It was late June. The year was 1970 or 1971. Paul and Margaret, weren't born yet. We had a 1969 dark green Cheverolet Impala with a power window in the tailgate. We loaded it with beach "stuff". You know, swimming suits, bath towels, multiple changes of clothes, TV, charcoal for the grill and food. We headed for Cascade, Wisconsin. Just southwest of Cascade is little Lake Ellen. There was a public beach with an old wooden building that could accomodate bus loads of kids for swimming lessons. Right next to the public parking lot was a cute little cottage. Somehow, someway your mom and I found the cottage and in a moment of weakness, we rented it for one week. I don't remember rental cost but $150 per week seems about right.
In hindsight, the cottage was a compromise. We couldn't afford an expensive vacation and the cottage represented an affordable change of pace.
I know the whole family was excited. Swimming and fishing and boats, oh my! When I say the whole family was excited, it extended for sure to Grandpa George and Nana. George knew we were going to the Lake so he offered his fishing boat for the week. He never used it anyway. It had a 5 horsepower Evinrude engine so it really flew over the waves. Yeah, right! The boat was a nice diversion because it let us take tours of the lake. I think at 3-4 mph, we could make it around the lake in 15 minutes. There really weren't many cottages, just farms that bordered various stretches of the lake. I think the lake was spring fed.
It was a fun time. Our beach was very, very sandy and the water shallow. There was lots of room to romp. I don't know if Deb, Kelly or Chris could swim. I know we had goggles and fins for the feet and air inflatible flotation devices. I don't remember bad days. Most of the time was sunny.
Grandpa George found ways to visit. I don't know why, but he always had a fascination with retreating to a lake with the family. He talked about how he wished he had looked at Crystal Lake property for his family. I remember Lyla saying that was never going to happen because it just meant more work for her. So they "plugged in" to our family frolic.
I also remember Uncle Bob coming out to visit with his black puppy Nikki (I think a black water spaniel). He was trying to teach it to jump into the water and fetch sticks. You Grasshoppers were entertained by the dog. Nikki wasn't real attentive and I'm not sure he ever got the message.
We fried out constantly. The cottage had some cooking facilities but it didn't get much use. So the outdoor grill was used for brats, hamburgers, maybe some steaks and I'm sure chicken for variety.
The public beach facility next door had a food counter. You could buy potato chips, soda and candy bars. I know we made a few trips for "garbage food".
The Lake Ellen cottage did what it was supposed to do. It brought family together sharing common things. That included George and Lyla and Uncle Bob and possibly my mother Alice (I don't remember clearly but visiting is something she might have done).
For me, there was always something enchanting and fun about being around a Lake. It was also very confining. After 6-7 days of family togetherness, I would get a yearning for good stuff. Lke my own bed. Like a newspaper in the morning. Like a refrigerator stocked with good things. You get the idea.
Lake Ellen was the beginning and it fostered good feelings. The end result was that we eventually bought our first Crystal Lake cottage. It took 25 years before we gave it all up. It was an interesting journey.
Love,
Dad
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