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A Place Erased…
Diana Mavetz Petrich
During Covid, I spent many hours going through my parents’ photos. Most of these old photos were not labeled and I would do my best with my investigative skills to figure out who, where and what are in the photos.
My mother told us that she worked one summer in high school in 1943 at Pipestone Falls Resort. As one who never has been in the Boundary Waters or ventured farther than Mile Island on Fall Lake, these stories fell on me without any knowledge of where this place existed. Surprisingly enough in my 62 years, I have never bothered to find out until now.
It has been four years since I amassed many of their photos into digital cyberspace. Recently, as I sat waiting for an appointment, I scrolled through the extensive library of their photos and came across ones of Pipestone Falls with my mom – Julia Chimzar Mavetz, Catherine Chimzar, Josephine “Dolly” Zaverl Grahek, Lyman Childers and Charlie Johnson from Winton. I was inspired to write about these photos.
My mother’s duties included cabin cleaning, helping in the kitchen,
doing laundry (no machines involved) and other odd jobs. The demands from the owners of the resort were many and much was expected from all of their employees. When their chores were completed, there was time for horsing around, swimming, sunbathing, fishing, and resting, as portrayed in the snapshots.
I visited the Ely-Winton Historical Society to see what they had in their archives about Pipestone Falls Resort. I had no idea that this resort was located on the lower end of Basswood Lake in Pipestone Bay. Also, found out that there is indeed a waterfall (Pipestone) that had a half-mile portage around it. Also, I never knew that Lake County in Minnesota has 12 waterfalls, which is more than any other county in Minnesota. It’s true you learn something new every day.
In the EWHS folder, there was a brochure about the resort, and it described all the amenities the resort had to offer. The writing is unique and really is a great example of marketing around the late 1940s timeline. As it is printed in this brochure, here is the text: ACCOMMODATIONS and other INFORMATION on PIPESTONE FALLS LODGE To conform to the diverse preferences of guests, both lodge and housekeeping facilities are maintained. For others, to whom the beckoning of the wild is irresistible, complete canoe outfitting services are provided; all but three remote cabins are equipped with electric lights.
HOUSEKEEPING--- There are 25 log cabins scattered on the shoreline of Newton and Basswood lakes. Log cabins consist of a large screened in porch the width of the building, a general living room and two bedrooms having full sized beds. Complete housekeeping equipment is furnished, including blankets, bed linens, ice, wood, pans, dishes, silver and one boat.
LODGE--- Meals are served in the Main Lodge. The food is the very best, prepared by an expert cook to suit the taste of the most fastidious. Sleeping accommodations are provided in adjacent log cabins.
FISHING AND CANOE TRIPS--- Game fishing is excellent during the entire season. Great northern and walleye pike are plentiful in Basswood Lake. Lake trout and bass may be taken in nearby lakes which are accessible by canoe. A guide is not necessary for fishing in the vicinity of the lodge. However, if one cares to tour Basswood Lake and is unfamiliar with the territory, a guide is recommended.
CANOE TRIPS--- Access to the wilderness beyond is possible over the canoe trails used for centuries by the Indians. For those of adventurous spirit, who enjoy the solitude and majestic grandeur of nature there are countless miles of water to traverse and explore. One may follow a continuous chain of lakes to Hudson Bay. Canoe trips requiring a few days of extending into weeks will be completely outfitted and supervised.
SWIMMING--- This invigorating sport may be enjoyed in season.
CAMERA HUNTING--- Affords the opportunity of collecting scenic views and interesting plant and animal life movies and stills.
STUDY--- There are interesting geological formations in this region, many and unusual types of plants and various friendly forest folk.
BERRYING--- Wild blueberries and raspberries ripen in July and August and may be picked on most of the adjacent hills.
GUIDES--- On an extended trip a reliable guide is indispensable and are available at prevailing rates.
SUPPLIES--- The Pipestone Falls Trading Post carries fishing licenses, a complete line of fishing tackle and a staple stock of food supplies. Fresh vegetables, meats, and dairy products are procured regularly from town.
CLIMATE--- The altitude is over 1,400 feet above sea level. The summer days are warm and comfortable while nights are cool and refreshing.
CLOTHING--- Since a spirit of complete informality prevails, ordinary outing attire is appropriate. Stout shoes are desirable. Wraps will be comfortable evenings.
HAY FEVER--- Sufferers from this distressing malady find wholesome relief in this pine-scented land. The plants whose pollen cause this trouble do not grow in this region.
LOCATION & TRANSPORTATION
Pipestone Falls Lodge is located at the Falls on Basswood Lake. It is accessible only by water for in this area, there are no roads. The nearest town, Winton, is 10 miles away. Pipestone Falls Lodge operates a launch service from Winton to camp. There is a parking area near our dock for cars.
BY TRAIN--- Any railway to Duluth and the D.M.&I.R. furnish direct service to Winton.
MOTORING--- The roads from Chicago and other large cities to Winton are entirely surfaced. The most direct route from Chicago and intermediate points is to take U.S. No. 12 to Eau Claire, Wis., thence U.S. No. 53 to Virginia, Minn., thence No. 169 and No. 35 to Winton. Our dock is at the end of the road next to the game warden’s lodge. Come and prove for yourself that “Our Fishing Can’t Be Beat”
A reservation enables us to know your wants and make your vacation more thoroughly enjoyable. It obviates delays and assures you of having the accommodations you desire.
For reservations or further information, address:
One of the photos in the brochure that struck me as very interesting, was a winter shot of 12 planes parked on the ice in front of Pipestone Falls Resort. With 25 cabins available and plenty of wood available to heat these cabins, it was very much a popular destination for the very determined outdoorsy types and ice fishing enthusiast. Customers had to be quite affluent to be able to afford (or own a plane) to fly into this resort. There wasn’t any information about hunting, but I’m willing to bet there was some of that going on around or at the resort.
Like so many things that used to be are no longer. As the years progress, memories fade, things built decay and fall into the ground. All of the people in my mother’s photographs are gone, as is this well-loved, well-visited and cherished resort along with so many others that fell to directives by the government. This resort and so many others were disassembled and only memories and old photos remain. As the older generations pass, the memories die with them unless the few who know or have photos share what they have.
I wish I could have seen it, but not as much as I wish I could have another conversation with my mother about what it was like to work there. My folks were never rich, but they had a strong work ethic and celebrated greatly when they were granted any job. Their attitude was to do the best job you could do so no one would ever come behind you and have to clean up what you didn’t do right. “Right the first time,” was the motto we heard many times as children.
I would like to take a road trip someday to see the land on which this resort had been built. Maybe have a photo taken of me on the rock where my mother, aunt and friends frolicked when they had free moments from working their tails off. I am assuming those rocks they are still there and not obliterated like the resorts were.
These photos are certainly a gift from the past and it just hit me that they are over 80 years old. For centuries before my ancestors showed up in northern Minnesota, there were natives that lived in the surrounding areas of Ely. There are no photos of them, and no one remembers them either. There is one exception, however, the pictographs that are painted on rocks in the Boundary Waters. That would be the equivalent graffiti “I was here” on the side of a building. We don’t know who writes any of those artistic expressions either.
Regarding the road trip I’d like to take up there, I do realize there are no roads. I just may have to take up camping…
