Staff photos/Jane Howard Above left: The last meal to be served inside the historic Chik-Wauk Lodge was enjoyed by members and supporters of the Gunflint Trail Historical Society Monday, August 31, 2009. The building will open as the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center next summer. Top right:This is a rendering of a wall-size mural that Split Rock Studios will be painting on the inside wall of Chik-Wauk Museum. It features natural elements found in the vicinity. Split Rock Studios will be installing the exhibits, which will be ready for a grand opening celebration July 4, 2010. Bottom right: The weather was beautiful for the Gunflint Trail Historical Society annual picnic at Chik-Wauk. Trails around the property are now open.
The Gunflint Trail Historical Society has reached Membership Chairman Lee Zopff’s goal of 500 – with five extra members to spare.
The mood at the society’s Monday, August 31, 2009 picnic at the future home of the Chik-Wauk Museum and Nature Center was celebratory. Committee chairs could see a light at the end of the tunnel as the museum’s July 4, 2010 grand opening approaches.
“My book of ‘done’ is much bigger than my book of ‘to do!'” said Zopff.
Organizing volunteers to help refurbish the historic resort has been worthwhile for Building Committee Chair Fred Smith. “It’s been a tremendous experience…another example of the great Gunflint Trail community that we have,” he said.
Grounds chair Kathy Lande said the trails around Chik-Wauk are ready for walking. People will find them “where the burnt trees are cleared away!” Lande said.
Exhibit presentation chair Betty Hemstad estimated that most of the nearly 100 people at the meeting had done something to help bring the museum to fruition.
The museum is $150,000 short of what will be needed to finish the project. Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chair Sue Kerfoot asked people to donate unused household goods to First and Second Thrift Shop in Grand Marais on behalf of the historical society. Volunteer efforts over the last year brought $634 to the society this summer. “Give them your stuff,” Kerfoot said, “…not that any of us has too much stuff!”
Museum committee members had other suggestions for how people could help. Themuseum will have a reading nook with books by people from the Gunflint Trail or on topics related to Gunflint Trail life. Suggestions for books – or donations of those books – are being sought.
Photos of the following people with historic ties to the Gunflint Trail are being sought: Bill Raff, Ed and Myrtle Cavenaugh, Rick Whitney and Don Lobdell, the Schliep family, Herb White, the Bridgemans and the Klocks from Poplar Lake, Neil Hall, Charlie Cook, Ciro from the Hungry Jack Road, Ollar Snevets, and Floyd Soderberg.
Photos of certain animals and birds are also needed.
Next summer a new historical society board will need to be elected, and volunteers will be needed to help staff and maintain the museum. Even if you think you’re over the hill, Betty Hemstad said, we’ll find something you can do while sitting down!
A Taste of the Gunflint Trail will be held for a second year in a row on September 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as a fundraiser for the museum. Special events chair Judy Edlund said the first Taste of the Gunflint Trail “was very, very successful.”
Lodges included in this year’s tour will be Rockwood, Loon Lake, and Chik-Wauk. “It is free of charge,” said Edlund, “but we take donations.” Proceeds will go toward the Chik- Wauk Museum and Nature Center.
On behalf of the museum, Michael Valentini auctioned off an autographed first edition copy of Justine Kerfoot’s book Woman of the Boundary Waters. He opened bids at $10 but was able to keep the bids coming until they reached a selling price of $160.
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