Don and Barb Nelson are a couple of our PastyNET members, as well as members of the Keweenaw County Historical Society. Don has an interesting collection of stories and pictures at his Motor Life Boat page. One sequence of shots depict a drill performed by the skilled Coast Guardsmen doing a 360 roll, with the Coxwain staying completely dry. You can appreciate that more if you've ever swam in Lake Superior.

I'm constantly amazed at the wealth of visual history of the U.P. which Pasty Cam-watchers send our way. One year ago this week, "Shoebox Memories" was born with a suggestion by Nancy Nelson (wonder if any relation to Don and Barb?) Now we receive almost enough to do a Shoebox Memory every day.

By the way, we've started a new quarter of Wallpaper of the Week with an encore by Dan Urbanski, by popular demand, from the week before last. Seems we could almost feature a new WOW everyday, too!

My grandfather, August Kumpula and his brother Charles served in the coast guard at Portage and Eagle Harbor. My mother Dorthy Manninen grew up at Eagle Harbor Coast Guard Station. They both joined the coast guard after World War I. I grew up hearing the stories of these brave men in their open boats saving people on Lake Superior. Thank you for the picture.

Since I am Nelson by marriage, I doubt if Don and Barb are any relation. My husband grew up in Marquette, and his father was Sigurd Nelson from the Bessemer area. Keep the fascinating pictures coming, Don and Barb. I hadn't realized it has been a year for the memories. It surely has been fun--thank you Charlie.

Charlie, I wonder if anybody out there has any pictures of the shanties that used to line the shore of Houghton and Hancock years. Would be neat to see some of them. I remember going along the old dirt road down there as a kid.

The correct spelling is coxswain.