Did you know that the island in Waseca’s Loon Lake used to be over 7 acres but, due to erosion, is now less than 1 acre? I remember hearing stories of excursion boats running from Clear Lake to a night club on Loon Lake Island. The excursion boats ran through what we called the ‘Annie Stink’ creek through the old dump, through the low land behind Trowbridge Park and the Library, on to Loon Lake.
A small group of Waseca residents including Boyd Fuller, Jerry Kuhn and Ron Purcell are trying to stop the island from disappearing. Anyone interested in helping with future work on the island can call Ron Purcell at 835-4757.
Congratulations to Mark Engesether for being named Waseca High School’s ‘Teacher of the Year.’ Engesether was nominated for the honor by Judy Boehme, a colleague who teaches English and social studies.
Five Bluejay football players were named to the South Central Conference All-Conference football team: seniors Jimmy Loonan, linebacker/running back; Andrew Beckmann, offensive/defensive lineman; Cavit Wobschall, offensive/defensive lineman; and Levi Fossen, quarterback/defensive back. Senior Josh Conrath, offensive/defensive lineman, was named to the honorable mention team.
Waseca High School MVPs for the Fall 2007 season are Brandon Kingston, cross country; Jimmy Loonan, football; Richie Gullickson, soccer; Stephanie Possehl, cheerleading; Ashley Wobschall, swimming; Allison Streich, cross country; Brianna Nelson, volleyball; Brianna Miller, soccer; and Bayli Nelson, tennis.
When you’re in Waseca, what do you do? Do you do like a lot of us who left town a long time ago – drive down the street where we lived and check out our old house (or houses), drive around our old neighborhoods, drive past our friends’ houses, drive around the lakes, cruise main street and marvel at the changes, sit in a restaurant or bar and wonder if you know the other people there but don’t recognize them, take a few pictures of the old house(s) and familiar haunts? An old neighborhood friend of mine recently sent me some photos he took on his most recent trip home: a couple of his old house, a couple of Trowbridge Park including one of the band stand; and one of the Clear Lake beach and bathhouse. How do those fit in your Waseca memories?
The photos of the house reminded me of fond memories of the neighborhood and the people who lived there, of collecting chestnuts and acorns from the trees in their yard, of shining for nightcrawlers on warm summer evenings, of playing “Olly Olly Oxen, All in Free” in the yard, of playing in their old barn, of sledding down what seemed a huge hill in Trowbridge Park, of making lanyards during the summer parks program near the Trowbridge Park band stand, of swimming almost every summer day at Clear Lake beach. Speaking of lanyards, if you ever made a lanyard for your mother you may enjoy Billy Collins’ poem, ‘The Lanyard’.
The LeRoy Shield exhibit at the Waseca County Historical Society will end November 15th so get in there to see it.
LeRoy Shield was born in Waseca October 2, 1893, and died in 1962. He was a teacher, performer, arranger, composer, and conductor. While he was a major American composer, his main claim to fame in my mind was his musical scores for Hal Roach’s Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang/Little Rascals movies, and others.
While you’re at the exhibit, tell the museum staff what you know about the Park and State Theaters and look at the theater sign that’s being restored as well as the theater diorama hanging on the wall and other Waseca theater artifacts.
Museum Exhibit Open:
October 12 – November 15
Bob Halstead (WHS47) sent me this photo asking for help in idenifying some of the kids involved in the circa 1950 sleigh ride in a bobsled. Bob’s grandfather L. J. Sheldon drove the team and two of Bob’s siblings were in the photo. The photo was taken in front of Gordon Engel’s house on 2nd St NE, Waseca, adjacent to Trowbridge Park.
Some of the kids have been identified on the photo and I’ve included my best guesses for the others: (L to R) unidentified, Judy Hackett, L. J. Sheldon, Tom Engel, Susan Hackett, Alan Halstead, Ardyce Halstead, Larry Olson, Betty Engel, Carol ‘Cookie’ Olson, Mary Kaye McLoone (peeking through), Dale Lucas, Jim Geraghty, Jerry McLoone, Dick Loomer, Mike McLoone, John McLoone - but I could be wrong.
Among those of that era conspicuously missing from this neighborhood picture were Don and Judy Loomer, Chuck and Jane Lucas, Margo McLoone, Susan Engel, Tom and Jerry Geraghty. One of these is probably the unidentified person on the left in the photo.
If you have better guesses or other guesses, make a comment – or just make a comment.
