Members of the Cook County Historical Society recently met with the Grand Marais Recreation Park Board to discuss building a boathouse to display vintage Lake Superior fishing boats once used and owned by area commercial fishermen. The boats are a gift from the David Hammer family. Faces you can see, on the left are Bob Pratt, Carrie McHugh and Sally Berg. Pratt and McHugh are from the C.C. Historical Society.
It won’t happen this year, but the Grand Marais Recreational Park Board has been meeting with members of the Cook County Historical Society with the goal of building a boathouse to showcase vintage Lake Superior fishing boats. The David Hammer family has donated the boats.
A small group consisting of Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth, Parks Manager Dave Tersteeg, and historical society director Carrie McHugh, members Barb Backlund, Bob and Bev Pratt, met on March 3 to discuss potential locations and pursue space to house the boats and memorabilia from the Hammer family.
Fishing artifacts range from 1925- 1965. Seven boats in various stages of restoration would be featured. One is a 24-foot Croft-built gas boat. Another is a 20-foot-long gas boat built by Rueben Hill, and a 17-foot skiff also built by Hill. Commercial fishermen used the boats.
Currently, discussions have focused on where to build a boathouse.
“The focus of discussion has centered on the space in Boulder Park and adjacent parking lot and the Coast Guard station and grounds,” said Tersteeg.
“The historical significance of the Coast Guard station, complete with the boathouse, was identified as a major asset the city would be interested in owning, should the federal government wish to relinquish ownership. This may be a reality,” said Tersteeg. “And this property would be ideal for displaying the history of our maritime connection to the lake. Carrie McHugh (CC Historical Society director) will continue to explore the possibility of working with the Coast Guard.”
McHugh is also looking for an architect to help develop concepts for what the boathouse building could look like.
David Hammer will be back in the county in May, said Tersteeg.
Grant award for tree planting
“We have been granted $30,000 to plant a minimum of 200 trees within the coastal zone,” said Tersteeg, adding, “That’s a lot of trees.”
The award came from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and is solely for Grand Marais.
When deciding on the types of trees to plant, Tersteeg said, “We will partner with the DNR, Forest Service, the University of Minnesota and other communities on the North Shore.”
City staff will provide in-kind match support.
Volunteers will be sought to help with planting, watering, and pruning. Someone suggested contacting the Nordic Nature group to see if they would be interested in providing the tree care and maintenance once the trees have been planted. The Nordic Nature group recently spoke to the city council about climate change, and this project might be something that fits into their public service concept.
What is the goal of the project? Asked park board chair, Sally Berg.
“It is to improve the Great Lakes watershed,” said Tersteeg.
Trees can be bare root, gravel bed, or containerized stock. The city will work with the DNR and other partners to identify best planting locations to ensure storm water runoff capacity.
Tersteeg said it could take a year to a year and a half to get the trees planted once sites have been identified.
Artist donation
Wayne Potratz, a nationally and internationally recognized master of metal casting techniques, has donated a significant piece of sculpture to the city, said Tersteeg.
It’s a cast iron and bronze canoe ensemble entitled, “Camping at the Edge of Nature and Culture.”
Potratz is a University of Minnesota instructor. “The understanding with the artist would be that with the acceptance of the gift, that we (the city) would install, care for and retain future rights to move the installation as needed,” Tersteeg said.
At more than 7 feet, the piece is long and heavy and will require footings. “Wayne suggested putting the piece in Boulder Park, to the west (harbor side) of the large boulders and trees,” noted Tersteeg.
Leave a Reply