Michael Keigan of Becker Twp. has been hired to author the Clear Lake history book.

 

Keigan, 54, formerly of Aitkin and St. Cloud, was one of three authors interviewed by the Clear Lake history book committee recently with Keigan emerging as the popular choice based on his background, his skills and his vision.

 

“The committee knew right away when they talked with Mike that he was the right guy for the project,” said Bud Stimmler, project coordinator. “Mike was most qualified and his enthusiasm won everybody over.”

 

Keigan and his wife, Julie, live in the Hidden Haven development just north of the City of Becker. Mike is a registered nurse and works as the director of health services for a senior assisted-living apartment in Waite Park.

 

Keigan has had a long and varied list of interests and hobbies in the creative world — including writing books. In 2011, he self-published his first book, Minnesota State Parks: A Camper’s Guide. The book is an “A-to-Z” listing of all the state parks in Minnesota, a guide for campers and much, much more.

 

In 2012, Keigan self-published his second book, Heroes of the Uprising, Minnesota’s Dakota Uprising of 1862. That book is a historical record of the battles fought during the conflict that occurred in Minnesota during the Civil War. It also emphasizes the roles many individuals played during the war.

 

Mike considers himself a “self-made” historian about the state of Minnesota, especially during the period of 1850 to 1860.

 

“I’ve always been a student of history ever since my dad instilled it into me at an early age,” said Keigan. “And from what I’ve researched so far, Clear Lake has a fascinating history and I’m anxious to get the ball rolling.”

 

One of Keigan’s first objectives is to create an outline that’ll depict what he plans to get done over the next few years. He plans to present his outline to the committee and the township by the annual meeting in March.

 

Keigan will work with volunteers to amass pictures, stories, clippings, historical facts, timelines and memories from the thousands of interviews and submitted information that has so far come in to the committee. Keigan’s biggest challenge won’t necessarily be the writing of the book but structuring it.

 

“The hardest job will be whittling it down to a book worth reading,” said Keigan. “We won’t be able to include every bit of history we’ve received (or will receive) so we’ll have to decipher what is most important and most interesting.”

 

Keigan submitted an offer for payment to the committee based on the number of hours he estimates it’ll take for him to craft the book. Keigan plans to utilize the committee’s project submissions and do his own research via the Sherburne County History Center.

 

“Since Clear Lake began as an agricultural town, that’ll most likely be the theme of the book as we weave through its history,” said Keigan.

 

The Clear Lake history book committee is still looking for more volunteers, more stories, more pictures, etc., and Keigan will need people to help research, edit and design the book as it nears completion. The committee is especially interested in stories and pictures from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s.

 

“The more we have the more interesting and relevant the book will be,” said Stimmler. “We’d especially like to see old pictures of before and after photos of farms and old buildings.”

 

The book is slated to be completed by January of 2017.