• Sunday-What'sUP May 23 - 06:48 pm

Yesterday evening my wife and I concluded a road trip that took us almost 5,000 miles through about a dozen states. Along the way we saw sights like Mount Rushmore, the Continental Divide, the Mississippi, Greenfield Village (as well as the birth of new granddaughter). Having been to a lot of special places over the past 3 weeks, we had a renewed appreciation of the place we have called home for more than half of our lives together, as we rolled into Eagle River.

Shadow was glad to be out of the kennel, and he headed straight for the Lake, down across the dunes below our house. As we ran along the sandy shore stretching toward five mile point, I thought of Douglass Houghton, who died off this beach in 1845, and is honored by the monument at the entry to the village.

The sign at the monument refers to a fuse factory in town that burned in the 1950's. Recently I've received some photos of that factory, that we hope to share on a future Shoebox Memory. But a shot that caught my attention this morning was one from Bert DeVriendt, taken in May of 1951 just behind the site of the fuse factory, on the pond above the Eagle River Dam. This photo so accurately reflects the way this scene appears today, it is hard to conceive that 59 years separate the click of Bert's shutter and the loading of this page.

It's great to be back home. Have a good week :o)

Something about Birch trees that always makes me calm and serene. They are so peaceful. I love this view also.

Beautiful scene! Happy Sunday.

I agree, the photo is very peaceful, very quiet.

Good Morning. Did you vote for the CCHS today?

nice pic and as well on the tribute too d.houghton as well he died young i learned some history today tnx charlie !!!

Such great color for 1951! All-round great picture.

Congrats on the new granddaughter, Charlie. Grandchildren are just the best!

Good photo! Nostalgic, 2.

Beautiful photo. Charlie, glad to hear you're both safely home.

Ditto Theresa R...my wife loves birch trees too. Welcome back home Charlie and congrats on the new addition!

Welcome home, Charlie & Edie! You've just returned from what used to be our oft-travelled 'old stomping grounds'. Thanks for posting such a beautiful serene scene today. Absolutely fabulous!

My mom's maiden name, Koivu, means birch tree.

Love the pasty cameos, do wish there was a pic of the falls bearing
his name in that one.