Remembering BLMA’s Founders

This August marks the 70th anniversary of the Big Mantrap Lake Association. It began as a meeting of like-minded landowners at Trails End in late August 1956. Volunteers and lake residents have been stewards of Big Mantrap Lake ever since

 To commemorate this milestone, here is an article, written in the late 1990s, by Sheryl Barta, longtime Mantrapper and summer resident in Steamboat Bay. She and her husband, Tom, each served on the BMLA board including terms as BMLA president. They remained active lake association members until their deaths. Today, another generation of the Barta clan continues the family’s tradition of stewardship of their land.

 Enjoy the story. You’ll no doubt recognize several family names still associated with our community.

The Beginnings of the Big Mantrap Lake Association

By Sheryl Barta

The Mantrap Lake Association was among the earliest in this area. On August 28, 1956, property owners met at Trail's End Resort at the invitation of owner John R. Miller. The stated purpose of the meeting was to "organize an association for the protection and improvement of Mantrap Lake."

Three days later, the Articles of Incorporation were adopted at a second meeting at Wonewok, making the Mantrap Lake Improvement Association the second earliest in this area, and indicating that the people of this lake recognized early on the need to give all property owners an outlet for working together for the good of the lake.

Emphasis on the preservation of natural resources is so pervasive today that it is easy to consider this a newly-born ideal. Not so. Among the issues concerning the founders of the association in 1956 were: water levels, weeds, fish propagation, encouraging wildlife, the public access, and safe and courteous use of water vehicles.

Also, well before 1956, individuals and small groups who cared about the well-being of the lake and surroundings invested time and money in independent actions addressing these same concerns.

At the risk of leaving out some very deserving people, it is possible to list a few of the prime movers involved in the establishment of the lake association.

The incorporators of the new association were: John R. Miller, Lester Kohler, Floyd Robison, A. E. Sanders, Carl Olson, Hattie Sanders and Bernard E. O'Reilley. On the first board of directors were: Carl Olson, Hattie Sanders, Floyd Robison and Bernard O'Reilley.

Listed as attending those first organizational meetings were: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Kehs (Klebs?), Mr. and Mrs. Lester Kohler, Mr. and Mrs. LaClede Lientz (Prairie Village, Kansas), Hal C. Purcell (East Arm), Mrs. William Vicek (The Pines), Lt. Colonel and Mrs. G. D. Batcheldor (Hoist Bay), Clarence A. Chandler and William Chandler (Flint Mich. and Nielson's Point, now Fremont's Point), Helen Jackson (Ladyslipper Point), Grace and Carl Olson (Olson's Lodge), J. Gen(?) Johnson (South Arm & Omaha, Neb.), Mr. and Mrs. Ardell Boe (South Arm and Madison, Neb.), Tom Bennett (3M), W.R. Crawford (Wonewok Lodge), Dr. and Mrs. Charles W. McLaughlin (South Arm), Floyd Robison, Bert and Hattie Sanders (Birch Highlands), John R. Miller (Trail's End), E. L. Shaw (Minneapolis), Dr. Edwin Olson (Minneapolis), Mr. and Mrs. Chester Cooke (Kansas City, Mo.) Dr. and Mrs. Bernard E. O'Reilley, Dr. and Mrs. Charles McLaughlin (Omaha), Bob Crawford.

In May of 1957, Anna Lange and Dr. H. Anderson became members of the brand new association. In the early 1960s, new names among meeting attendees included Grover Allen, M.B. Crabbe, Herman Heitman, 0. Guy Johnson, James Moore, Dwight Purcell, Ray T. Siman, Stephen J. Witrz, A. M. Towle, George and Frances Dixon, Rev. and Mrs. R. Paulson, Alton Junge, Frank Ward, Arthur Ulm, Henry Drops, John C. Simms, S. S. Shogrin, Margaret and William  Nesbitt and J. W. Roberts.

Many of the above served the association generously as officers and in other capacities over the years. In addition, many offered their cottages and resorts as meeting places including the O'Reilleys, the Viceks, the Edwin Olsons, the Dwight Purcells, the Crabbes and Stells, the Puccis, Birch Highlands, Trail's End and Fremont's Point resorts.

It may be hoped that those who were among the founders, “charter members" and early supporters of the lake association have taken justifiable pride in their actions and accomplishments.

What was begun then is a generous and ongoing legacy to all of us who have come to love this lake in the succeeding years.

(About the author: The late Sheryl Barta, a longtime summer resident in Steamboat Bay, served on the BMLA board in several roles including president. She avidly and painstakingly collected information about the history of our lake and Thorpe Township.)

BMLA celebrates 70 years of protecting our lake this month. (Photo by Jenn Bassen)