As we were growing up living at the lake, we saw the beach at Beaver Lake as a full blown picture of color. There was always an abundance of people and beach towels.
The many, many beach towels were laid out on the hillside. Everyone enjoyed the panorama of summer, swimming and sunning at Beaver Lake. People used to say that you could not get one more body on the hillside on the east end of the lake. It was so full of people. The swimming area was full to the max with bobbing heads and bodies in the water.
Though I have seen some of those same scenes come back, and a large number of people enjoying Beaver Lake, I doubt it will ever be as populated as it was back in the middle 1960s, when it was definitely the place to be.
My thoughts go back to Minnie again, and how she would make Tom Collins for the guys so they could relax a bit when they came from work before supper. We kids got the same thing as an afternoon relaxer, but without the liquor. In other words, we drank lemonade. The drink was special because of all of the slices of oranges and lemons, and the cherry on top, which Minnie used to "pretty up" the glass.
It was also our delight as well, because the men didn't often eat the fruit - we did! It took awhile until my mother thought about the whole situation. How stupid - the liquor would most surely go straight to the fruit. No wonder we liked them.
The biggest surprise came the day Minnie was out of gin and it wasn't included in the drinks. The comment was made that it was the best one she had ever made. We all shared looks but not one ever told, until now.
It has been years, but to this day, I stilI don't like a regular Tom Collins. I only like the special way that Minnie made them for the kids, delicious, decorated lemonade.
I also remember early mornings when we would hear the chomping of cattle, or so we thought, until we realized it was the carp. These early morning fish were feeding on the green vegetation in the lake. It was so loud; I can still mentally hear it yet.
The Beaver Lake Sportsman’s Club sat on the north east side of the lake, rather dated, and seldom used. Minnie acquired use of it, much to everyone’s delight. Surprising what some paint, posters and a juke box will do, not to mention the best cook in the country. That too became the place to be, just like the beach.
We learned to clean shrimp so large they looked like chicken legs, which were also featured on the menu. My mouth waters thinking about them. But, shucking shrimp is not without its casualties. Many times we bore the marks of sharp scales. More than one patron was ready to send back her order "because she didn't order chicken but shrimp,” because the size of the shrimp fooled her.
Because he could have fished 24 hours a day, nonstop, Mark Christensen, Minnie’s nephew, often brought us little fish that we dutifully filleted. Yes, we filleted them though they were so little. Minnie dubbed them "Beaver Lake Shrimp.” They were often served free of charge to those who came to the "Sportsman’s Club" and marveled at their goodness.
Minnie had a way of battering items for deep frying. She worked on it for years trying to get just the right touch. The egg mixture was not over handled and let to sit or rest. The breading was finely crushed cracker crumbs. She added some corn meal, and I don't recall the rest. The fish were dipped in the egg mixture - not too much. And then, it was dipped into the dry mix, but not too much.
The food to be fried was room temperature. Minnie dried it carefully before she put them in the egg mixture, never oversoaking them. After that, they were placed in the dry mixture - not too thick. Minnie felt that was best, as she said the lighter amount would stay on. If the mixture got too thick, it had a tendency to come off in the frying.
The people, who populated "the joint" as Minnie called it, were the best. You can learn so much from people. I remember the cute little couple who lived on the north side of the hill. The cabin almost hung on by its teeth, so to speak. It was probably the oldest cabin and has since been renovated by the Kast family.
"Fun" was the name of the game. People laughed and talked and forgot their problems, always coming back for more and more. One old gentleman showed up wearing shorts one night. Realize this was before shorts were "the thing," like they are now. He allowed us to decorate not only his knees with happy faces, but his stomach, his naval and his face with lipstick and all.
The juke box was also a factor in the funnery. Of course songs that were popular then were such sensible songs. The favorite was "Mack the Knife" and other such oldies but goodies. The place wasn't that big but there was always room for dancing. There were those who just sat and watched and didn't say much. But, the grin on their faces showed that these shy people were enjoying everything.
Then there was the morning Mark came up from the lake with a fist full of money he had found floating along the shore. It was a mystery, only until we remembered one of the avid fishermen, who might have been at "the joint" the previous day, had sort of rolled down the hill, no doubt depositing his hard earned money in the lake. The sober individual was ever so thankful when his money was returned to him.
I hope that many of you have enjoyed the "lake stories.” I also hope that they have helped you enjoy some really great stories and memories of your own.
If you have some experiences or memories that you would like to share, please contact me, so that others can enjoy them as well.
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• 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, Leah & Dama Clark, Everett & Linda Lang.
• Friday, August 26th: William Michael Rodney Tuttle, Christopher Cook, Clarice Pence, Catherine Haugen, Mike Riley, Elijah Lee Ackland, Catherine Mae Haugen, Tim Falksen, George Stieglbauer, Michael Rodney Tuttle, Sharon Peterson, Travis & Kelly Johnson, Angie & Michael Den Herder.
• Saturday, August 27th: Martin Johnson, Kory Kress, Alice Randall, Sandra Thostenson, Dee Ann Jensen, Jim Collins, Mary Lageson, Sharon Ramaker, Terry Pelzl, Angela DeGeus, Jessica Marie Nygaard Paulson, Corlyn & Janice Paulsen.
• Sunday, August 28th: Mitch Helmers, Larry Motl, Bev Newgard. Waynetta Peterson, Rosy Fisher, Lorraine Christensen, Justine Randall, Marlys Van Kampen, Tammy Johnson, Gerritt Molenaar Sr., Jacquelyn Jensen, Linda Kelly, Marvin Thomspon, Jim & Fran Ladlie.
• Monday August 29th: Mark Lee, Eunice Smith, Barbara Klinger, Cheryl & Brian Boettcher.
• Tuesday, August 30th: Brett Richards, Joel Born, Danielle Cook, Katie Cleven Richards, Staci Hohansee, Donna Demmer, Everett Jensen, Grace Paulson, Craig Schwartz, Eva Elayna Thomas.
• Wednesday, August 31st: Carole Schember, Terry Walterman, Kari Hohansee, Jerry Flugum, Tony Holmes, Connie Misgen Evenson, John Tasker, Heather Reese, Nancy Bottelson, Garrett Avery, Ron & Karen Huber, Melissa & Tyler Moe.
• Thursday, September 1st: Jim Motz, Payton Thomspon, Daryl Nelson, Jody Farr, Catherine Carlson, Gregory Ray, Dianna & Matthew Beckman, Adam & Lalya Lang, Jim & Marian Motz.
May your day be filled with everything you enjoy most.
