Once a year, Ed and Norrine Jensen invite the Ellendale Historical Society to a special meeting at “The Old Boat House” at Beaver Lake. This event was held recently, and got my mind and my mother’s racing with memories of those “good old days” at Beaver Lake.
I may have shared some stories previously about my early experiences at Beaver Lake But, I need to tell them again for those who didn’t read them “back then,” before I go on to tell some of my other memories and new stories.
The things that I and my parents remember about Beaver Lake seem so trivial compared to the history of this very historic landmark. Some of my first experiences I owe to Solvieg Sorenson, who took her children there for swimming lessons. She was kind enough to include my sister Kaye and I; who were too young for lessons. We played on the sandy beach where the boat landing area is now. Sometimes it was just a special treat because the day was hot and work had been accomplished for the day.
My dad, who was a compulsive worker, didn’t like to take time off, So, my great-uncle Viggo Christensen, had dad do some work for him and as a special reward, wanted our family to come to the lake for a steak fry at Minnie and Buzzy Lerums' cabin on the south shore. Dad hesitated in accepting the invitation, but we went and we were hooked forever.
Dad so enjoyed that Saturday afternoon that he asked if he could come back the next day. We did. Following our second visit to the lake, he told Minnie he wanted to ask his brother in South St. Paul, who had connections with a “retired” bus company, if he could get an old bus. Dad thought that he could convert the bus into a motorhome and park it by her cabin so we could spend the summers at the lake, near her and Buzzy.
Minnie said “Yes” to the idea, never believing it would happen, but buy he did and the next weekend we were “Beaver Lakers” in a motor home stripped of its seats with built in bunks and a cook top, that was really a coffee pot warmer from who knows where.
Viggo had a five gallon pail of paint and volunteered to paint our new motorhome blue.
It was to be the beginning of one of our greatest adventures and probably the only “family vacation” persay, we had. Minnie was my Aunt Nancy's sister. She and Viggo had one “freckled face, almost red headed” son a few years older than I, and of course our hero. There were times he tolerated my sister and I, and times when we were just girls. One of our favorite times at the lake were Sunday mornings when Minnie and Nancy made breakfast on the cook stove Lerums' had out under their big oak tree. Fired up, it produced great pancakes, french toast, sausages and eggs — the whole works.
I say this was one of my favorite things growing up, because this happened to be a hot, hot summer. We literally lived in the lake. Because we were so little, it was compulsary to wear life jackets — clumsy Kapok life jackets. Mine was red and my sister’s blue. Our swim suits were navy blue - one piece. My sister was more adventurous. I and my aunt, suffered panic attacks, because of my sister’s water bravery.
Often, our days started at sun up and we were still swimming at night when it was dark and the stars were like diamonds in the sky We thought that we lived at a gold mine. Though we had been taught “no rough housing” in the lake, something later disproved that, when Mark acquainted us with a very athletic young man whose last name was Neste I think. He was the lifeguard at the beach, who when swimming lessons were over - took time to play with us. He taught us to rough house because his theory was that it was important to learn what to do in a tramatic situation. We would get scared of what was happening to us in the water, but would be capable of meeting the challenge.
Before the summer was over, our swimsuits were no longer navy blue, but faded beyond color. My sister’s skin color was the color of sweet chocolate. When we were taking swimming lessons, others were able to stay on the beach or had to be out farther in the water, away from the swimming area. My mother soon learned that she not only could float with ease, but fall asleep on the water. She also realized she had nothing to fear of water, and learned that by just putting her mind to it - she could float.
Once our beach ball floated out of the swimming area and my mother swam out after it. Later, not realizing she was way beyond her depth, she immediately went down. She did not panic, and told herself, “I will float,” and she popped back up and retrieved the ball. She also learned that what is in your head affects you more than skill sometimes.
She also knew that if her kids were going to swim, she wasn't going to sit on shore and play in the sand. With help from my sister and I, she also learned to swim.
There are so many things I remember about living at the lake and want to share. I remember the day I met the largest snapping turtle I have ever seen. Snapping turtles are vicious critters. We wanted to save him “for the guys to see,” so we put a washtub and a huge tree stump on top of him. That turtle just walked away — his burden on his back until it fell off.
We even learned that little snappers can be vicious too. As one of our relatives, Mark, was to find out. Mark had a special friend, Noel Thompson. Mark could catch frogs and keep them in the resevoir of Minnie’s outdoor breakfast stove. One morning Mark was furious with Kaye and I. He thought that we had let his precious frogs out of the resevoir.
We were innocent. After some fussing and fumming and later some investigation, we discovered that Mark had put a baby snapper in with the frogs. The hungry little beast had stripped them clean. All we found was a white vertebrae from the frogs. Lesson learned - do not mix snappers with frogs and never underestimate the power of a little pair of jaws.
Funny, just the other day I read in the paper about a lady who had been bitten by a snapper. It was the first case like it that had ever come into that hospital. We were always told if snappers bit, they hang on — even to a stick — like they there were locked on ‘til sundown. Fact or fiction?
Next week, I will continue to share more stories about my memories of Beaver Lake.
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• Thursday, August 18th: Donny Bartsch, Ron Johnson, Rick Johnson, John Ross Vermedahl, David Klocek, Michael Ingvaldson, Kelly Schmidt Janning, Connie Robertson, David Rietsema, Gary & Kathy Anderson, Ryan & Jill Hanson, Tamara & David Jepson, Simon & Arlean Lee.
• Friday, August 19th: Daxter Carter Lee, Jason Langlie, Michelle Peterson, Jennifer Popiel, Cheri Krejci, Ruth Enzenauer, Cynthia Grubish, Lois Johnson Aitchison, Jodi Wayne, David Cooper, Alyssa Kay Jensen, Larry & Karen Carlson, Jackie & Travis Olson, Andy & Julie Arnold, Larry & Mary Ellen Walton, Kayla & Patrick Krause.
• Saturday, August 20th: Dale Nelson, John Scrabeck, Tammy Bergland Techau, Andy Christensen, Diane Cleven, Delbert Karsjens, Jozie Annamarie Johnson, Kim Jensen, Jamie Nelson, Larry Pierce, Tianna & Joshua Kubicek.
• Sunday, August 21st: Aveery Hullopeter, Abriana Harris, Scott Tracy, Larry Klocek, Viola Klocek, Dawn Dobberstein, Mary Richards, Cindy Anderson, Roger Johnson, Sara Degan Misgen, Jodie Lee, Jaden Jensen, Cody Lembke, Michael Olson, Jasmine Obermoller Evans, David & Cindy Callahan.
• Monday, August 22nd: Thayne & Becky Nordland, Julie Johnson, Kyle Wallerich, La Donna Cummins Fallen, John Butler, John Glynn, Diane Butler, Dale Kelly, Aaron Ladlie, Dale Kelly, Nancy TaBelle
• Tuesday, August 23rd: Jared Dawson Lee, Logan Dale Marzolf, Terry Holland, Ann Klemmensen, Matthew Knudson, Steve Wilker, Scott Wright, Quinn Vu, Vernon & Jeanne Simonson, Galen & Linda Christensen, Amy & Marshall Svoboda.
• Wednesday, August 24th: Rick Storlie, Michelle Gowlland, Nicholas Chrisensen, Sam Worrell, Tanya Hughes, Natalie Deml, Elizah Lee Ackland, Crystal Johnson, Terry Vaith, Jeff Kycek, LaNell Leak Sunde, Corey Peterson, Mary Edon, Ralph & Cheryl Dobberstein, John & Cindy Christensen.
• Thursday, August 25th: Chloe Lynn Muilenberg, Carl Glienke Jr., Evelyn Anderson, Renee Brandt, Ted Dahl, Jayme Hohansee, Craig Kammerer, Jessica Kubat, Pete Rietveld, Mary Larson, Melissa Peterson, Jim & Lynn Arends, Mark & Deb Killesheim, Deb & Jim Bohnoff, Rachel & Michael Grunklee, Wally & Janet Dunn, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang.
Wishing you warm friendship and simple joys. Have a wonderful day!
