Our History-as told by our residents

Share your history, memories, pictures of times past with our readers. Many of our lake owners have had their properties in their family for generations and have stories to share. Submit your stories to be posted on the website.

Photo Credit: Gary Johnson
Circa 1955 Gary Johnson Family and Friends on Dock

Here’s how they used to party on Big Pine Lake. This is circa July, 1955. Probably the weekend of the 4th. My dad, who, at 6’7″, stood out in almost every crowd, is the 1st on the right. My mom is the one who’s hiding 2nd woman from the right. Notice how docks used to be built – cedar posts driven with a large mallet and 2 X 6 cedar stringers. Builds strong bodies 12 ways !!! I got in on dock installation toward the end of this era. My dad, my uncle, my cousin and I all did bar “security” work at some point in our earlier years… [Gary Johnson]

Gary Johnson and Mother fishing in 1959
Photo Credit Gary Johnson

Here’s the proof that I’ve been fishing this lake for 65 years. There’s my mom and me in one of those 16′ Sam Carlson cedar strip boats that I mentioned previously. Mom passed away 3 years ago today in hospice care at Aitkin Health Services. [Gary Johnson]

Echo Inn Resort on Big Pine
Photo Credit: Gary Johnson. Echo Inn Resort on Big Pine

Here’s another small scrap of history from Echo Inn Resort. Judging from my dad’s ’75 Buick wagon in the driveway, this photo was probably taken in the summer of 1976 or 1977. As time went by, and grandma got older, she was looking for easier money. She had started renting the 3 remaining cabins (the other 3 were sold off in the mid, to late ’60s) for the season and added some seasonal trailer rental spaces.

Gregg Johnson Cabin
Photo Credit: Gregg Johnson

These are pictures of wood plank in my Cabin. I believe the cabin was built in 1927, 1929 or 1938. In the vaulted great room is smooth wood with grooves worn into the wood. I have heard the wood was from a grain chute that grain slid down causing the softer spots in the wood to be worn and smoothed. I have also heard this came from boxcars that contained flour. Has anyone heard of this or have an idea where the wood was made or from what grain mill.  The wood is 3/4” thick with many grooves close to 3/4” deep.  Edie Simonson-Stewart was a prior owner of our property and Chuck Leaf was a more recent owner.  Gary Johnson confirmed being in the cabin as a child and that the planks are from old grain elevator chutes. [Gregg Johnson]