OVERLOOK
Cook County Historical Society
SPRING 2013
“A HARBOR OF DESTINY”
At the time Caryl B. Storrs
was reporting for the
by Caryrl B. Storrs
Minneapolis Tribune, the
paper was concerned that
its n ews was too
depressing. Following the
request of his editor to
provide “every day from a
different town a story that
would be cheerful and not
statistical,” Storrs avoided writing about “markets, crops or bank clearings” for “something human and
amusing… stories which show that human nature is everywhere the same, and that the world is a pretty
good sort of an old place after all.”
Storrs spent the summer of 1916 “Visitin’ ‘Round in Minnesota” which is the name of the series of stories
later reprinted as a collected anthology. He wrote about the S.S. America, Chicago Bay, Chippewa City,
and Devil Track Lake. With our current focus on the lighthouse lens and maritime exhibit, we share
excerpts from Caryl B. Storrs’ “Grand Marais: A Harbor of Destiny.”
“Grand Marais is the only real harbor on the north shore between Two Harbors, Minn., and Ft. William,
Ontario. There is a deep natural bay here, two of them in fact, though only the west one is used for harbor
purposes. Points of rock come near enough together to make a pretty good natural harbor, but Uncle Sam
( Continued on page 5 as HARBOR OF DESTINY)
PINE TREE LINE & COOK
COUNTY’S SKY WATCH
The North Shore played an important role in the preparation to defend
the U.S. during the “Cold War,” now over 60 years ago. Running right
through Cook County, the Pine Tree Line was one of the first
coordinated systems for early detection of a Soviet bomber attack on
North America. The Distant Early Warning (DEW) line was north of
the Arctic Circle and the Mid-Canada was located at approximately the
55th parallel. The Pine Tree Line mostly followed the U.S.-Canadian
border.
As early as 1946, the Permanent Joint Board on Defense, a U.S.Canadian organization, was planning what would become
the Pine Tree Line. In 1949, Congress put money toward
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
the project after the Soviet Union’s successful atomic bomb
test. The North American Aerospace Defense Command
Page 2
SOCIETY NEWS
(NORAD), a bi-national organization of both the U.S. and
Page 3
JHP HAPPENINGS
Royal Canadian Air Forces, ran the “Cold War” detection
program.
Page 4
PINE TREE LINE
( Continued on page 4 as PINE TREE LINE)
Page 5
HARBOR OF DESTINY
COOK COUNTY
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Gene Erickson
Duane Ege
Eric Humphrey
Eleanor Waha
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Carrie McHugh
Don Davison
Museum Director
JHP Director
Historical Society Board Members:
Doug Anderson, Wayne Anderson,
Dean Einwalter, Hal Greenwood, John
Jacobsen, Geraldine Kozlowski, Irene
Malner, Alta McQuatters, Patty
Nelson, David Peterson, Bob Pratt,
Leonard Sobanja, and Mildred
Thoreson
Honorary members:
Howard Sivertson and Herb Hedstrom
County representative: Garry Gamble
All rights are reserved
in this 2013 issue of the Overlook
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Dear members and friends,
Early in December the Historical Society mailed out 1,200
letters requesting donations to meet our endowment fund
goal of $250,000. This fund was established over 10 years
ago with the Minnesota Foundation, and the goal was set
at that time. The idea was to build up the fund in order to
use the generated interest.
We are getting close! Many thanks to friends and
members who gave close to $5,000. Some members also
renewed or even upgraded their memberships. And, we
gained new members as well.
Please remember March is membership month. Please,
think of the Cook County Historical Society and renew.
Thank you,
Gene Erickson, President
REMINDER: Let us
know when your mail
needs forwarding and
where to send it.
MEET THE BOARD:
MILDRED THORESON AND DEAN EINWALTER
Mildred Thoreson joined the Board in 2002, but her knowledge of Cook County history reaches back
further than most. Mildred came to Cook County at three months of age when her family moved to the
Hollow Rock area near Grand Portage. The road into their place had just been put in the previous year,
1929. She grew up in a commercial fishing family and helped out at a very young age. Mildred and her
sister Honey shared numerous stories in an oral history in 2012. Visit us to hear it!
Mildred and Edwin Thoreson married in 1948. From then on, she was fully occupied with their excavation
business. She remembers those early days when they would shovel beach gravel by hand. Still involved
with the business today, Mildred knows about all the projects “the guys” are working on. However, she now
take more time to quilt and thankfully share time with a very grateful historical society!
Dean Einwalter began his tenure on the Board in 1986, the same year he started as Superintendent of
Grand Portage National Monument. Dean felt it was very important for the Monument to have a
relationship with the local history organization. Certainly, the historical society felt the same! Dean retired
from Grand Portage National Monument in 1998, but a sense of connection still remains between the two
organizations. Dean reminds the Historical Society to continue to foster such relationships.
Prior to coming to Cook County, Minnesota, Dean worked as a Ranger, Naturalist and Superintendent at
National Park Service areas in Colorado, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Arizona and Missouri. In retirement
now after his 30 year Park Service career, Dean has a wonderful garden surrounded by apple and plum
orchards. He spends many hours working in his barn/woodworking shop creating beautiful handcrafted
pieces in wood. The Historical Society has made good use of these skills at times.
2
JOHNSON HERITAGE POST
15 WISCONSIN ST.
[email protected]
(218
(218--387
387--2314)
www.JohnsonHeritagePost.org
ANNA C. JOHNSON AND THE
JOHNSON HERITAGE POST ART GALLERY
The Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery’s west wing is dedicated to the
original artwork of Anna C. Johnson, mother of the benefactor of the Gallery,
Lloyd K. Johnson. Most Cook County residents are very familiar with Anna
Johnson’s famous oil painting of the “Gunflint Pines,” but the gallery has so
much more than that! The permanent exhibit is a lasting testimony to her
leadership in the arts. Anna typified the strength of early 20th century women
pioneers, and she gave this raw frontier her influence as an art teacher. Later
she operated a popular gift shop in the original log trading post which was on
the current site of the Art Gallery. Her gift shop featured her paintings and
etchings as well as her ceramics and stained glass.
She produced and sold many delicately painted ceramic and china items, fired
in her own kiln. At least one of her Tiffany- style lamps is still in use.
Born in Arvika, Varmland, Sweden in 1881, she immigrated with her parents to
Manistee, Michigan when she was 10 and became a frequent visitor to this area at
the turn of the century. Before her 1907 marriage to Charles J. Johnson, her artistic
interests had been stimulated and guided by an older brother. In addition, she had
some more formal, classical training in painting as a student at Augustana College
in Rock Island, Illinois. While her husband’s sincere interests in painting and
music had long been characteristic of his colorful, bachelor life style, Anna
reinforced and deepened those interests in him and for the entire town of Grand
Marais. She left many paintings and drawings that interpret scenes, as well as
relationships between people and nature along the North Shore and up the rugged
Gunflint Wagon Road. Many of these are displayed at the Johnson Heritage Post;
others are preserved in homes throughout the
country. One of the present Gallery Director’s
favorite paintings is the oil painting “Staircase Portage Falls,”
particularly because he knows the waterfall is not easy to get to!
Another of the Director’s favorites is the ink wash of Hollow Rock, a
natural monument on the Lake Superior shoreline on the Grand
Portage Reservation. It was donated by Rev. Gordon and Marie
(Sundquist) Lindemann. The Lindemanns’ cabin home was at Hollow
Rock.
²
Volunteer?
In response to inquires from the public, the Society would like to expand our hours. Do you have three
hours a week when you could volunteer as a gallery docent? Please, call, write, email or stop by the gallery and let us know.
3
(Continued from page 1 as PINE TREE LINE)
.
Finland Air Force Base began as a “lashup-permanent” radar site with the 756th
Aircraft and Warning Squadron on Nov 30, 1951. Its role was to guide interceptor
aircraft towards unidentified intruders picked up on radar scope. It was one of 28
radar sites created for the Pine Tree Line. About 350 men were stationed at Finland.
Radar development was at an early stage with limited usefulness. The system used
a “classic” pulsed mode of radar which was unable to detect targets close to the
ground, therefore “Ground Observer” or “Sky Watch” posts were built. Cook
County people did their part acting as volunteer ground observers. In Grand Marais,
in a small white building on the harbor, volunteers operated 24 hours-a-day to
Young Wendy Thoreson in front of
supplement the Pine Tree Line. They were the Ground Observer Corps, later called
the Grand Marais observation
Operation Skywatch. Skywatch also operated, but to a lesser degree, in Hovland building where her mother served
and Grand Portage.
as a volunteer
The Ground Observer Corps concept was created during WWI in England. During WWII it was used in the U.S.
where 1.5 million volunteers operated 14,000 posts, mostly on the coasts. The declining threat of German or
Japanese planes led to the end of the GOC in 1944. In 1950, however, with a Russian threat and the Korean
conflict, the concern was the inability of radar detecting low flying aircraft. In response, the Ground Observer Corp
was re-established. The GOC became Operation Skywatch on July 14, 1952 and continued until January 31, 1959.
Skywatch in Grand Marais was “staffed” 24-hours starting May 17, 1952 and
continued until January 1, 1958. Carl Bumgardner was head of the GOC under
Mayor Val Dalbec. Lila Hall took over from Carl and is best remembered as the
Operation Skywatch Manager. Grand Marais identification, “Quebec, Charlie, 3,
4, Black,” was used at each two hour shift when the routine call-in was made to
the 2nd ground Observation Squadron filter center on Lake Street in Minneapolis.
Skywatch depended upon its volunteers. Many were junior and senior high
school students. Social events were planned for them such as dances and queen
and king contests. Most volunteers served at the little white building next to the
Standard Station in Grand Marais. But some, like Mildred Anderson of Maple
Hill, simply watched for airplanes from their own home. By 1956 a total of 531
volunteers were being utilized including students, housewives, business men and
political leaders. Their names appeared in the Cook County News-Herald.
For Lila Hall, Operation Skywatch was a personal mission. Lila received the
Ground Observers Scroll as a citation for outstanding achievement and a merit
badge for her 18,000 hours of service. Volunteers who worked more than 100 Mayor Val Dalbec, Director Lila Hall,
hours received Skywatch merit pins at special ceremonies.
Jane Furlong with son Jim Furlong
receiving award from Robert Brock
By 1956 both Hovland and Grand Portage also had observers. Hovland observers
served from their homes for a half day period. Rather than call in, they relayed their information to Supervisor Alice
Sundquist who then called the Minneapolis filter center. The second telephone to be used was that of Chief Spotter
Harold Schuppel at the Forestry Office. Hovland had a watch tower in an old CCC garage building but it was not
usable without telephone service.
Grand Portage’s spotters were students at school under the supervision of their teachers Everett and Goldie Johnson.
During school hours 44 students were observers, day captains, and recorders. “This joint participation helps the
children realize the need for Air Defense, proper organization and team work,” said Mr. Johnson.
For more on the Pine Tree line see Radomes, Inc, the Air Defense Radar Veterans’ Association, a museum of online
documents (www.radomes.org/museum). See also www.cookcountyhistory.org for more information about Cook
County’s Operation Skywatch, including photographs and a list of volunteer observers.
4
( continued from page 1 as HARBOR OF DESTINY)
has improved it by building a breakwater from each point, leaving a narrow passage for boats with a steady white
light on the east side and a revolving red light on the west. The red light is out of order just now, and she doesn't
revolve. There is something the matter with the gas tank--it may be exhausted--so Jim Wood, lighthouse tender,
hangs a red lantern on the top of the tower every evening and it does very well until the government lighthouse
tender can get here to refill the tank and tinker with the revolving machinery. Many of the lesser lights and
thousands of the channel buoys on the Great Lakes are operated by gas. They are filled when navigation opens in the
spring and some of the larger ones burn, with further attention, for five or six months.
Speaking of lighthouse tenders, it is one of Uncle Sam’s odd arrangements not to have a single tender in Lake
Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes. There is a station in Buffalo to supply Lake Erie, a station in Milwaukee to
take care of Lake Michigan, and one at Detroit, which has to look after the Detroit river, Lake St. Claire, the St.
Claire River, Lake Huron, St. Mary River and Lake Superior.
This seems a ridiculously uneven division of labor, but Uncle Sam’s mills grind slowly, and for many years before
iron ore was discovered or the grain fields of the northwest developed, Lake Superior navigation was inconsiderable
and the lighthouses comparatively few. Now Lake Superior is as busy as any of them, but Uncle Sam hasn’t yet got
around to giving them a lighthouse tender. He has a supply depot at Duluth, but no boat and the Superior lights have
to wait for the Marigold to come up from the lower lakes to get their supplies.
The Grand Marais lights are not very important, so they are of rather low magnitude. I don't think that's the right
words, but it serves the purpose and a term that is good enough for the stars ought to satisfy any reasonable
lighthouse. By “not very important” is meant that they serve only to mark the entrance to the little harbor and as a
guide to long shore boats. The white light would be visible, perhaps10 miles out. From the harbor entrance at Grand
Marais on a clear night, may be seen the Rock of Ages light at Isle Royale, over 60 miles away, and sometimes a
glimpse may be caught of the Apostle Island light on Outer Island, 70 miles over on the south shore. But these
powerful lights are needed by the big steamers going to and from Port Arthur and around Keewenaw point in
northern Michigan, and have to be visible for great distances.
The dock inside the Grand Marais harbor is a busy little place, for it receives freight not only for Grand Marais, but
for all the back country of Cook County, the wildest region in Minnesota. There are no railroads yet nearer than the
old Alger logging road at Kramer, and though there is a new automobile road which the state and county are
building through Pigeon River, where it will be met this fall by a similar Canadian road from Port Arthur, there is no
freight transportation by land.
The exports from Grand Marais are a little lumber and tons and tons of fish. The fresh lake trout you serve on your
table next January may have come from Grand Marais by one of the Booth steamers that has fought its stalwart way
from Duluth against freezing gales and through floes of dangerous ice in order to pass between the white and red
lights of the breakwater and reach the wharf. If, when you are eating it, you refuse to sympathize with the captain
and crew of the Booth steamer, at least send a friendly thought to the fishermen who have perhaps spent some long
night when you were curled up in a warm bed, out in the
pitiless lake, the temperature 30 below zero, the wind
blowing 40 miles an hour and every breaker covering them
with a spray that freezes solid as soon as it touches them.
That’s the industry of Grand Marais in the winter time, and
I take back what I said about its lighthouses being “not
very important.” The gasoline boat of one north shore
fisherman means more to him than a 600 foot freighter
does to the steel trust, and the little light which can guide
the former to safety is surely of at least the same
importance as the big light that shows the freighter the way
Fish houses and skiffs in the Grand Marais Harbor c1920
around Keewenaw Point.”
5
MEMBERSHIP MARCH &
SUMMER VOLUNTEERS
Please, renew your memberships each March.
Remember to invite your friends and family
members to join the Cook County Historical
Society. Let’s share this wonderful county’s stories
with the next generations.
We are seeking summer front desk volunteers at the
Museum. Can you help us by taking a 2 1/2 hour
shift at the museum’s front desk? Call Carrie at
387-2883. It is a fun experience to greet visitors and
help them learn about the county’s history—no
experience required!
Lighthouse display drawing (above) by
Mary Olson and David Gredzens who
continue to work on designs for our
Maritime Heritage Exhibit—thanks to
Lake Superior Coastal Funding and
matching CCHS funds
THANKS TO TIM WHITE FOR HIS PRESENTATION ON DOG SLED HISTORY.
HE SHARED THE FOLLOWING PROCLAMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.
A PROCLAMATION FROM THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR RUDY PERPICH, 1986
WHEREAS:
Sled dog teams were the principle means of wintertime transportation and communication
used by Minnesota’s original inhabitants, long before the advent of the first white explorers;
and
WHEREAS:
Legislators from the northern districts of Minnesota traveled to the sessions of the
Territorial Legislature by dogteam; and
WHEREAS:
The first sled dog race on record in the world took place in Minnesota in 1858; and
WHEREAS:
During the 1800’s through the first years of this century mail was delivered along the north
shore of Lake Superior and in other parts of the state in the winter by coureurs des bois and
mail carriers using dog teams, preeminent among them being John Beargrease, the “intrepid
Chippewa dog puncher;” and
WHEREAS:
Minnesota dogs and mushers continue to be at the forefront of winter sports and sled dog
activity and accomplishment; and
WHEREAS:
In 1986 a team of mushers and dogs lead by Will Steger and Paul Schurcke of Minnesota
became the first confirmed unsupported sled dog expedition to reach the North Pole; and
WHEREAS:
The largest and most famous long distance sled dog race outside Alaska, The John
Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, commemorating the exploits of mail carrier John
Beargrease, is run each year along Minnesota’s North Shore, attracting competitors and fans
from across North America;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rudy Perpich, Governor of the State of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim the first week
of January to be SLED DOG HERITAGE WEEK in Minnesota in appreciation of the contributions of sled
dogs and mushers to Minnesota’s colorful history.
6
RUTH HUMPHREY
We are so sad to announce the passing of Ruth Humphrey on January 31st
this year. Ruth served faithfully as a front desk volunteer at the Museum
starting in the 1970s until last year. Her friendly smile and soft demeanor
was very welcoming to our visitors. She will be missed.
In 2010 Ruth was reunited with her favorite childhood doll at the Museum.
It had been donated to a museum in Duluth, and she requested that it be
returned to Grand Marais. Ruth was so grateful. When she held Georgina
in her arms again, recalling the tea parties they once shared, Ruth’s eyes
tinkled like she was a small girl again.
Ruth leaves behind many loving friends and family. Her contribution to the
Society and the whole community will be remembered for years to come.
Become a member of the Cook County Historical Society Museum and/or
the Johnson Heritage Post Today
COOK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
JOHNSON HERITAGE POST
We invite you to join our society, supporting its museum
ART GALLERY
and our ongoing projects. If you are interested in
Your memberships are very important to JHP.
supporting our work, please select a category below:
_____ $10.00
_____ $15.00
_____ $25.00
_____ $50.00
_____$100.00
_____$500.00
_____ Other
_____ Other
Membership privileges include free admissions,
Single Annual Membership
Dual Annual Membership
Supporting Membership
Commercial Membership
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Life Membership
Donation Amount: ________
Endowment Fund: ________
invitations to openings, newsletter mailings, and
discounts on book sales. Join today!
_____
$20.00 Annual Membership (Single)
_____
$30.00 Annual Membership (Family)
_____
$50.00 Sustaining Membership
_____ $100.00 Sponsoring Membership
_____ $250.00 Patron Membership
_____ $1000.00 Lifetime Membership
Please clip and return this form along with your check to:
Cook County Historical Society, P.O. Box 1293
Grand Marais, Minnesota 55604
Please send your membership check to:
Johnson Heritage Post, P.O. Box 35
Name: _____________________________
Grand Marais, Minnesota 55604-0035
Address: ___________________________
Name: _____________________________
Address: ___________________________
City, State: __________________________
City, State: __________________________
Phone: _____________________________
Phone: _____________________________
E-mail: _____________________________
Preserving Cook County’s History for Future Generations.
OUR MISSION: The purpose of the Society shall be the collection, preservation, and dissemination of
knowledge about the history of Cook County and to relate it to the history of the State of Minnesota.
7
Historical Society Events
Everyone is invited to come share good stories and good food.
 MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Saturday, March 9th at 3:00 p.m. The Historical
Society presents a panel of speakers at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts.
Stories You’ve Never Heard and Good Ones to Hear Again: Hosted by Billy
Blackwell, featuring Tim Cochrane, Victor Aubid, Alta McQuatters, Sue Kerfoot, Milton
Powell, Chester Lindskog and Gene Erickson - and original art by Alice Powell, Jan
Attridge, David Hahn, and Heidi Sobanja
.
For more information call the
museum (218) 387-2883 and for
updates visit
www.cookcountyhistory.org
ober-May
ct
MUSEUM IS OPEN: O
.
Friday 1-4 p.m
Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
AYS
OFFICE HOURS WEEKD
nt
me
int
Call for research appo
Address Service Requested
218-387-2883
[email protected]
www.cookcountyhistory.org
COOK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
P.O. Box 1293
Grand Marais, MN 55604
Permit # 19
Grand Marais, MN
PAID
Nonprofit Org
Standard Rate
US Postage