Posted: 7/3/02

Condo heir to cabins, moonlight waltzes

(Editorís Note: The following Reflections column was first published on June 4, 1981 and is reprinted here as part of the newspaperís on-going coverage during its 100th year.)

Elsie Vogel
Times Correspondent

ìOn April 12, 1978, I stood on the steps of the old Forest Lake Library and watched the action across the road. It was a noisy scene as workman labored to move several white cabins-all that remained of the one-time busy Nelson Cabin Court for tourists and vacationers.

At the time I wondered about where the new use of this land; there was talk of building an apartment house or the newer type of housing, the ìcondominium.î

After observing what was happening I couldnít help but remember what a beautiful area this was, even before the cabin court. Those recollections about this particular piece of Forest Lake real estate prompted me to write my first ìReflectionsî column for the Forest Lake Times.

During the ensuing five years the library was moved to the present city complex and the former library is now the Senior Center.

West Bay Condominiums

During the last few months there have been discussions before the city council in regard to building a condominium on the cabin court site. At the present writing the plan is to go ahead with construction of a 24-unit building to be known as the ìWest Bay Condominium.î

Before they break ground I would like to just once recall for the older Forest Lake residents and former summer people, a time in Forest Lake that will never be repeated. You had to have been here to have experienced this carefree, delightful summer resort atmosphere.

The new owner of a West Bay condominium will find a wonderful beach in front of their unit and well they should because this is one of the finest swimming areas on the lake. It was the original Forest Lake bathing beach, called ìForest Breach.î In the summer a huge white banner strung across Main Street pointed the way to the beach.

Original Bathing Beach

Big Willow trees shaded a long well-cut lawn. There were picnic tables here and there, but the main attractions were on the waterís edge.

The white, wooden bathhouse was built in a T-shape. The wing on the right side provided little private cubicles for the ladies to change into their bathing suits; the wing on the left was for the men.

The main part was the center of activity. Numbered tin box receptacles for clothes storing could be rented for five cents. Rental bathing suits and towels were also available. The concession counter supplied the swimmers with ice cold pop and ice cream; frozen Snickers bars were a popular item. (How do I know? Working at the beach was my first teen-age summer job.)

The coaster slide was a high, wooden structure with a slide that sloped steeply into the water. Fun-loving kids could rent a small wooded toboggan for a quarter, and ride swiftly and daringly down into the water.

This privately owned bathing beach was built and operated by Mrs. Tom Rolseth Sr., in partnership with her brother-in-law Art Rolseth from the early 1920ís until about 1931. They provided a first-class beach that compared favorably with any of the city beaches.

Dancing on the Beach

It was all there in one area, the beach, coaster slide, and picnic grounds for the big company picnics that came to Forest Lake. Across the road was another attraction, large, white, frame dance pavilion. The front part jutted out over the water and through the screened windows, surrounding the dance floor, the lake breezes kept the dancers cool. (No need for air conditioning.)

I knew the pavilion would be remembered by many Forest Lake residents and so with the help from a few people I turned the clock back to a happy time in the 20ís.

Memories Are Made Of This

Myrtle Bixby, Sis Bellis, and Eunice Swenson recall the big summer crowds that dance to the music of the various dance bands. The popular rhythms were the fox trot, schottische, polkas and circle two step. But the dancers also slowly waltzed to romantic melodies like ìLet Me Call You Sweetheartî and ìGood Night Sweetheartî (usually the last song of the evening) while the big full moon reflection shimmered on the lake. Moments like that are unforgettable.

Katherine Heisler and her sister Irma Clement remembered a good local band that played there, it was called ìPeps Snuggle Pups.î They suggested that I call Kenneth (Bud) Pepin for more information.

ìPeps Snuggle Pupsî was a peppy band with Bud Pepin playing the sax, Lou Heim (Shipstead) on the piano, Loren Alshouse on drums and once in a while Joe Heim played the violin.

They played popular music and Bid recalls one of the most frequently requested songs was ìIt Had To Be You.î They didnít play until ìThree Oíclock in the Morning,î but that was another waltz number the dancers liked. Bud also played with a nine piece band from White Bear Lake.

Summertime brought exciting new people from near and far to our town, with new loves and friendships quickly formed.

John Nordlund, now of Chisago City, was one of the crowd of ìsummer kidsî from St. Paul, that dances at the pavilion and he too remembered the huge crowds. One band he remembered dancing to was the ìBlue Devils.î Later John became a year-around resident of Forest Lake for several years.

Perhaps the biggest dancing day was the fourth of July. I found one advertisement of 1928 that announced dancing in the afternoon and also in the evening until 1 a.m. The music would be a seven piece band called the ìHarmony Bearsî of White Bear.

Pavilion Moves

About 1930 there were to be some changes in our beach area. Steve Hendrickson Sr., owner of Hendricksonís Cafe, purchased the Dance Pavilion. Hendricksonís cafe was then located on the present parking area of Quon Yee Restaurant.

Hendrickson had the building moved on the ice during the winter to a new location, the present site of Skateland Roller Rink. Dancing and roller skating continued there during the summers and residents once again heard the familiar sound of music on the night air, especially across the lake.

Changes at Forest Beach

It was the time of the Great Depression and things changed at the beach also, including the demise of the coaster slide. Mrs. Rolseth felt she didnít want to continue anymore so the ìvillage fathersî under Mayor John Boehm, hired a manager to continue the use of the beach and picnic facilities for the town.

Many young swimmers of that period all remember Mrs. Alice Donovan as manager. She served terrific hamburgers (one of her best customers was Buster Taurman who later owned Wagnerís Hamburger Shop). Alice couldnít swim a stroke but she went in the water along the shore to keep a watchful eye out for the little ones.

These two lovely ladies, Mrs. Rolseth Sr. and Mrs. Donovan, who had so much to do with our beach facilities are both residents of Birchwood Nursing Home.

Ranís Cabins

About 1937, Randy Lake and his wife Irene bought and developed the former beach site into a cabin court. They built 10 or 12 cabins; a few were housekeeping units and the rest were for overnight guests.

The tired travelers quickly revived after they got settled at ìRanís.î The cabins, decorated with flower boxes, were situated under beautiful big trees. And of course there was the lake with a private beach for swimming. Imagine how happy the kids were and how relaxing for their folks.

Summer Jobs

At one time cleaning the cottages or cabins was a good summer job for teen-age girls. Mrs. Art Forsberg (Marge) remembers her cabin job.

Margeís grandparents, Martin and Ida Langdon were managers of Ranís Cabin Court. In addition to cleaning, another phase of Margeís job was to wash the bed linen, a chore that was done at Lakes residence. The sheets were all pressed on a big hot mangle. (No permanent press, automatic washers or dryers in those days.)

The Ranís Cabin Court sign was changed to Nelsonís Cabins with new ownership. With the passing of years, and the advent of the I35 and other changes the need for this type of accommodations was disappearing. It was about the time the ìCottage for Rentî signs around the lake also disappeared.

Changes were blowing in the wind as we slowly but surely changed from a summer resort town to a suburban type community.

The Time is 1983

The former beach cabin area has had an abandon look ever since 1978 when the cabins were removed. It is just waiting to be enjoyed again, but no matter what develops there, many people will recall the way it used to be, including the sweet sound of hymns sung by the choir of the Presbyterian Church, music you could hear through the open windows on a Sunday morning. The Erickson Holidays Station is now on that corner.

Appreciation and Thanks

ìLetís go to the beach.î That suggestion heard today finds the swimmers going to a beach at the foot of Broadway. Lifeguards stationed the tower and roped-off areas and diving rafts make Forest Lake beach a good beach and a safe one.

Through the years many Forest Lake individuals have made contributions of money and land to enhance our city. I do not believe this story would be complete without a word of appreciation for the donation of lakeshore land that was made by Mrs. Steve (Eugenie) Hendrickson and Wally and Marie Frederickson.

These two parcels of land now have been developed into Memorial Park for the enjoyment of everyone. There is one stipulation however; if at some future time that an individual commercial venture would develop there, the land would revert back to the heirs.

The City of Forest Lake is indeed fortunate to have this generous gift from far-sighted individuals who kept a spot on our lake where everyone is welcome to enjoy a summer day, swim, picnic or just to lie on the green grass and watch the clouds go by. Itís there for all to share.

Iíd like to say ìThank youî from the community and by the way... ìSee you at the beach.î

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