The Clear Lake area history book is getting close to completion, with a lot of historical information collected and being prepared for print. When the project started, the committee was only looking for hard facts. Now that they’ve got most of the information they needed, they’re looking for personal stories from residents.

 

“We’re looking for personal stories of life in the Clear Lake area,” said Bud Stimmler, who is heading up the project. “In particular, life during the depression, life during World War II, and veterans’ stories.”

 

“We have some very important veteran stories out there and they deserve to be included,” he added. “I want everyone to have the chance to submit them.”

 

Stimmler said they want to hear about all aspects of Clear Lake life, such as how grandma and grandpa met, a family’s first car or first tractor, how electricity affected the farm, or what people did for fun. The stories can be ones that were experienced first hand, or ones handed down from a person’s parents or grandparents. 

 

Currently the chapter on area schools is being worked on, and Audrey (Stimmler) Orton shared a remembrance of attending District 23 Country School. It was the students’

responsibility to keep the school clean, she said, which they did by sweeping floors and washing windows. The boys would haul in wood to keep the stove going, while the girls hauled water in from the hand pump outside.

 

Along with personal stories, Stimmler is also looking for two particular photographs.

 

“I’d like to get a better picture of the balcony in the town hall, and a picture of the District 9 Country School on County Rd 8 by Bob Haaf’s farm,” he said. “We have an inside picture with the kids, but we still need one of the outside of the school.”

 

He stressed he can make copies of photos, and all materials will be safeguarded and returned. In order to be included in the book, stories and photos need to be submitted by late May.The Clear Lake area history book is on schedule to go to the printer in August, and will be available for purchase some time in early fall. 

 

For questions or to submit stories, contact Bud Stimmler at 320-761-5793, or at bogie375@gmail.com.