by Amy Robinson
For people who stick around at a job for years; say 20 or 30, maybe 40, they might be rewarded with a certificate or maybe a bit stereotypical, a gold watch. One woman in Alpena, is being rewarded with a spot in the book of Guiness Book of World Records. And nothing about the honor is typical; Clarise Grenkowisk, a 92-year old great-grandmother, has been recognized under the category: "Longest Career as a Bartender."
It was quite a process; the record book checked her birth certificate, marriage certificate, and three letters of verification before approving her accomplishment.
There are things you expect to see when you walk into a bar. A pool table, Beer taps, maybe a dance floor. And then there are things you don't expect to see; like a 92-year old woman working behind the counter.
Let me back up. If you live in Charlevoix, Midland, Traverse City or hundreds of other towns throughout Michigan, you don't expect to see her. If you live in Alpena and frequent the Maple Wood Tavern, you definitely do. Clarice Kramer Cadarette Grenkowick has been bartending here, in the same bar, since 1940.
Customers have been showing up at the Maple Wood since prohibition. The bar was built in 1924 as a dry dance hall. 16-years later, Clarice began working in the Tavern when she married her first husband.
"Well, I married Henry and Carol's dad in 1940, September 6th, and his mother was running this place. My mother in law, Ortha Cadarette, and she needed help so we moved in to stay with her; and I've been here ever since."
Clarice raised her children in the apartment attached to the bar. Over the years, this tavern itself has become a home to this remarkable woman. She takes me on a tour to show me the memorabilia saved through the years.
A wall full of old cameras, a display case full of cigarette lighters, and a random roll of novelty toilet paper.
Past the pool tables, there's a shelf dedicated to Clairce's family photos. Memories of nearly 100 years preserved on the back wall of the Maple Wood Tavern.
These days Clarice has the grey hair well earned after more than 90-years of life, but everything else about her belies her age. She looks a good 20-years younger than her 91 years. The kind of fortunate person that time forgot.
This lifelong bartender has never smoked. She doesn't drink. She can mix drinks with the best of them; She tends toward the alcohol-equivalent of comfort food.
Vodka and Squirt, seven seven. We have a quite a few different kinds of liquor you know like rum. But nothing fancy it's just straight up, mostly beer here.
Clarice has a billy club tucked under the counter, just in case. She said she's only needed to pull it out twice; and then the threat was enough.
She said most of the people who come in the Maple Wood are no problem at all. In fact she counts them among her friends.
Clarice has outlived two husbands, her parents, three sisters and many friends. For this small, sturdy woman, this is home. She's spent her entire life within about a half-a-mile of this bar, a legacy she seems to enjoy. Clarice said its unreal to believe how many people have passed through her doors.
So we lift a drink to Clarice; Grandmother, great-grandmother and after 71 years of work, the world's longest serving bartender.
For people who stick around at a job for years; say 20 or 30, maybe 40, they might be rewarded with a certificate or maybe a bit stereotypical, a gold watch. One woman in Alpena, is being rewarded with a spot in the book of Guiness Book of World Records. And nothing about the honor is typical; Clarise Grenkowisk, a 92-year old great-grandmother, has been recognized under the category: "Longest Career as a Bartender."
It was quite a process; the record book checked her birth certificate, marriage certificate, and three letters of verification before approving her accomplishment.
There are things you expect to see when you walk into a bar. A pool table, Beer taps, maybe a dance floor. And then there are things you don't expect to see; like a 92-year old woman working behind the counter.
Let me back up. If you live in Charlevoix, Midland, Traverse City or hundreds of other towns throughout Michigan, you don't expect to see her. If you live in Alpena and frequent the Maple Wood Tavern, you definitely do. Clarice Kramer Cadarette Grenkowick has been bartending here, in the same bar, since 1940.
Customers have been showing up at the Maple Wood since prohibition. The bar was built in 1924 as a dry dance hall. 16-years later, Clarice began working in the Tavern when she married her first husband.
"Well, I married Henry and Carol's dad in 1940, September 6th, and his mother was running this place. My mother in law, Ortha Cadarette, and she needed help so we moved in to stay with her; and I've been here ever since."
Clarice raised her children in the apartment attached to the bar. Over the years, this tavern itself has become a home to this remarkable woman. She takes me on a tour to show me the memorabilia saved through the years.
A wall full of old cameras, a display case full of cigarette lighters, and a random roll of novelty toilet paper.
Past the pool tables, there's a shelf dedicated to Clairce's family photos. Memories of nearly 100 years preserved on the back wall of the Maple Wood Tavern.
These days Clarice has the grey hair well earned after more than 90-years of life, but everything else about her belies her age. She looks a good 20-years younger than her 91 years. The kind of fortunate person that time forgot.
This lifelong bartender has never smoked. She doesn't drink. She can mix drinks with the best of them; She tends toward the alcohol-equivalent of comfort food.
Vodka and Squirt, seven seven. We have a quite a few different kinds of liquor you know like rum. But nothing fancy it's just straight up, mostly beer here.
Clarice has a billy club tucked under the counter, just in case. She said she's only needed to pull it out twice; and then the threat was enough.
She said most of the people who come in the Maple Wood are no problem at all. In fact she counts them among her friends.
Clarice has outlived two husbands, her parents, three sisters and many friends. For this small, sturdy woman, this is home. She's spent her entire life within about a half-a-mile of this bar, a legacy she seems to enjoy. Clarice said its unreal to believe how many people have passed through her doors.
So we lift a drink to Clarice; Grandmother, great-grandmother and after 71 years of work, the world's longest serving bartender.