023
POSTED ON FACEBOOK: DECEMBER 3, 2023
LIKE THE "BIG WOODS" - STANDING CORN IS A PLACE OF SAFETY FOR DEER DURING THE FIREARM DEER SEASON,
WHICH BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2023.
STANDING CORN IN MID-NOVEMBER (HURON CO.)
GLORIA (SCHOCK) MCCOY
CLICK
ON PIC
+++ NEW MATERIAL
ON MY WEBSITE HAS
BEEN LIMITED DUE TO
HEALTH ISSUES,
SEPT. 1, 2024.
During spring migration in May, a flock of Black-bellied Plovers spent a few days on the shoreline at Wagener County Park south of Harbor Beach. Perhaps they were waiting for more favorable winds or just resting during their long migratory journey to the Arctic tundra. (Black-bellied Plovers are the largest members of the plover family and nest the farthest north.)
The adult male in breeding plumage has a white crown and nape and a black face and belly; the female is slightly duller and averages less black overall.
The number of migrating plovers at the park fluctuated: one day there were about 50 on
a small spit at the water’s edge; the next day, close to 100. (Later, a birder with a scope counted 140 Black-bellied Plovers just north of the park – no doubt, some of the same birds.) The flock also contained a few other shorebirds like Dunlins and Ruddy Turnstones.
In breeding plumage, Black-bellied Plovers are easy to recognize; but after the summer molt, their distinctive black pattern is replaced by a white belly and a mottled, brownish gray color.
During fall and winter, birders must rely on other field marks to identify them - like their stocky plover shape, hunched posture, and short, thick bill. In flight, they show
a white wing-stripe, a whitish rump and tail, and black under the wings at their “wingpits.”
Black-bellied Plovers might visit Wagener County Park again during fall migration, but they will be harder to identify in their dull nonbreeding plumage.
In early May, a breeding pair of adult Sandhill Cranes was seen in a grassy field near
the Grice House Museum in Harbor Beach. They continually probed the grass with their long, dagger-like bills and seemed preoccupied by their search for food. Occasionally, they engaged in some brief courtship displays, spreading their wings and “dancing.”
The cranes did not react to my vehicle, and I took the pictures from the car window.
It was the first time I ever photographed Sandhill Cranes inside the city limits.
In early spring, I have often heard and seen high-flying Sandhill Cranes in the sky over my house in Sand Beach Township. Usually, I hear their loud, trumpet-like calls long before I locate them in the sky overhead.
Sandhill Cranes are more numerous farther west. In fact, their name refers to the Sand Hills of central Nebraska, where over half-a-million cranes rest and refuel in the spring
at various stopover points along the Platte River.
Most Sandhill Cranes use the Central Flyway during spring migration. But, as they expand their range eastward on the Mississippi Flyway, they are seen more often in the Thumb.
************************
During my twelve years with THE MINDEN CITY HERALD, I have written other articles about Sandhill Cranes. They are listed below and can be found in the Archives of the newspaper (www.mindencityherald.com).
1.
Sandhill Cranes…. Early Migrants - July 31, 2014
Sandhill Cranes…. Early Migrants - July 31, 20142.Sandhill Cranes - November 19, 2015
Sandhill Cranes - November 19, 20153.Hunting Sandhill Cranes? – June 20, 2019
Hunting Sandhill Cranes? – June 20, 20194.Sandhill Cranes in Minden Township (photo) - May 28, 2020
Sandhill Cranes in Minden Township (photo) - May 28, 2020
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conducted a “prescribed burn” in the Verona State Game Area on Friday, April 26. With the Verona Township Cemetery as
a backdrop, the 15-man “burn team” began lighting back fires along Philp and McAllister Roads, which slowly burned into the wind (SE).
When the back fires had charred and blackened a sufficient perimeter, the DNR ignited the grasslands in front of them. A brisk wind fanned the flames and drove them toward the newly created “fire-stop.” Clouds of smoke billowed into the sky as fast-moving fires raced through the dry grass.
Three sections of grassland (about 300 acres) were burned during the afternoon. At 10:30 P.M., some DNR personnel were still at the scene to make certain that all fires were completely extinguished.
“Prescribed burns” are used by the DNR to improve grassland habitat, but grass fires can be unpredictable and dangerous. Fire safety is always a primary concern.
***************************
Eight years ago, I wrote a full-length article on the same subject, “Fire Comes to the Verona State Game Area.” It can be found in the Archives of The Minden City Herald (5/5/2016). www.mindencityherald.com
10TH
ANNIVERSARY
JAN. 30, 2025
10
HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2026
DECEMBER 25, 2025
EAGLE-TIME IN HURON COUNTY - 2025
CHRISTMAS WREATHS
A colorful evergreen wreath from Dorothy's Flowers of Harbor Beach adds a festive touch to my porch in Sand Beach Township.
WILD
BEE
BALM
BERGAMOT
There is something pleasant about an old-fashioned Christmas wreath. Maybe it is the lush green color of fresh-cut boughs, woven into a symbolic circle and proclaiming that life continues even during the darkness of the winter solstice and the fury of snowstorms and blizzards in the north. Perhaps, it is the eye-catching contrast of colorful ribbons and shiny ornaments that decorate the evergreens and highlight their unchanging hue. Certainly, it is the place where the ornamental wreath is hung – doorways, windows, and porches - announcing the festive holiday season and welcoming all with Yuletide hospitality.
In many ancient civilizations, ceremonial wreaths were a normal part of ordinary civic life. The Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans crowned their heroes with leafy garlands to honor their victories and accomplishments. They also hung wreaths on the doors of military men and prominent citizens to commemorate their triumphs and achievements.
With the advent of Christianity, the followers of the new religion retained the use of wreaths, but changed the meaning. Advent wreaths became popular in Germany and
were used as a countdown to the Christmas celebration. The circle of evergreen boughs contained four colorful candles – one was lighted each week as the days before Christmas passed by. A fifth candle in the middle of the wreath represented the Messiah and was lighted when the Advent season was complete.
Our Christmas wreath with its greenery and ribbons evolved from the Germanic custom of bringing evergreen trees into the house and decorating them during the winter solstice. When Christianity began to influence the practice, the evergreen trees were often trimmed to make them look more triangular - the three-pointed tree represented the Holy Trinity, a symbol used by preachers to teach a religious mystery. As a practical matter, evergreen trees were also trimmed to fit into a designated space inside the house.
The cut boughs and branches were not wasted, but were woven into small circles and hung on the tree as additional decorations. Eventually, these small wreathes grew larger in size and became a separate part of the holiday décor. They were often decorated with apples, pears, nuts, and dates, and festooned with ribbons and other ornamental objects.
The Christmas wreath in the English-speaking world traces its origin to the Victorian era and a young German Prince, Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who became the husband of Queen Victoria in February of 1840. Prince Albert introduced many Germanic holiday customs into the English court, including the Christmas tree and the Christmas wreath. The royal family included these new holiday traditions in their Christmas celebrations, and the people quickly followed their lead. Soon, the Christmas tree and the evergreen wreath were prominent features of Christmastime in England.
In the beginning, the Christmas wreath was a do-it-yourself project, homemade and original. Families constructed wreaths for their own personal use and decorated them with whatever was available. Today, Christmas wreaths are big business. In the United States alone, holiday wreaths and garlands generate over $300 million dollars a year and worldwide the total is over $1.8 billion dollars.
In the U.S., Maine traditionally leads the way in the production of handmade balsam fir wreaths. Every year, residents produce millions of holiday wreaths, which are then shipped across the country and around the world. Many consider a wreath from Maine as the “gold standard” in holiday décor. Maine’s famous outdoor company L.L. Bean recently featured eight pages of Christmas wreaths in one of their holiday catalogues. The prices ranged from $50 to $75 dollars, depending on size.
Maine is also the birthplace of the one of the newest Christmas wreath traditions, placing wreaths on the graves of veterans in military cemeteries during the holiday season. The non-profit organization WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA was established in 2007, by Maine wreath producer Morrill Worcester. It all began in 1992 when the Worcester Wreath Company in Down East Maine donated 5,000 surplus wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to decorate the graves of veterans. From these humble beginnings, the practice grew and expanded, especially after a photo of decorated graves in Arlington Cemetery went viral in 2005. Then, in 2008, the U.S. Senate designated a Saturday in December as WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY.
This year, Wreaths Across America Day was held on December 13, 2025. On the second Saturday in December, an army of volunteers decorated the graves of about three million military veterans with a simple evergreen wreath highlighted with a red ribbon. According to their website, the goal of Wreaths Across America is to “place a wreath on every hero’s grave each December,” so no one who served this country is forgotten at Christmastime. Their motto is: REMEMBER, HONOR, AND TEACH (“Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.”)
Christmas wreaths are cherished by holiday revelers all over the world, but now many of them are made from artificial components rather than evergreens. However, millions of live Christmas wreaths can still be found wherever Christmas is celebrated. As a colorful decoration and a sign of the season, the Christmas wreath comes in second only to the ubiquitous Christmas tree; and year after year, the familiar circle of evergreens continues to define the holiday and highlight its festive traditions.
In 2005, this photo of Christmas wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia
went viral and generated new interest in WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA. It also
inspired national Wreaths Across America Day, honoring deceased veterans at
Christmastime.
www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
www.schockmccoyproductions.com
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!
AND THANK YOU FOR VISITING
SCHOCK MCCOY PRODUCTIONS!!
BEST WISHES FOR 2026!!!!!!
"CHRISTMAS CAME AND CHRISTMAS WENT. CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR WAS HEAVEN SENT."
