Fergus Falls, Minnesota at Van and Jo-Eve's residences 7/25 - 7/29/2021 Travel Tour

  From: casarollnotes.blogspot.com  
    Tim and Linda Bunyan

We have arrived at our much-anticipated destination for our Travel Tour 2021.  We have found our friends just over the next rise and settled the RV at the front driveway at Van and Jo Eve's house in Otter Tail County, Fergus Falls, Minnesota. 

Fergus Falls, population 14,000!  Established by Scottish trapper, Joe Whitford in 1856.  Named for his employer James Fergus.  Whitford was killed during the 1862 Dakota war.  In 1867 George Wright was at the land office at St. Cloud and found Whitford's claim had lapsed.  Wright purchased the land and built what is now the Central Dam in downtown Fergus Falls.  His son Vernon helped establish the Otter Tail Power Company.

Van and Jo Eve's house, from the Holte Family, in Fergus Falls.

Their house is a wedded structure formed from Van's sweat equity, honed tree wood, felled, sown, and installed surrounding the fireplace creating even more warmth in the living room.  Jo Eve has updated the living space with new windows and a newly painted, protective outer clad. 

Jo Eve has her piano from her childhood in an accessible position for all to play.

Van has grown up here in these parts as well as Jo Eve.  They got together in their mature life and have formed a partnership built even beyond the vows of marriage. 

 Jo Eve returned to Minnesota to wed and manage Van's law firm to provide a stable ground for themselves to grow their families together.  Jo Eve loves her hostas liles.

 Van has successfully retained his big reputation in this small town.  He has raised a fine son who is the lead lawyer at the firm.   Van remains doing his favorite, select cases usually regarding the environment. 

 The two meld together which is obvious from the front porch flowers to the duet in the kitchen.  

Walleye and potatoes and 

made-to-order eggs!

Van is preparing Walleye, eggs upon order, scrambled, over easy...... whatever we call out!

Here at Fergus Falls, we dine on Walleye for breakfast.

  (Now we know what Walleye is!)

Van had some work to do at the office for a couple of hours, so Jo Eve guided us through the Scenic Trail along the Otter Tail River.

We stopped in at the local coffee shop: Stumbeano's Coffee Roasters.

The scenic River Walk Park spans about a mile of the Otter Tail River.

In 1927 Adams and Wright donated land for a new city hall

after a fire destroyed the old one.  William Ingermann was named architect and out of respect for Wright's New England background chose 

a colonial design after Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Fergus Falls is situated along the dividing line between the former great deciduous forest of the Northwest Territories to the east and the great plains to the west. 

 There are numerous lakes and small rivers due to the recession of the glaciers.

Wrights dam held in the 1909 destruction of others downstream.  The Otter Tail Power purchased the dam and rebuilt it in 1921.

Today the dam continues to generate electricity for Fergus Falls.

The principal business of the city center was increasingly important:

 Otter Tail Power Company

We came upon a Soldier memorial for all those who have served.  Thank you to our strong Americans and Van and Jo Eve's: Children Anne and husband.

George Wright Park along this Riverwalk as a section of the North Country National Scenic Trail with the Prairie Wetland Learning Center not far past Lake Region Healthcare Butterfly Garden. 

We found a power switch along the Scenic Otter Tail Riverwalk.  We could not figure out what this power supply would be used.  Jo Eve does hold the power switch in hand!

We walk over the Union Avenue Bridge that spans the Otter Trail River. 

 We passed along the way of the law office of the powerful Ellig Office.

 

The bucolic environment with abundant sporting opportunities has attracted summer opportunities.  People wish to raise their children away from the commercialized and higher crime environments of larger cities. 

Fergus Falls is repurposing buildings from the past.

The Northern Aire Bowling Lanes remains as the Bowling Alley (the sell: "Find Your Inner Otter" t-shirts) for Fergus Falls!

Van drives us around town and we go to one of many sections to their very own Fergus properties.

John Deer Equipment dealer provides value to locals.  Agriculture and

 Lawn and Garden Equipment.  Harvest corn is October-November.

We go through fields to arrive at one of several sections at 'Van's playground' filled with corn harvest in October-November, throw and grow deer food, sorghum, and Millet.

 This is a Deer Tower hunting blind.

Van is showing Tim his tools and necessary equipment for hunting.

The tractor has the right-of-way in this Ag Country.    Van tells us stories of the dream of switchgrass and timothy, yet actions of erratic cultivation are

 downed at Windell’s free beer.

Van is generous with wild rice and some jerky he and his friends made.

Van & Jo Eve reminisce and share observations.  They recall childhood memories.

Van and Jo Eve partake in outdoor delights and stories. 

The necessary tools for duck hunting.  Duck decoys attract real ducks.  Carved from wood, often white cedar.  The ones that do not have their heads broken off, in good condition, are the best ones and go for high prices.  Most are worth about $100.

We can see the care taken with 'these animals' and the richness they bring to the seasonal sportsman.

Van tells Tim the duck decoys are a device to capture wild ducks.  Decoys have an advantage over hunting ducks with shotguns as the duck meat does not contain lead shot.

Van explains: Shock, Stocking, and Deer Sucking bringing bounty by subtle nature.  

This is the Operators Manual for the White.

The fields about Van and Jo Eve define their love of nature.

This cultivator is Van's newest 'best friend'.  He explains it can till and drop seeds and fertilizer at

 just the correct moment.

Duck/Goose hunting blind is a concealed shelter for hunters designed to reduce the chance of detection by animals.

It feels wild to walk about the fields!

Honer to those who understand us and have come before us.  Everlasting as the Eastern Red Cedar.

Van's son comes to this place often.  He has learned well from the Master Hunter in many ways!

Dad and Joe

  Nature will always propel us to the future.  The grandchildren will say it best at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, where people and wildlife are always welcome. Grand Child, Amanda, studies here in the Summer Camp.

Grand Child Amanda

The continued breath of life as the sun: Everly and Amanda.  We look to the horizon; it is evident this is all for the Grand Children. 

 Bison and sweetcorn go hand in hand and are washed down with Nevis pie 

The Orwell Lake and Dam is about six miles southwest of Fergus Falls.  It is a gravity dam constructed in 1953 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.  It impounds the Otter Trail River for flood control, irrigation water storage, and municipal drinking water.  It is owned and operated by the St. Paul District.

Jo Eve, Tim, and I stroll around the shoreline with magnificent views and a tranquil setting.

Otto the Otter is an attraction in Adams Park in Fergus Falls.  Posed as if sniffing, the 150 feel tall Otter's name is Otto.  Otto was built by local high schoolers in 1972 as their contribution to the town's centennial celebration.  He is 40' long and made of concrete-covered metal

Lake Alice provides a beautiful view from all sides of the lake.  Exercise and appreciating the beauty of the lake are two benefits of walking around the perimeter of the lake.  Lake Alice has been an attraction since 1860.  The name honors Alice Faber, the first woman inhabitant in Fergus Falls.

                                                       The house where Van grew up.

A new place in town.  The reviews say: The drinks and food are great and the

 always friendly staff rocks........good reason for a cup of coffee!

                   Van and Jo Eve decor in the garage.  Tells alot about them as a couple!

The blown glass decor inside the house.

The children have come for a visit.  Great Grand Baby Everly and

Daddy Dalton and Grand Daughter Nicole.

Everly has great wits about her........even at this early age.

Everly is just beginning to walk quite well on her own!

Dalton and Nicole

Jo Eve has a collection of baby toys and stuffed animals.  Such a hard choice to choose a favorite.  Great Grand Dad is helping!

Grand Daddy Van, as the Orwell Reservoir, feeds the habitat, sheltering and 

offering what we all like.

After a wind-whirl, absolutely complete tour through Fergus:

George B. Wright

We drive to their Hill Country cabin at the lake.  It is neither here nor there, it is a place just over the next rise.  All it needs is a few good friends to keep company.

To Laporte thru Vining's Big Foot Gas and Grocery, boat sales, and country where there are secrets in the hills since Little Crow's Dakota end of the war.

Sebeka, 700 population shows a residence 150 years ago. 

 The Ken Nyberg sculptures are made out of scrap metal.  His tiny hometown of Vining (population 78) has gradually become an outdoor gallery for his metal art.  Ken's astronaut daughter has flown two missions to the International Space Station.  The Scandinavian in him keeps him humble.   

Wadena along the route has its own sculpture.  A small town has survived the largest single-day tornado in Minnesota state history.  

The rugged beauty of a log cabin and bicycle metal sculpture in 

Stigman's Mound Park in the town of Nimrod.

A landmark: Muskie Waters Co. on the Bunyan Trail Road, Nevis, MN

World's Largest Tiger Muskie in Nevis, Minnesota.  It is 30'  and 6" long and made of cedar and redwood-covered with cement scales.  

Built in 1949 by the Nevis Civic & Commerce Chamber.  

It is located on the Paul Bunyan State Trail which runs between the cities 

of Baxter/Brainerd and Bemidji.

 Blueberry Lake and Spirit Lake are part of the sugar sand beach.

There is the welcome door at Laporte 

The place to pause and soak in the environment filled with trees, lake, yard, flowers, property built upon hopes and dreams that come true every time there is a pause here.

The Bennington Luxury and Performance Pontoon quietly awaits the arrival

                                                                   of boating fans to come aboard!

Van has done due diligence tending the watering of the flower garden and a 

wagon for tools and goods.

Love of duty to the flowers at the Lake House!

We are welcome to the Lake House.  The love and generosity of Van and Jo-Eve are kindly demonstrated throughout our visit to this very special place.

Van charts the course around the lake and Jo=Eve and I run up to the house to bring our daily dose of sunshine in a bottle!  

Ice-cold lemonade with a twist!

Sites along the lake of old-timers and newcomers to the lakeside shore.

Some store their boats on lifts and covers.

This is a new 'hideaway'.............a space carved out to be a place.

We have a delightful swim in the shallows!  No water toys are necessary here!

Oh, the life of leisure .................. does get fit in to otherwise very endeavorous schedules.

Those moments brought together last a lifetime.

Van is letting Tim captain the ship for a ride on the lake.  Kabekona means "End of the Trail".

Relaxing on Kabekona Lake.  Clearing a place to be.  Located 2.5 miles south of Laporte in Hubbard County.  Kabekona has a surface area of 2,252 acres and a maximum depth of 133 feet.

Back on land, the four-wheeler and wagon is man's best friend.  This holds the ice chest to carry from the house to the boat!

We take off the next morning for a cup of coffee at the local shop.  A grand story comes with a cup,  This 120-year-old house has been re-constructed by a local couple to serve as a Coffee Shop and Emergency Shelter.  The Door, just off Main Street is part of the non-profit Level Ground.  All proceeds made from the coffee shop funds the emergency shelter overnight.  

We are out on the town of Walker!  The history here claims long before European settlement, the Ojibwe moved into the area from the Gret Lakes, pushing out the historic Dakota peoples, such as the Assiniboine and Hidatsa.  

Fur traders and trappers changed all that.  In 1896 Walker was founded following the construction of the railroad.  Logging giant Thomas B. Walker set up sawmill operations in nearby Akeley because of his wife's moral objection to the bars and brothels

 in Walker, a rough frontier town.

Tourism later grew as people from urban areas came to more rural areas for recreation associated with lakes, fishing, hunting, and water sports.

Tonight is BINGO night so we do not linger here.  NO betting tonight, darn!

                

We must go hunt up the beginnings of the 2,552-mile-long Mississippi River.

Van and Jo Eve brought us here to marvel at the serene birthplace of the mighty Mississippi.

The search for the Mississippi's source ended when Ojibwe Chief Oxawindib guided Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to Lake Itasca in 1832.

Virgin pine protects the basin around the Mississippi's source, Itasca is Minnesota's oldest state park.

Lake Itasca is a small glacial lake approximately 1.8 square miles in area.  It is the headwater of the 2,552-mile-long Mississippi River.

The primary source of the Mississippi River; is red and white pines along the edge of Lake Itasca

The river's elevation leaving Lake Itasca is 1,475' above sea level.  It will drop about three feet per mile before it reaches Lake Bemidji (elevation 1,339').  Turning east, the river flows downhill towards Grand Rapids (elevation 1,273') before turning south.

Overlooking the east arm of Lake Itasca.

The historic Douglas Lodge was constructed between 1903-1905.  

National Registry of Historic Places.  The place where Jo Eve's parents (1948) honeymooned here at Douglas Lodge..

The Ballroom.  Envision the days Jo Eve's parents danced the night away in this ballroom.

A gift enjoyed by Jo Eve to us travelers...."always at home".....so true! For 5 months of the year, we have traveled in our RV making it our home.  We enjoyed the shopping!

Love is Kind; Love is Patient.

We are departing from Laporte after we visited with Van and Jo Eve.  Van gives me final instructions on the last sweep on the lawnmower.....so powerfully fun!!!

Jo Eve and Tim tend to the final watering of the flower garden.

The Bennington is being pulled out of the water to be serviced and possibly wrapped for winter storage. 

We have boated from the dock where the lake water belongs to all that is brave and able and capable to explore upon it.  It is a reminder of the abundance and also the luxury life can hold.

The Poplar; the Popple, the fish house, the Walleye, and deer blind, the dominoes with numbers, and making of music is all part tribute to those before us as we shall also be beholden by our families, our sisters, our brothers, our wedded parents, our prized children, and Grand Children and also those that struggle.

Now there are Gentlemen of Leisure.

We have mowed and 4-wheeled, and discovered.  We have been served up this land by the best: Van and Jo Eve.

Thank you for your generosity of time and for your share of your special spaces you have carved out for yourselves in lovely Minnesota.