6/28/79 Woke up in a cold sweat thinking how stupid I was to take Bill, Ruth and Sheila, with a load of stuff, across to Edwards cabin. Talked Bill into taking whole gang to FF to clear customs. Was even worried about that deal until they all came back with job done - on both sides of border. With Dave and Helen Ramnes to their cabin at Bears Passage. Just the 4 of us. We were joined later by Lyle (Dave’s brother) and wife “Charlie”, for dinner. Stayed until after dark.
6/29/79 Tim and Mary Kay pulled in about 4:00 p.m. just ahead of a terrific storm out of NE. A spectacular sight when wind hit islands (particularly Iceslide) and blew pollen into the air in yellow clouds. We are wondering how the Edwards are surviving on their island.
6/30/79 Met Jane at 10:30 p.m. Tara & Sheila along. TIRED after driving from Pittsburgh in 2 days. They are welcome here. Don’t know how they will fit into Edwards Island set up.
7/1/79 To Dr. Walter’s lake home at 4:00 p.m. Duluth Opera conductor Herman & Mrs. Herz, their daughter & her husband, the Bob Hilkes and Toninatos there. Drinks, food, talk. Proud to be accepted by the group. Home at dark. We were toasted by whole group when we let it be known were celebrating our 50th anniversary of our arrival on Rainy Lake.
7/2/79 I got some work out of John and Wayne today. We cleaned up and brushed area around beach. An overdue improvement. Kids to Heilmans’ and a near catastrophe when 15 hp motor jumped off of boat. Jane called from town asking if we needed anything. Layna said, “Bring a couple of loaves of bread.” She did - and I’ll be damned if she didn’t charge them to us!
7/4/79 This old man’s head full of memories of previous 4ths. When I lost half dollar given me by my Dad in 1914. I still squirm. The band concerts and speeches in Hibbing. When our Paige car stopped and held up parade. The races I won at Forest Lake in 1924. The celebrations at Ranier when the Koochiching boys ran off with all the prizes - and so on and on. Like when I set fire to lake shore at Buck Lake with my fire crackers, and Oiva Sandberg got burned with sky rocket power and kid dropped fire cracker in abandoned gas tank on First Avenue and raised the pavement - Aw - that’s enough.
7/5/79 To town, my first trip in some time. The last, too, I hope.
7/6/79 To Edwards Island for dinner. All of company gone leaving Bill, Ruth, their three kids, Jane, Sheila and Tara. Bill justly proud of the cleanup done by him and his crew. Took John and Little Paul bass fishing for an hour. No fish - and Paul very disappointed.
7/7/79 I wrote to Judys and Layna wrote to Etta. Surely we have never faced the miseries that are confronting Wayne and Opal at the moment and I can’t help but wonder how I would handle such a situation. Rowed over to mainland to mail letters. My contribution to the energy crises. Bill Edwards family left Turtle Island. They have had 10 days of fantastic weather.
7/8/79 Sally and Jim, with Duncan, arrived at landing at 12:30. Layna and I to welcome them. Sally to stay on for a while, Jim back to St. Paul tomorrow. Rowed to landing for mail. I love that little boat. No fish! We had a good cocktail hour, interrupted by Reverend Laramie and wife plus Arnold Johnson & spouse (he is interested in Cleveland’s Island). A good fish dinner, then Jane and girls dropped in. The Edwards Johnson gals arguing as they left dock. So what’s new?
7/9/79 With Gerald Wagness to Island View at noon to attend special meeting of Border Lakes Ass’s. 13 out of 15 in attendance. We voted to donate $5000 to fund for fighting federal government encroachment on private property in BWCA. Not sure I knew what it all meant. With Gerald to see stairway he had built on Sha-Sha point. Now that was something I understood - and could appreciate. A true masterpiece.
7/10/79 Layna and Sally to town - HOT- John helped me and we hooked up second pump. Had trouble with check valve but pump worked fine when I put in another. Dead calm and bass jumping. I tried fly rod and caught 6 all told.
7/12/79 Did something today that was completely out of character. We accompanied the Jim Larsons to see Sheriff Bill Elliot about cutting out the trespassing on our dock and parking place. Many people have enjoyed same for years and I have been willing to share it with them. Lately it has got out of hand with night (and day) parties strewing litter and causing a general nuisance in neighborhood. Mrs. Larson most upset. Bill agreed to send deputies out when called and we will press charges if necessary.
7/13/79 A hot, still day. John practiced with fly rod and I decided he was ready for the real thing. We left after supper for bay behind Jacobsens. We made a few preliminary casts when all hell broke loose. Rain, wind. We beat our way home. A disappointed kid - old man, too! Jane, Sheila and Tara left for home.
7/14/79 Robin came and said Ober’s heirs were meeting with lawyers in hopes of settling estate, at island. Much money involved and where there is money there is greed - and not only by the heirs. The lawyers have been nibbling for many years and now are about to get at it in big chunks. Once more I say, “Thank you, dear Ober, for not getting us involved.” Jimmy and Roger came about 4:00. What a pair. I’m back at Koochiching with that pair around.
7/16/79 Jimmy and Roger pitched in for a couple of hours in a.m. and we tore off rotten planks from deck. Not good, but not too bad either. George & Adelaide Amidon came for drink and visit in p.m. Good. Mixed emotions all around. Ted and Tommy Hall for visit. Ted says it looks as tho Ober’s estate will be settled soon. No one - mostly Hilke - entirely happy.
7/18/79 The boys and I worked on deck much of day and the patching is done. Should be trouble free for a number of years. $93.00 worth of material. I wonder if Sally and Jim realize it would be that much when they volunteered to foot the bill. To Bill & Gladys Martin’s place at 6:00 for a real “do”. About 20 people assembled. Two of them better than average on the guitar. A good song fest. My old guides Gerry and Bill in fine form. I love ‘em - and believe the feeling mutual. Home at midnight.
7/19/79 A dead calm evening and I took John to Pukamo Island area for bass. Altho we had a number of strikes, and lost 4 good fish, we came home with one walleye. Karen and 3 kids met by Layna in Starcraft. All in good form.
7/20/79 On lake by 7:15 and rowed around Susan and Franzen Islands. An interesting experience when mallard hen put broken wing act on for me. Biggest accomplishment of day when I put 2 bail springs in Mitchell 300 reels. An hour’s job on first and 5 minutes on second. I must have learned something - great for me. Les Cleveland to tell us he had closed deal on island. He is concerned about what he will do without his kingdom.
7/21/79 Sally and I scrubbed deck in preparation for painting. Some job. Rowed around Stop Island. I am at peace with the world when in my little boat. Karen to Chisholm with Gene for unveiling of Perpich portrait. A great occasion and a high honor for Gene. Karen’s 3 kids on their best behavior with mother gone.
7/22/79 Jimmy & Roger pitched in with a will and we cut down dead white pine near sleeping cabin. We cut it up, split & piled wood, picked up branches. Every time this happens, I feel that I have lost part of me. Layna and Karen in to meet Carol ------ at 9:30 bus. A good friend and coworker of Karen’s. The right sort on first impression.
7/23/79 .45 inch of rain. Karen and Carol put on a gourmet Mexican dinner. Beside the regulars we had Ah-li & Brie and Gene & Les. Karen’s 3 kids behaving well - all 3. Hope the rain came in time to rescue some of blueberry crop.
7/24/79 It is quiet on NWI this day. Karen, Carol and 3 kids left at 1:00 p.m. John left with Heilmans for Myrtle Lake, Jim and Roger sailed to Sand Point, leaving Don, Layna and Sally alone. The gals “put island back in shape,” as Layna said. For a short visit with Steckmessers. Their report on Ardys condition a bit alarming.
