This fall we revisited the old dredge out there in Torch Lake - near the center of the picture above (see John Dee's photo of Oct 20) - and we passed between those concrete walls in the woods last Friday, a spot not far from here. The lingering good weather has allowed for some fun exploring this beautiful area with such an interesting history.

Speaking of John Dee, remember the old rail path of which he gave use the comparison, before and after the leaves had fallen in October? That was near here also, between Lake Linden and Laurium. Well, another Pasty Cam watcher, Win Tucker, snapped a shot of the same scene last month... but Win said it lacked something: a train! So he added one, much to the amusement of all of us here at Pasty Central:

I hope he got the Labs out of the way first!!!

Further to the left, in the background of this picture, along the shoreline, there are three houses built within the last two years, now each one another part of the penny-scramble shore.

In this picture, there is the stampsands, left by the mining companies. Maybe it will be next year that these sands will be covered with sand and vegetation.

And if the background shoreline is followed further, to the point where the waters of Torch Lake make their "cuts" to the waters of the Portage, there is some shoreline marked CFR (Commercial Forest Land) in the platbook released earlier this year.

Curiously, that shoreline property has also been surveyed, a swath cut through the cedar swamp that lines much of that area of the shore.
That shoreline property, marked CFR in the platbook, land that is taxed at an incredibly low rate (of which the state pays half) has small concrete pins marking each shoreline plat, and before long, that land will have houses built within 50 yards of the shore. Of course, if it's marked CFR in the platbook, the owners of that land have the luxury of paying a reduced tax on it, while they wait for the penny-scramle for the shore to come closer to those already platted lots.

Neat picture!! Speaking of John Dee, we haven't been able to reach his site for 3 days now, anyone know why that would be? Bob Thomson, Cedar Rapids, Ia.

Nice insight Walt! Thanks for the reading. Even the more recent history of this region is interesting.

what is a penny-scramle?

bas,
A penny-scramble was a part of our Fourth of July celebrations here in the Copper Country, along with three-legged races (two kids, arms around shoulders, one leg of each tied together with belts), tug-of-wars, greased pole climbing contests.

The volunteer firemen who helped officiate the games for the kids would throw a roll of pennies into the air, the pennies falling in the grass, and the kids would scramble to pick up those shiny 1968 Lincolns.

In much the same way now, the shorelines of our lakes are being developed.

Yesterday, after climbing down from my tree stand, I followed a road through the woods where there was none before, to a new strip of asphalt, where there was none before, and followed that past those three houses I mentioned earlier, one of which is already for re-sale.

In the background of this photo there is a sandy beach, the water shallow for many yards, enjoyed by many who found it. That area can no longer be enjoyed by the many as a house stands within 50 yards.

(Cary, If you read this, hello. I graduated with Gregg.)