Bolz Family Picture Gallery - 1 Bolz Nelson's Resort and Crane Lake

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Nelson's Resort and Crane Lake Pictures

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Lodge - built 1918 and 1919 - looked like this in 1930 when John and Millie came to Crane Lake. Notice clothes lines in front

Lodge - November 1930

Between 1932 and 1939 (probably 1934) after Millies landscaping

Dining room added on west side, kitchen on east, old kitchen became lounge - summer 1951

Hand painted sign by Millie. Crane Lake cabins never caught on - became Nelsons resort.

Lodge and Dining room , bunk house and wood shed - early 1940s

Oil house became teeny - About 1935 - replaces one that burned in 1933

Belva and Goldie - Winter 1932

Store July 1937 - Farm cabin in background

Store built 1933 - Picture taken in 1940

Ed Smith was half Cherokee Indian and half Irish. He was born in Cherokee, North Carolina in 1883. He came to Crane Lake in June 1934. He created the guiding standards of Crane Lake. Ed guided for us for many years. After he quit guiding he helped Millie with the landscaping and yard work. He died in 1973 at the age of 90.

Eds first guiding trip. One Sunday evening he was studying maps of the lakes and talking to himself. John heard him say after looking at the map of Namakin, "That could be rainy Lake." Then he turned to John and said, "Can I have a boat and motor tomorrow?" John said, "Yes, are you going out to learn the lakes?" Ed said, "No, Im taking them people." John said, "You mean you are going to be there guides?" Ed said, "Thats what I came here for." John said, "Whereto?" Ed said, "Rainy Lake." John said,"You have never been to Rainy Lake-the only time you have been out of Crane Lake was with me yesterday when we went to La Croix." Ed said,"You know that, and I know that, but they dont."

Goldie, Belva and Rose (1st cook) - abt 1932

Guest, Ann Sonchar (2nd cook), Millie, Belva and Goldie

L to R, Guest, Leo Sundby (hired man), Guest, Guest, Ed Smith - 1937 or 1938

Harvi Parvi, 1939 in shop. Came December 1935

Belva Nelson, Verna Block, Millie Nelson, Goldie Nelson, Mickey Parvi - abt 1938

Ed Smith, Lew Wheeler, Junior Neil, Harvi Parvi - Guides at Nelsons - 1940

Tom Norlund, Axels brother, came to Nelsons in the fall of 1942 to help Axel build bunk houses. He went into the Seabees construction battalions of the US Navy from 1943 to 1945. He came back and did carpentry work and guided until 1965 when he retired.

The flood of 1950 was called the 100 year flood. The water kept coming up until June 2 - It was just hitting the threshold of the trading post but started to recede - by June 30 we were again able to use all of the cabins. We did stay open through this flood. We went to in from the cabins by boat and tied the boats to the porch on Slab, First and Second Beach cabins. At that time, most of the cabins did not have indoor plumbing. Ice left the lake on May 18.

Flood 1950 - Tenthouse now Elm Cabin

Main Lodge and dining room - 1937

The road to Crane Lake

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