Businesses
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Home of the Spud
Big Lake is the home of the Spud. Whose farms are we missing? Let’s get some photos of their sacks (even if they’re new)
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Big Lake Ice Harvesting
I would imagine that someone who has grown up in the age of electricity is wondering why anyone would want to harvest ice. The closest reference we have today is going camping for a weekend and wondering if our high tech insulated cooler will keep the ice long enough to make sure the refreshments stay
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Big Lake Citizen’s State Bank Robbery Scrapbook
Big Lake’s Citizens State Bank was robbed. The robbers escaped via planes, trains and automobiles. The newspaper coverage was state-wide if not nation-wide. Dorothy Moores has a folder of clippings to share for your reading enjoyment.The articles span from the earliest reports through to the robber’s trials. Quite of few of our members have personal
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The Demolition of Citizen’s State Bank
The Citizen’s State Bank building. It began life as First National Bank built in 1913 – 1914. The bank was purchased in 1925 by Citizen’s State Bank. In 1974 Citizens State Bank built a new building across from today’s DQ, which is now being remodeled into a funeral home in 2018. The building sat empty
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Big Lake Amusement Company
These old pictures show a complex of buildings on 10 acres that was called the Big Lake Amusement Company. This pavilion burned down about 1921 and a larger new pavilion was erected around 1922 when the Big Lake Park Assoication re-organized. Shares were purchased by the members for $10 a share. Some of the organizers
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The “Muni”
For a period Big Lake City owned what was called the Municipal Liquor store. It sold to go bottles of booze, in what they called the “off sale” and also was a bar. The locals called it the Muni. The current Tootsie’s Tavern is the location of the bar. It was sold to Jim and
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Dan Gapen Fishing Tackle
Here’s another ebay find. It’s a fishing lure (still new in the package!) from Dan Gapen’s business. I also found a couple more illustrations Darlene Fahlan did for one of Dan’s many fishing books. I’ll add these drawings to our photo album gallery of Darlene’s work. Curt Snesrud And Dan is still busy selling
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Knowlton’s Orrock Store
Ah ha! I found the info I was looking for about the Knowlton store in Orrock, where this thermometer is from, in The Sherburne Country Heritage book. Robert (Rob) John Knowlton was born in Becker Township in 1874. His mother was Elizabeth (Lizzy) Ann Orrock the daughter of Robert Orrock (after who the Town
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Patton’s and Burma’s store
Where was this store? Bob Olson where patton’s was BJ Bielen Thanks! Right down the street from me. Wish it was still there! Richard Hinrichs Good bike stop on the way home from school. Jerry jesperson and I came flying down the hill on a double bike, couldn’t stop and ran into a highway patrol
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Area Dog Catchers
Jana HarrerYou and 1 other manage the membership, moderators, settings, and posts for Big Lake History. Nice article. So these are your grandparents? Did they also own the Pattons store? If so we are on the lookout for pictures so the store when it was in operation! Shelby Burma Jana Harrer Daryl Burma in the