Camping on Pine Island in 1919
The first of many wonderful summers on Lake Vermilion
by Elizabeth A. (Ferguson) Bitney
September 1987
I had just had my eleventh birthday, and my brother, Richard, was eight. Our folks, Olin J. Ferguson and his wife Hannah, had decided that it was time to explore the lots on Pine Island that Dad had bought some time before, from O. H. Clark, a representative for Gray-Werton Co. Vermilion Dells had been platted in 1914, according to the map we had.
Our journey from Nebraska had been a long adventure of four train rides before we arrived on the second morning at Tower, Minn. We had lunch in town, and bought loads of groceries which followed all our baggage to the boat dock. We still had time to see the stores and study everything in Doc Lackey’s Trading Post before boat time.
The “Tub” we were told, was a boat brought from Lake Superior and was very seaworthy, though it rolled some in the big waves on Big Bay. (Later years this boat was called the “Bobby B”.) It brought us to “Kelly’s Dock” where all of our belongings and we were deposited, on Pine Island. They’d see us again next week at this dock with our next grocery order.
Our tents and the frame for the big one, the steamer trunk, suit cases and groceries were all carried through the woods to our lot, where a clearing had been prepared for the floor and frame. The sun was vanishing behind clouds and everyone hurried to get ready for the storm. Of course it rained before the big canvas was all in place over its frame and where it got wet on the underside the rain dripped through. With strategically placed rain coats, umbrellas and pails, our living quarters took on a funny sight. But the fragrance… [Read More]
