From 1906 to 1921, Lalu (Adelbridge Story) kept a journal about his and Hapie’s (Helen Smith Story) Casco Point cottage home on Lake Minnetonka. Here is a typed version, as true to the original as possible with the addition of punctuation for readability and a few photos. At the end of this post is a copy of the actual first page of the written journal, to be appreciated, I think, for the intimacy of the handwriting.
There were a few words that were hard to make out, usually indicated by “illegible” or sometimes with just the first letter and dashes. If any of you can fill in these blanks, please let me know.
Lalu’s writing subtlety reveals a hard working man, attuned to the weather, and visits from family. He reserves specificity for his flowers, occasional financial dealings, and the car they purchased in 1919–these are gems. The flower picked to start us off is one of his favorites: a sweet pea.
Casco Road Spring Park 8/29 —19
Preface
This book is intended to be kept as a record of doings etc. from this time on, at this cottage. Also a review of its past. After spending the summer of 1906 in the Smith Cottage at Casco Point Mrs. Story and I decided to own our own home on Casco and on Dec 1 1906 we bought this lot no 135 Spring Park Addition of Lake Minnetonka [now 2677 Casco Point Road] for $750.00. The lot was a tangle of bush fallen trees weeds and rubbish.
1907
In the early spring we had the cottage built at a cost of $500.00. Did all painting, screening, partitioning and finishing ourselves. Furnished Cottage and lived here until Sept. Elbridge aged 13 spent the summer in Tonopah Nevada. Donald aged 18 spent the summer here.
1908
During winter built rowboat in barn at home and had it hauled out in spring
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
Rented city house and moved out April 15th. Did not have a launch out of boathouse. Bought and put up porch curtains. Built cement walk from road to cottage and closet. Donald and Elbridge with us all summer. Mrs. S. unable to get help, did all the house work. Zinnia hedge along front did finely. Started oriental poppies. Put in peony bed.
1915
Rented city house to McIntyre May to Sept 1st. Moved out May 6th. Built street entrance on porch, enlarged and painted kitchen, built step and finished walk. Zinnia hedge in front not so good as past two years. Bought of Long Long Lake 16 new dahlias and planted them as follows, beginning at front
Old Kind, red and white, show
6 Storm King white, show, (Satisf)
1 Geisha, yellow and pink, [illegible] (very fine)
Arabella, white and yellow, show (small [illegible] (only fair)
7 Queen Wilhelmina, proved to be a single century [illegible]
12 Souvenir or qust Douzon, red – Dec. (very good)
Delice, rose pink, December (fine)
Bertha Von [illegible], salmon pink, [illegible], (extra)
Kremhilda, pink to white, cactus, (extra)
5 Dorothy Peacock, pink, show, (extra)
13 White Century, white, single (ordinary)
2 Alice Roosevelt, Alice Blue Peony (fine)
Berch Vonttermsted, large fluffy yellow (very fine)
4 Larome, white cactus, med., very fine
Old Kind, white tips red, show (ordinary)
8 A.D. [illegible], pink, show (ordinary)
9 Sylvia, mauve pink, Dec. (ordinary)
3 Mrs. Roosevelt, silver rose, Dec., (fine)
Sylvia, mauve pink, Dec.
11 Arneson, dark purple, peony (good)
Old Kind, all red, show
Built Sweet Pea trellis. Sw peas very fine. Donald and Eloise Nelson married on Aug 26th at The Framington [?] We gave them furnishings for their apartment.
Wet. Cold. Late spring. Snow and complete freeze up on May 18th.
Peonies only few flowers, apple trees, tomato plants etc. frozen. Replanted tomatoes twice. Asters very fine, also nasturtiums. First ripe tomato August 14th. In city house September 7 – 11. The Mrs. and Beda made jelly etc. Beda quit 10th.
Sept 11th Arnesons with Donald and Eloise started on trip with auto to Iowa, Chicago, Indiana, etc.
Sept 14th Cold and wet. Went to city for mid week.
Sept 23rd Came out Mrs. and I. Nice day.
Sept 26 Two rainy days. Moved lilies to north front boundary. Oriental poppies just coming up.
Oct 2nd Mrs and I. Eloise and Donald came out. Rained Sunday the 3rd .
Oct 9 Out. 7—8—9—snow freezing and killing frost.
Oct 16 Out. Nasty weather.
Oct 23-24 Out. Donald and I put launch in boathouse. Beautiful weather. Took up bulbs.
Oct 30-31. Mrs and I out. Fine weather. No fire needed. Painted south side of house. 4 ripe tomatoes from garden. Would have been many except for frost of 7—8—9. Elbridge and Margaret out for part of day.
Nov 6 – 7. Donald, Eloise, Mrs. and I out. Fine weather. No fire needed. Warm shower today. Put away porch curtains. Painted curtain rods.
20th Nov. Out over night. Covered plants etc. No snow, lake still open, cold raw wind. Donald and Eloise came out today 21st on 9 o’c. Helped me put away rowboat. Covered windows.
1916
Went into firm of WHF. Co on January 1st paid in all my ready cash and put up stock for balance of cost of same $10,000 note at 6%.
March 20 Donald sick and ordered to go to bed. Put their H.H. foods in storage and took he and Eloise home. Dr. [illegible] passed on his diseases and put him in care of Dr. Marcley.
April 30 I came out with mother and moved things, raked leaves and put in sweet peas. Fine weather.
May 5th Eloise and I out for Saturday and Sunday, Margaret with us. Cleaned up Armusson Cottage for rental. Planting radishes, onions, zinnias. Perfect days.
May 13 Out on 2 o’c. Cut grass, spaded.
Mary 14 Mother out later. Cold rain. Radishes up.
May 20 Planted nasturtiums, zinnias, spaded for dahlias. Planted 1 dz tomato plants. Sweet peas up. Cold rain Sunday.
May 25 Out on 2 o’c. Set out part of dahlias. Too wet to finish; so far a cold wet spring.
May 26 Donald downstairs to dinner for 1st time since going to bed.
May 27 Out alone. Planted cuc’s, beans, tomatoes. Radishes setting[?], carrots etc. Finished dahlias.
May 28 Elbridge and Art [illegible] out put in dock and launch.
May 30 Painted porch etc.
June 16 Moved out Herman McGuire. Moved Donald out.
July Elbridge and Art to Texas with M.N. Guard.
August 12 2 weeks vacation. Stayed around the cottage.
Sept 15 Donald made 1st trip to city to see the Dr.
Oct 9-10 First killing frost in city. No hurt here.
Oct 16-17 First killing frost here.
Oct 18 To city so that Donald may get ready for Florida.
Oct 21-22 Mrs. and I out. Snow since family to town. Put up launch and rowboat. Taking in last of bulbs. Flowers and garden a failure this year. Very wet first of season. Very dry balance of season.
Oct 28-29 Out alone to send in Victrola and balance of bulbs. Weather fine. Donald and Eloise going to Florida the day after tomorrow for the winter. He has gained, but very slowly this summer. Elbridge still on the border. Hard and expensive summer for Dad. Much lugging back and forth. Dr. bills. Living expenses very high, etc.
1917
April 14 Out for first time since fall. Long hard winter and much and continuous snow. Donald and Eloise in Florida the winter and Elbridge in Texas with the M. N. G. returned March 6th and mustarded out but returning again to (illegible) in a few weeks. Is now on hospital detail with down town recruiting stations. War having been declared on Germany and the M N G is guarding bridges, mills, etc.
April 21-22 Out over night. Mother and I planted sweet peas.
May 1 Rented town house to W A Ryan for the summer. 30 per. And came to the lake today.
May 6 Elbridge out for the day alone.
May 13 Elbridge, Art (illegible) Miss Clara and Irma Pauly out for the day.
May 18 No rain until tonight since coming out. Nice warm sunny weather. Eating on porch since 12th.
May 28 Donald Eloise arrived from Florida.
July 4 Mother, Eloise, Donald and I went to Chisago City in their car for a day trip.
July 20 1st dahlias in blossom.
August 5 My birthday party following present! Donald and Eloise, Elbridge, Irma Pauly, Mr. & Mrs. Harry Chaffer, Finkle and Ruth Staples, Dr. Gernell, Bess Derrick, Bill Derrick, Lucille Franckman, the Mrs. and I.
August 22 Vivien Frantzen came for visit.
August 23 Elbridge and Irma engagement party.
August 26 Donald and Eloise 2nd anniversary. Wedding party. Present Roy Jernell, Vivian Frantzen, Bill and Bess Derrick, Elbridge and Irma, the Mrs. and I.
September 15 Sent Donald’s H.H. foods to Florida.
September 16 Don and Eloise started for Florida in a Ford.
October They arrived in Winter Haven.
October 11 Elbridge started to Deming N.M. with 135 U.S. Infantry still with medical corps.
October 12 Freezing weather. Dahlias asters and garden this year did fine.
Donald and Eloise bought fruit grove at Eagle Lake Florida at beginning of this year. Mrs. Arneson advanced part of money for this and I sent him 1000 early in Feby to help out on this.
1918
January Donald and Eloise in Florida living by themselves in a rented cottage in Winter Haven.
Elbridge in Deming N. Mex. with the 135th Infantry at Camp Cody. Art (illegible) with the An. E. F. in France. Mother and I rented an apt. at 1517 Spruce Place for the winter [below is the block their apartment was on].
January 13 Mother left for Florida.
January 14 Mother in Chicago with Vivian Frantzen.
January 16 Mother arrived Winter Haven Florida
February 5 I went to Florida for my vacation. Was gone 4 weeks.
February 10 Went to Kissinger Springs.
February 20-21 To Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Gulf P—, and Passi a g—–.
February 24 Kissinger Springs—Mrs. Arnseson, Mrs. Motz, Ellyn, Esther, Teddy Mac K—, Donald, Eloise, Mother, and I.
March 3 Home again.
March 18 Mrs. Pauly, Irma, and Bess Derrick left for Camp Cody.
March 21 Elbridge and Irma Pauly married in Deming N. Mex.
March 24 To lake for 1st time. Raked and burned leaves. Long cold winter with little snow.
March 31 Out here. Finished leaves. Nice weather.
April 2 Mother arrived from Florida.
May 2 Moved out here for the summer. Mother and I alone until Eloise came from Florida to Chicago with her mother and came out and was with us for several weeks.
July 25 Elbridge and Irma came from Camp Cody. He on a 10 day furlough, she to stay. Brought along the dog Cody.
Elbridge went back to Camp Cody and was moved to Camp Dix N.J. and was sent across about the 1st of October.
November 10 Mother and I came out today having been in the city house for a week, cleaning up and trying to rent s— for winter.
Wonderful late fall. No killing frost here until after November 1st and no cold weather as yet. Asters in front not much good. Cosmos on side front very fine. Tomatoes extra good and long season wax beans. B— corn, summer squash, dahlias pink. Peonies fine.
At present Donald and Eloise in — Florida, Irma at the Paulys, Elbridge in England.
November 11 War ended in Armistice. Elbridge in France.
Donald sold first grove and bought into another one.
1919
Mother and I lived in House at 2615 [Dupont Avenue North—empty lot now] the winter. Painted inside and had outside painted. Rented to Mix for summer and moved out here Tuesday
April 29. Bought Oakland car no 75250 model 34B, engine no. 24538-4-W on April 26 and used same to get things to the lake. Elbridge arrived from war was mustered out and got home Friday May 2nd. [Found this photo of a 1919 Oakland model 34B online]
January 20 Mary Roberta Story (Bobette) was born at 12:45 p.m. I called Elbridge at Saumur France.
May 4 Elbridge, Irma, and Baby came home for the summer.
Sold place at 2615 Dupont North [an empty lot now] to Mix and got the cash for it.
May 17 Donald and Eloise arrived here from Florida.
June 24 Donald called back to Florida.
July 6 Eloise left for Chicago.
September 1 Elbridge and Irma went to housekeeping in upper duplex at 2520 Harriet Avenue. We gave them 1000.00 for furniture, etc.
We junked the furniture etc. at our old home except such things as was wanted
here or elsewhere and got from under a load of worry. Arneson house sold this fall.
October 15 Mother and I still here. So far fine weather with but one front. Flowers this year punk, but vegetables excellent.
A very pleasant year with the children all home for a fine long visit. Much pleasure out of the car.
Donald and Eloise in Winter Haven Florida. Elbridge, Irma and Bobette in Minneapolis.
October 26 Donald Nelson Story born in Winter Haven Florida. Mother went to help with the baby and I to stay with Elb and Irma and Bobby until time for me to go to Florida for my visit.
1920
I went to Florida for six weeks in February and March. Donald, Eloise, and Buddy living in cottage on Arneson place. In the big house were Mrs. A, Ellyn (sick), Esther, Vivian and B— F—. Also Ted McKiloy on visit.
We made a trip down the east coast as far as Miami. Had a wonderful vacation.
Home middle of March. Mother to come later.
Out here for the summer. Irma, Elb, and Bobbie early and Donald, Eloise, and Buddy came for a nice long visit. All summer building garage and no time for anything else.
October 15 7:30 P.M. at NW Hospital son born to Elb and Irma at present called “Tommy” for short. Car stolen that night; found next day.
October 23 Mother and I out for one night and to close up for winter. No killing frost to-date! We are living with E & I, splitting living expenses 50-50 for the winter.
1921
Mother went to Florida for the last part of the winter. Business too poor for me to (illegible) the money to go.
Elb, Irma, Mary Roberta (Bobbie still), and Tom out for the summer. Built fence around front to hold the children.
Third summer for the Oakland car, still going well. Have used it for going back and forth nearly every day.
Donald and Eloise and Buddy did not come for the summer. Ellyn is dead.
Mrs. Arneson took Eloise for a trip to N.Y. etc. Donald and Buddy staying in Florida.
Donald and Eloise now in N.Y. on a trip with Mr. F—.
Elb has a house rented at 3848 – 22 1/2 Ave. So. and has been living there since September.
October 15 Tom Pauly Story had a birthday party—one year old—(illegible) Tom was walking at one year. Also talks a few words as bye-bye, mama etc. Donald Jr. will be two years old, the 26th this week Wednesday.
October 23 Mother and I are getting things ready to leave for the winter. Put the canvas on the porch and garage today. Tomatoes are still ripening and zinnias and dahlias are in bloom. Have had a peculiar summer, long dry spells then long wet spells.
Maps of Casco Point
(with the location of The Cottage and Minnie & Pa’s house)
Our Family Stories 
Kris and Karen, how about a road trip this spring/summer to visit Minnie and Pa’s house on Casco Point? Possible we could call ahead and make an appointment to see the inside.
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Absolutely!
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Oh yes!
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