Undefeated: The True Story of How the Family-Owned Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service Survived and Advanced
A review by Jean Martin
The book is divided into about 19 chapters, but we see it as being more like three sections. In the first section we learn about the history and lore of the Shepler (Schepler) family, their life on the Great Lakes, and the origins of the family business.
Here much is made in the book about Shepler’s dedication to the Disney concept of great service. If Disney-like service includes valet parking where your keys are thrown at you and you are told that your car is somewhere over in that field, then Shepler’s in Mackinaw City has it down cold. Your results may vary.
The middle section reads more like an extended advertisement for the Shepler Company. If you want to work for Shepler’s check out this section. Here the author also gives regional history a few glancing blows.
It is in the final chapter that we learn why the book is called Undefeated. This portion outlines the takeover of the competing Arnold Transit Line and an unsuccessful attempt to create a monopoly on the Mackinac Island ferry business.
The whole story of this tale of local intrigue has yet to be completed, but the inside details published here are probably worth the price of the book in themselves.
The book is available at Amazon in hardcover ($20.17), paperback ($13.27) and Kindle ($3.99).
http://www.amazon.com/Undefeated-Family-Owned-Sheplers-Mackinac-Generations-ebook/dp/B00OYQZP0Q/