Growing up on Pelican Lake: Anticipation

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Anticipation

Barbie says: Connors' lake home had large windows on the lake side. Their home was gray and with yellow trim. Every fall when they left for Missouri, Ken (Linda's dad) would have large yellow plywood put up in each window frame to protect the windows. Every spring when my parents got word that "Connors are coming back!" my dad would remove the wood from the windows. We would also spend a weekend raking the ankle high leaves that gathered on the terraces behind Connors' home. Yes I remember the anticipation that "Connors are coming back!" Good friends reuniting.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Barbie's History

When my grandparents, Etha & Oskar Blom, built their cottage on Pelican Lake there were only 6 other cottages on the whole lake. When my parents, Russ & Eddie Grover, got married in 1946, my grandparents gave them the lake lot next to them as a wedding present.

In about 1995, my parents gave the cottage to my brother and me. In 1998 we sold the property to John Barrie and we moved to Little Pelican Lake.

The lots that my grandparents and my parents owned are located on the east side of the current John Barrie mansion. (Proven Beach)

I have always spent a good share of each summer at the lake. All of Linda's and my lake memories took place on Proven Beach, Big Pelican Lake, MN.

~Barbie

Linda's History

Both of my parents grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. They were married in February 1942 and became Susan and Ken Connor. My Dad owned a sporting goods store named Casey's Sports.

One day a traveling salesman called on Dad and the man was from Minnesota. Dad asked him where would be a nice place for a honeymoon that included good fishing. The man told Dad that he couldn't go wrong with Fair Hills Resort on Pelican Lake. So, in June of 1942, my parents with Mom's parents in tow, spent a week at Fair Hills Resort.

Across the lake on the point was a cottage and to the left of that, vacant land. They fell in love with the area and long story short, they purchased the land next to the point and began building a summer home in 1955. The properties next door belonged to the Blom’s and next to them were the Grover's. Barbie and I became life-long friends at that point in time.

We moved in, in June 1957 when my brother was 11 and I was 5 1/2 years old. We spent every summer at "Connorhaven".

After my brother and I grew up, we still visited. Mom and Dad eventually purchased the Point from Sholds and in 1975, began building another home on that site. After selling "Connorhaven" they moved to the Point in 1977.

When Dad passed away in 1996, Mom sold the property to John Barry, and all that is left for me are the priceless memories which Barbie and I are putting into words here.

~Linda

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Anticipation

No comments:

Post a Comment

Blog Archive