Travels to Waseca

I went to Waseca on Thursday intending to watch the Ice Harvest on Clear Lake with Harry “Buzz” Roberts, a school friend. Unfortunately, the Ice Harvest, a Sleigh and Cutter Festival event sponsored by the Waseca County Historical Society, was postponed to Wednesday, February 14, because of the extreme cold weather. Buzz, a friend of his from Hayfield, and I had a good visit and lunch at the Boat House.

  While in Waseca I stopped at the Historical Society in an attempt to identify a bridge post card I’ve acquired. No luck. I also stopped at the Waseca County Highway Department to see if they could identify it but had no luck there, either.

I also drove out to the site of the old St. Mary’s bridge over the LeSueur River and discovered that it was removed in the 1990s. The woods near the bridge was a favorite Lucas family picnic and nutting spot when we Lucas kids were young. The place holds many memories for our family and young friends.
 
I visited Archie Lortis, a resident of Colony Court and the father of WHS 1959 classmate Buzz Lortis. He’s one of the oldest living graduates of Waseca High School (he’ll be 102 March 18th). His was the first class to graduate from the brand new Central High School in 1925. 

I stopped at the new Super WalMart and had the opportunity to visit with WHS 1959 classmate Barb Bauman Wheelock. And, I stopped at the Historic Miller Armstrong Building to make my family’s reservations at Millers B&B for the Waseca 2008 Reunion. At the ‘johnnie beans’ Coffee House and Wine Bar, I met Judy Neste Kelling WHS 1956. She said she regreted not attending the WHS 1956 reunion last summer. 

Finally, I have to mention that the town of Waseca is suffering from the senseless tragedy that befell the Kruger family. Most everyone I talked to mentioned it.