In 1964, Bob Dylan presciently sang “The Times They Are A-Changing.” Dylan likely did not know that Grinnell College’s first hippie, Peter Cohon Coyote, would graduate that same year before he moved west.
Some internet research suggests that the Encampment Forest Association is seeing changing times, too. Recently, we could pay $10 to join 29 others to help the EFA to plant and fence new trees. This was done with the Nature Conservancy’s co-sponsorship, the University of Minnesota, and the North Shore Stewardship Association. And it was advertised as a chance to tour the EFA.
Other signs of change peek through. Previously, you usually needed to be related to or well known to a member to buy into the EFA. Now there are ads for property for sale there. Here are a couple of recent samples of that new openness.
Inside Gate 10: Property Overview from 2018 listing: Lake Superior north shore once in a lifetime opportunity in the coveted Encampment Forest Association, which owns the land and leases to homeowners on a 99-year lease. This sprawling one level cabin-feeling home was designed by architect Lampert Walling and built in 1961. It received a large addition in 2010 and 2011, providing owner’s bed and bathroom suite and basement with family room. Newer kitchen has granite countertops and stainless appliances. Relax in the screen porch off the kitchen or sauna in the owner’s bath suite. Shingles and windows were also replaced in 2011. Efficient off-peak electric storage heat. The kitchen overlooks the living room and dining area with vaulted beamed ceilings and wood-burning stone fireplace. A huge stone patio wraps on two sides of the house. Outside is a 16’ x 24’ remodeled guest cabin and 19’ x 19’ garage/ shed building. Beautiful views of Lake Superior and Encampment Island. A gentle grassy slope provides easy access to the black sand beach and rocky shoreline. Site size and frontage are estimates. No survey, but some boundary lines are staked. The site is gorgeous, with several old growth white pines and many mature cedars. Enjoy awesome amenities in this country club in the forest! Prior sale price was a mere $830,000.
Inside Gate 11 (north of our 61): A two-bedroom, 2.5 baths house of 1008 square feet, listed for about $500,000 in 2011. Taxes were $1,569 based on an assessed value of about $158,000.
The Minnesota Land Trust announced it had acquired a conservation easement on 88 forested acres next to the Encampment River. The announcement also notes that 500 acres of EFA property are subject to a similar easement.
A June 2018 article in City Pages was entitled “Wanna live on Lake Superior? Buy one of these 19 eye-popping North Shore homes.” It listed at least two EFA properties.
EFA has Facebook and Instagram pages with pictures of most people much younger than I who enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Unlike the all-white founders, the pictures show some people of color.
I saw an internet ad saying that some 15 properties at EFA are available for rent. When I looked again, I did not find it. Call (218) 834-3763 for accurate information.
I contacted one well known former member for comment but have not heard back. It is clear that the Encampment Forest Association is not as secret as it began. But at least one real estate agent wrote to protest our invasion of EFA’s privacy in the prior column. I responded that all of what I wrote came from the public internet. And all the names mentioned are of people long dead. We do not know what prompted what seemed to be an unfounded complaint.
Steve Aldrich is a retired Hennepin County lawyer, mediator, and Judge, serving from 1997-2010. He and his wife moved here in 2016. He likes to remember that he was a Minnesota Super Lawyer before being elected to the bench. Now he is among the most vulnerable to viruses. Steve really enjoys doing weddings, the one thing a retired judge can do without appointment by the Chief Justice. He has never officiated at a Skype, Zoom, or Google Team wedding. Bouquets and brickbats may be sent to the editor or to Stevealdrich41@gmail.com.
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