|
|
Welcome to the Pengilly Guestbook.
We invite you to share your memories/thoughts/comments.
Please note that all comments will be viewed before
posting.
Send Comments
to Guestbook |
11 Oct 2008
What a fantastic success this celebration was due mainly to the
hard work, time and effort put in by the Planning Committee for
the past year. The parade was a bona fide dee-light, visiting
with friends and family one can not put a price tag on and the
endless calendar of events made it a fun filled time for
everyone. This could be an ongoing event from the little town
that is! Thanks to all for the success of the event.
Rita Peters
ritametermaid04@yahoo.com
27 Sept 2008 - by Barb Shipka
The Pengilly Centennial 2008 celebration is now history. What a
great celebration and fun time it was! Nearly 2000 people came
to celebrate this special three-day event. It was good to see
so many old friends and meet new acquaintances.
"The Rest of the Story," an addendum to the Pengilly History & Memories Book,
is currently under progress. Each individual who purchased the
history & memory book will be given a complimentary copy.
Stay tuned to the website for updates.
Additional copies of the Pengilly History & Memory Book as well
as the Pengilly DVD are available for sale.
Any questions? - email Barb ---
ezeedays@aol.com ---Barb Shipka, P. O. Box 215, Pengilly,
MN 55775.
19 Sept 2008
What a perfect and fun filled week-end we had for the
Centennial. I saw alot of people I hadn't seen since high
school, and some we hadn't seen since we moved from Pengilly. I
want to thank the committee for some long and hard hours working
to make this such a success. My Mom had a fun time riding in the
parade and she met alot of people she hadn't seen in ages. I
know she is still talking about the fun time she had. Thanks
again for the memories.
Rita Nelson
13 Sept 2008
Thank you to all the members of the Pengilly Centennial
Committee for all your diligent and deliberate work in
organizing the very successful Centennial.
Betty Royal
9 Sept 2008
Kudos to all involved with this 100-year celebration! I’m
Clarence Larson, or (as I found out) better known as Betty’s
brother! I was asked many times who I was, and after a while, I
just said “Betty’s brother”. I don’t know if there are any other
“Betty’s” in Pengilly, but they all knew who she was! My father
and mother were John Sigurd and Hildur Larson, living on the
“old” Highway 169 between Oxhide and Snowball lakes. I graduated
from Greenway in 1951 and IJC in 1953. I started the 100 years
on Friday afternoon where I visited with Armas Yuhala and wife
Karen, who had their cafe trailer serving fry bread, corn on the
cob, etc. Armas is the nicest guy in class of ’51. Sat. morning,
parked in St. Kevin’s CC; one of the parking attendants told of
a buddy who traveled for four days from the island of Guam to be
there! Saw my brother Wally, wife Marlys, their daughter Kathie
and her husband, Pete Moran. Pete had a BBQ cooker cooking
several turkeys at a time and sold shredded turkey sandwiches
and corn on the cob. My sister, Betty Judnitsch and her
daughters Leeanne and Carole had a kraft booth. Talked to Rolly
Badavinac, Bernadine Oja Krtnich, and my cousin Bobby Eckstrum
(and wife Jane) who I haven’t seen in 55 years. The parade was
amazing! It must have lasted for an hour or more! My
brother-in-law Bud (Betty’s husband) drove one of his many
tractors pulling a “hay wagon” with the staff of the celebration
on board. Betty’s granddaughter Katy Mostoller drove her rebuilt
’79 Pontiac Firebird in the parade. Many other old cars and
trucks were great to see. Sunday breakfast at the Lone Pine
Hall, great ham and egg quiche. Drove north past Nashwauk past
Nurkka’s store on Hwy 65. Hadn’t been up there since ‘55. There
is a radar dome a few miles north of Nashwauk! 11 am mass at St.
Kevin’s capped a beautiful weekend with Fr. Hoffman and the
choir loft filled with the “Singing Slovenes”. Sat in front of
Pete and Ruth Pavich, former neighbors across the Hwy 169. My
only wish is that more of my generation could have made it also.
The weather could not have been better!
Greetings from White Bear Lake, MN.
caltssale@att.net
6 Sept 2008
Hello everyone!!...Justin Gustafson here! I live in Ely, MN now
but most of my family still lives in Pengilly. My family moved
to Pengilly in 1929, so we have a long history there. Had a
great time at the celebration and it was really nice to see so
many people that I haven't seen in such a long time. We had a
float with most of the Gustafsons aboard and everyone had alot
of fun! I just wanted to send a big thank you out to all those
that worked so hard over the past 2 years to make Pengilly's
100th birthday a huge success!!! Thank you!!!! Justin and Katie
Gustafson
1 Sept 2008
I would like to start by commenting on the website. It is one
of the best I have seen in a long time. I am not just saying
that because it was put together by my cousin Barb's daughter,
it is a great website. I liked the photo gallery, and I did
"borrow" the photo of my Uncle Dominic. (sorry - ha! ha!).
After reading through the guestbook, I see almost everyone still
remembers "Ann's Cafe", and the HUGE ice cream cones and big
juicy hamburgers.
Although I only lived in Pengilly for a short period back in the
late 60s, I had a real good time, as it sure beats the heck out
of New Jersey - hey please send Mike Peluso back here, we really
need him!!
Anyway, "Happy 100th Birthday" to all the good folks in the
"Swan-gilly" area.
Guy Royal
31 August 2008
Hi. Dan Marshall here. Friday started off the events with a
flourish. We had much to do as an organization and town.
Families and friends poured in from all points of the compass to
come help us celebrate Pengilly’s 100th. The vendors have kept
us fed and liquified on two of the most beautiful days of the
year. The turn out was fantastic. Transportation from the
parking areas was made possible by bus support and many just
took the time to enjoy the walk from a friend or relatives
place.
Saturday getting ready for the parade made many realize how
popular this event was as some extra entrants showed up to join
us. All were welcomed and allowed to participate. The jaunt
from one end of town to the other took just over an hour to get
all the participants through. The number of people that made it
HOME for the event was fantastic. Hope we can do even better at
the 150 year mark. Maybe by then we will no longer be the town
that never was.
Dan
29 August 2008
I have also spent my childhood in Pengilly. I just wish my
Grandmother, Ida Rantala could have been here to see this.
Like everyone else, my fondest memories are of Ann’s café and
the Tar road go cart races. The fun we use to have at the sand
pit, box factory and can’t forget the many trips to the beach.
Oxide was another hang out to fish and swim for us kids. The
Walker kids, Lanes, Jelens & the Peluso boys had some really
great games of kick the can. There are just too many memories a
person could write about our childhoods, but Pengilly was a
pretty fun place to grow up. Oh, one more memory would be the
snowmobiling on the golf course. My e-mail address is
Jsutherland12@hotmail.com if anyone would like to chat about
the good old days. Take care and great job on this website.
Julie (Lane) Sutherland.
23 August 2008
Hello - My mother, Alice Herman (Hjarmazinski), was born
in Grand Rapids in 1930 and lived on a homestead near Pengilly
and Swan Lake. Her grandmother, Agnes, resided in Pengilly and
ran a boarding house. In the midst of WW II, Alice and six
other folks rode in a car to Washington state as the adult
family were told by a relative there was "good work with good
pay" to be had in the shipyards around Seattle. However, many of
her family remained in Pengilly. Alice asked me to find out
about the Centennial History book as her cousin, Norma Erickson,
received a copy. My mother doesn't own a computer, but I hope
to have her out to my place soon to read all the comments. I
think she would recognize places and people and enjoy reading
about the town that has ever been the "perfect place" to spend
her childhood years.
Jean L.
19 August 2008
Hello, I grew up in Pengilly and lived on the west side of Swan
lake across from Hagen's Resort. I remember when Rick and
Margaret Myers lived there. My parents were Marvin and Bernice
Swehla. They are both deceased, but they live on with all the
happy memories. I remember our first snowmobile. It was a
skidoo. I'd spend many winter nights with my dear friend Diane
Bergman and I'd take the "Skidoo" in the dark, across the lake
to the beach landing and up the road to her house. Dad would
say before my crossing, "If you reach some water by the creek,
just give it a little gas." I was brave then. I remember when
dad bought me a motorcycle. It was a Yamaha. Ricky Myers had
one just like it. Then other kids would acquire them and we'd
go riding around the lake. When I was very young, I'd go with
my mother to Oja's store and she'd sit me up to the soda counter
and Ann would be working. My dad would tell this story every
year to my boys when we'd come home; I guess I told a patrolman
who was sitting next to me at the counter that my dad shot deer
out of season. Ann told my mother. We had so many happy
memories of the beach and waiting for the boys to come by in
their boats. My second home was the Delli Quadri's and love to
go there still. Walking up to Ann's Cafe for a nickel ice cream
or popsicle was a treat. Even then she'd tell my mom
everything. Such wonderful memories with so many wonderful
people. My husband and I plan to attend the Centennial.
Sherry Frisk (Swehla)
19 August 2008
I am Jan (Janice Moe) Dzwonkowski and now live out of Gilbert,
MN. My family lived at Indian Point Resort from 1951 until 1954
and knew Gene & Irene Maki, Gert and the dog Flicka. We spent a
lot of time on the old Swan Lake Bridge and surrounding area (it
was never the same after they put in the old bridge). Families
would come from all over to spend Saturdays and Sundays at the
Bridge in the summer. They'd bring the whole family and I
imagine a picnic lunch. In the fall of 1954 we moved to the
"East Side" and met a lot of new friends such as Joan Saylor,
Mary Lou Newell, Daryll Robertson, Sharon and Darryl Caroon,
etc. My sister Karen and I had a wonderful time while we lived
there. I moved away when I got married in 1957 and our folks Ed
and Opal moved away a few years later. They had built the house
where, later on, Audie Fox shot and killed a police officer.
There were a lot of kids on the East Side. We held many dances
and parties at the old Lone Pine Hall. We played softball on an
empty lot (later the Tawney family built a house there) and
played hide and seek, preferably in the dark. Our mothers would
chaperone.
Many of us went to MYF at the Methodist Church. We would meet in
the basement as the top of the church hadn't been built yet. My
good friend Joan Saylor and Roger Strom of Goodland were the
first couple to be married in the upper story (1961).
I remember when the old O'Brien Creek bridge was torn down and a
new one built. We had to drive all around the south side of the
lake to go anywhere.
They say you can't go back, but you really can....in your
memories.
Jan (Moe) Dzwonkowski
12 August 2008
I've never been to Pengilly and probably wouldn't have heard
about it if it hadn't been for one of the Marshall girls looking
into her mother's past. She found out that Shirley Marshall's
father was William Adair and he had 5 other children. I am the
youngest of those 5. Shirley phoned us and she and Molly
both came to Vancouver, Canada and my sister and I went to the
airport to meet them. We felt like family right away. They
came to Nanaimo, where we live and visited for a few days. That
was in 1994 and they came again in 1997, this time Suzie,
Colleen, Cathy and Mike came with Shirley. Our brother, Don and
his wife Ev, came down from Prince George and also our
sister-in-law Alice Adair. Our brothers Bill and Sam had both
passed on by then. It is nice having family in Pengilly and only
wish we lived closer so we could get to know them better.
Joan (Adair) Parker
11 August 2008
Many, many thanks are sent in the direction of those of you who
worked so diligently this past year putting in the time, energy
and effort to hopefully have the end result as satisfying to you
as it will be to those of us who plan on attending. I just
recently got my website up and running so I can truly appreciate
the time intensity of running and operating one. My website is
www.DejaVuRPeters.com
and I have been designing centennial jewelry for those of you
who might be interested in something designed by a "local"
home girl. I look forward to seeing everyone - my family will
be there. Leaving California on August 27th and will be in
Minnesota until October 6th!!
Thank you staffers for making this past year memorable by being
able to check into the "home" page.
Voya Con Dios! Rita Fiskewold Peters
1 July 2008
My parents were George and Dorthy Beck. George came from South
Dakota and worked in the mines and Dorthy came from Warba, by
way of St. Peter, Minnesota. Their first home was in Nashwauk
before buying a home in Pengilly, this home was located south of
the school or on the opposite side from Marshall’s home. Dorthy
taught school in Bear Lake and the Pengilly grade school for a
number of years, than was a sub in the school.
I have two sisters and one brother. Kathleen [Beck] Elich
Marble, Charles Beck Circle Pines Minneapolis, Diana [Beck]
Wenino Palm Dale California and Robert is now residing in Casa
Grande, Arizona.
My memories of this small town are mostly about the good
friends, the good times had at the beach, and of course the fall
hunting which was the best of times. In the winter we spent most
of our time sliding on the hill next to our home and on the
hockey rink, but this rink was between Marshall’s home and the
school. Many afternoons and evenings were spent shoveling snow
from the ice before hockey games with neighboring towns or pick
up games with the town kids.
The families on our side of the block were the Ross family,
Lapitz family, Kasper family, Beck family, Goss family and on
the other side were the Christians, Ojas, in the early years
before moving to the lake side, Wilbert Christian family, than
the Bobich family.
We all graduated from Greenway High School in Coleraine before
moving on to different stages of our lives. Kathy worked for M A
Hanna for many years, Charles spent four years in the Navy
spending time off the Coast of Lebanon, while his cousin, Ted
Beck, was on shore with the 82nd airborne sometime in the late
1950's then moving to Minneapolis spending his working years for
a trucking company. Diana spent time in the Cities before moving
to Texas for a few years then on to California where she now
resides. Robert spent three years with Army Security Agency
spending time at Ft. Devins Mass and then on to Korea during the
Gulf of Tonkin incident, which was the start of the Vietnam War,
then working for Blandin Paper Co. in Grand Rapids where we had
our home for 34 years.
Bette and I have traveled over much of the states and have seen
some awesome and wonderful sites, but none so moving as the
Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. I had tears in my eyes
looking at Richard Koski's name printed on the wall. He died in
the early part of the war when his helicopter was shot down. I
can remember building a raft with Richard to sail across the
lake, but his dad came home from work that afternoon and he made
us tear it apart.
There are tragic memories to remember also. Mrs. Bobich and Mrs.
Bjork were killed in a car accident while on a buying trip for
Oja’s store, Pat Marshall dying at a young age, Ronnie Mackey in
a car accident North of Nashwauk, if I forgot anyone please add
them in your own memories.
Bette and I will not be coming home this year because of Bette's
health and gas prices. We hope you will have fun reminiscing
with these past memories.
Robert W. Beck
30 June 2008
by barb shipka - taken from the 'Pengilly History & Memory'
book:
PALMER'S TAVERN:In the early 1940's, Mae Palmer owned and
operated Palmer's Tavern with the help of Nick Fragnito. It was
located where the present day Community Center is now located.
They sold this tavern to J. J. Hansen and he later sold it to
John and Mary Baratto in the mid 40s and it became know as the
'Penguin Club'. Barattos sold the Penguin Club to Virginia Jam.
29 June 2008
A note to Joyce Yochum --
Hi Joyce, you are the 1st person to mention the Plamor. My
Uncle Nicky Fragnito and May Palmer ran that for years when I
was a little gal. I think before I went to School, may be late
40's early 50's. I think the reason the older ones aren't
sending in their comments is because they don't have a computer.
Or have passed away, any way my Mom, Minnie Fragnito and I and
possibly my brothers will be at the celebration in Aug 2008, so
I hope all you come to at least one event so we can talk about
the good old days. Who ever sent in the picture the 6th grade
class, I would love a copy of it. My heart throb of the
Pengilly skating shack/rink Delbert Luma was in that picture.
I'm sure he didn't know I existed but just ask Gayle Laird, that
is all I would talk about and then when I would see him there I
didn't say a word to him, he was my Fonzy! Ok, looking forward
to seeing you all in Aug, you guys better be there
Josi Fragnito
23 June 2008
Hi Golfers,
If you'd like to play in the 4 person golf tournament on Sunday,
August 31, 2008 and if you need partners, please write on this
site to request people to join you and send your $100 ($25 per
person) fee and team members names to Terri Hedblom 17798 Co.
Rd. 83 Pengilly, MN 55775 as soon as possible. Checks should be
written to Pengilly Centennial Fund. Your team will only be
registered once your 4 person team and fees are paid. The first
16 teams will play for the monies which are collected. Many
prizes will also be given away. Please get those teams together
and be ready for a good time.
Molly Randall
28 May 2008
I have fond memories of Pengilly from two summers lifeguarding
at the beach (1961-62.) I've always said that was one of the
best jobs I ever had, and I loved every minute of it! Those
were much simpler times when parents could send their children
to the beach for the afternoon and never worry about them. I
remember spending hours playing Crazy 8's or Go Fish with little
kids. I remember finally working up the courage to dive from
the tower on the raft. I never had to rescue anyone, and I
don't recall any kind of problems. My aunt and uncle, Oiva
and Arleen Ryhti, had a cabin on Swan Lake near Indian Point,
and my sister Kathy and I often stayed there when we were in
elementary school. My uncle let us row the boat over to Indian
Point for ice cream cones, something we considered a great
adventure. I learned to water ski behind my uncle's boat back
in the 50's. When we got married in 1964, Don and I rented a
cabin in Stone's Bay that we purchased the following year.
Eventually we sold it to Leo LeBron who donated it to the DNR in
a conservation easement forever preserving 80 acres on the south
end of Swan Lake. Growing up in Calumet, I recall my grandmother
bringing over her handwritten grocery list every week for us to
call in to Oja's. Because Grandpa Will never had a car, they
depended on Oja's delivery service as many people did in those
days.
Margaret (Will) Haapoja
13 May 2008
Hello to all from Barb Shipka, Pengilly Centennial Committee --
There are only three months until our Pengilly Centennial
celebration and we are very excited and our schedule is very
full. If you plan on attending and would like to volunteer for
a two-hour shift on Saturday, August 30th by helping with games,
parking, memory room, etc, call Danna Shofner at 218-885-1991.
If you plan to enter the parade call Linda or Jim Flint at
218-885-1686 or 218-360-1521.
Our Pengilly History & Memory Book has been sent to the
publisher and should be back before the end of June. We thank
everyone who has purchased a book and a limited number of extras
are available.
Tell your friends about our website and check it often for info
re/events and souvenirs. Any other questions? email ---ezeedays@aol.com---
12 May 2008
Hi all my name is Ed Shofner, and I have been a resident of
Pengilly off and on for my entire life. It seems that I always
make my way back to the home town. I have lived many places in
my life, but if I had my choice it would be Pengilly. I can't
quite explain why, but it has that easy feeling, like everything
is ok. And yes it has had its good and bad residents, of which I
have been categorized under both, by one person or another.
Pengilly has proven that a community need not be a city, or have
elected officials to function in a civil manner. I hope that
Pengilly always remains the quiet place I have always compared
other places to.
18 Apr 2008
What a fantastic website! However, most of the people
responding are people who lived there after I left. Soooo-- a
little history from my generation please. My folks owned the
PlaMor Tavern (which I understand was torn down) many years
ago. My dad was a terrific guy who seemed to be a magnet for
people to seek out. His name was John Yochum. He and my mother
originally moved to Pengilly and bought the then named
"Edgewater Resort" located south of Pengilly about 3 miles. I
was only about 5 years old but do remember ------- The house we
lived in was probably an old time lodge at one time. The
bedrooms were upstairs and there was many rooms on each side of
the long hallway. It was very spooky for me. The downstairs
had a mammoth fireplace in the middle, a big dance floor
extended out toward the beach of Swan Lake, and a small bar at
the end of the "family room". My dad and mother had many dances
and "big bands" of the area playing on the weekends. A great
many people had a marvelous time dancing. My dad and brothers
had to "prop" up the piers holding up the dance floor after each
dance night to make sure it didn't give way. This must have
been around 1940. My folks then sold the Edgewater Resort
and purchased the PlaMor Tavern which was located directly
across from Oja's Store. Our family living quarters were above
the tavern which was located in the basement. My folks had many
Saturday night dances. They had great New Year's Eve dances for
several years. My mom would make her famous Southern fried
chicken with all the trimmings and at midnight would serve a
complete dinner for all the party goers. There would be long
tables covered with white sheets and decorated with the decor of
the day with china and shiny silverware displayed. I got the
cart before the horse here for a moment, but sometime after the
folks had the tavern, mom decided she wanted to add a restaurant
so plans were made to add a room on the north side of the PlaMor.
Mom ordered a huge stove with a big grill and all the trimmings
of the day. She was thrilled to have that item. Then came all
the fixings for the front part, the stools, ice cream freezer,
candy counter, booths made, new dishes, and all that goes with
business as a restaurant. (No dishwasher in those days - I did
them.)
Mom's menu was never big but she tried several different items
which went well, but most people enjoyed the homemade pies and
ice cream dishes. Mom got sick some time after that and the
restaurant was taken over by my sister for awhile, then Mary and
Joe Baratto had it, and I don't know what happened finally - but
while it lasted, it was an experience. Dad owned the big lot
next between the Crea property and the tavern. So when the
outdoor movies came into being, we had movies on the weekends
also. I remember that area being full of cars with families and
having a great time. When I was about 13 years of age, Bagger's
Grocery Market, just north of the railroad tracks, constructed a
hotdog/hamburger stand in the summer. They hired me to run
it. It was popular after baseball games or some special event.
I also remember "stacking" the ice cream cones for people I
liked! I graduated from Coleraine High School in 1953 and went
to work for Oja's immediately. In fact, I partied all night the
night I graduated and got home at sunrise and went to work that
morning. Met my mom at the back door of home but not a word was
said. Guess she thought I was home safe and nothing else
mattered. I left Pengilly with Barbara Shipka (Royal) about 6
months after we both graduated and worked at Oja's for
Minneapolis to find a better job and to just get out on our
own. I stayed in Minneapolis less than a year, quit my job and
returned to Pengilly. My brothers and sisters-in-law were
visiting from California, so guess what? I went to California
with them, got a job, got married and so on and so on. Well, I
hope some of you remember the "olden days" and recall some of
these incidents. I remember the Nordgrens, Miskovichs, Rantalas,
Ojas, Badavinacs, Ann Marie who so many recall her good
hamburgers, but it seems so long ago now. I'm looking forward to
the published book of memories - I don't know if I'll be able to
make it back for the celebration, however my heart will be
there with all of you who do. I don't plan too far ahead these
days.
Love and Happy Days to Everyone - Joyce Yochum Warmbrodt, Red
Bluff, CA 96080
17 Apr 2008
Eva Simpson--
I read your letter to the Guest Book and you sounded familiar to
me. You are about 10 years older than me and I think you use to
babysit me and my 3 brothers with my Uncle Hooner Chellico, from
Nashwauk. Do you remember the Fragnito kids? Plunky and
Minnie's kids? That's us. I lived in Lacey Washington from
1986-2005 and now I'm in Calif. I will be going back up to
Lacey in May to see my son. Email me if you want me to get in
touch with you or we will see you at the Centennial in August.
My email is
josifragnito@aol.com and my phone is 253 376 1891.
Looking forward to it. Josi Fragnito Le Grand, CA253 378
1891
15 Apr 2008
Hi all "former" Pengillyians!
I say former cause I go back a long way. My name is Eva
(Simpson) Hobbs. My family moved to Shelton Wa. in Dec of 1951
and returned for visits and "Simpson Elton" family reunions
every other year for many years. I lived the first 15 years of
my life in Pengilly and they were "formative years" believe
me. My grandparents were Grams and Gramps Simpson and we were
cousins to the Blaines and Fiskewolds. There was quite a
gang of us and a very inventive group who, not having very much
in the way of material things, managed to contrive and create
things to entertain ourselves which wasn't always in our best
interests!
There were 10 kids in our family but we are down to four - my
sisters Dolores and Maryellen and brother Joe and myself and we
all hope to make the celebration in August. Hope to see some of
the "kids" I went to school with along with a slew of
relatives! See you in August.Eva Simpson HobbsShelton Wa.
A note from the webmaster: The Nordgren Family Reunion photo
mentioned below can be found in the photo gallery of this site.
. . . . . . . .
31 Mar 2008
Hi....Found this photo taken at a family reunion in 1993. Upper
left............... Helen Nordgren. Passed away December
2003 Lower left................Donnie Nordgren. Lives in San
Diego, California. Retired from 30 years
in the US Navy. Now owns a Auto
Body Shop in San Diego. Middle .................Barbara
Beissel (Nordgren). Lives in Fanning Springs, Florida. Is a
Professional Dog Handler 25+ years. Right
.................Nancy McClain (Nordgren). Lives in Marble,
Minnesota with her husband Larry. Both are retired & living the
good life.
Barbara Beissel
barbarabeissel@aol.com
30 Mar 2008
Second Grade, Pengilly Class Picture (in the photo gallery):
I was told the girl in the 2nd row from the top, second one in
is Sandra Sherman, next to her is David Larsen. Can any one
verify that?
Thanks Josi Fragnito
8 Mar 2008
Hey everybody,
I lived in Pengilly for about half of my life but sadly moved
about a year and a half ago. I now live in Tulsa, Oklahoma and
there isn’t much of anything that’s the same as Pengilly, the
lakes, the outdoors, and especially the people. Although I no
longer live there, I will always consider it home. I want
to give a special thank you to Pam and “Gram” Roberts who have
always treated me like family and given me a place to stay.
Thank You.
Jimmy Beck
24 Feb 2008
Hello from Minnie (Chellico) Fragnito and Angeline (Chellico) Tripp
visiting with Ann (Ferraro) Jenko from Nashwauk.
We look forward to celebrating with you in August.
Click on the link below to view a short musical clip of "da
range"......enjoy!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1243816230?bctid=1414281685
Minnie & Angeline
8 Feb 2008
When the subject presents itself, I always tell people that I
had a great childhood in Northern Minnesota. The winters were
just as fun as the summers. Pengilly is a great place to call
home. We lived on the lake on West Shore Drive and attended Nashwauk-Keewatin
Schools. We had to walk up our hilly driveway and down the dead
end road to catch the school bus. In the winter my dad, Cliff
Flint, would drag a small shack on skids to the end of Fuzzy
Ross' driveway so we could stay out of the rain or out of the
cold wind in the winter while waiting for the bus. The Greenway
bus was always the first to go by, to our disappointment, as we
remained huddled and freezing. There were quite a few of us
waiting for that bus everyday! Then as the years went by and
everyone graduated from high school, there was only my brother
John and I left to wait. Patti McDermond (Rebrovich) and I had
the Barbie Doll Club when we were little girls. I remember when
Patti moved out of Greenway district and came to Nashwauk in 6th
grade. I spent more time laughing that year than learning. Then,
as we grew older, there were the snowmobile parties. We spent a
lot of time snowmobiling! I remember riding my bike down the
big hill on West Shore Drive and trying to go as fast as
possible to get past those mean looking cows at the bottom. What
the heck was I thinking, they were fenced in?! I loved riding my
bike to Pete's APCO to visit my brother Jim when he was working
and get a bottle of pop. I remember getting Christmas candy from
Santa at the "old St. Kevin's church." (tar paper shack) I
remember attending catechism at St. Kevin's during the summer
with the nuns. That's where the Nashwauk and Greenway kids could
get to know each other a little better (Billy Miskovich
& Colleen Marshall to name a few). Main beach was another
meeting place for that purpose. Looking back, it was a bit
strange to come from the same town and go to different schools.
I remember the cute boys at the Deaf Camp but couldn't
communicate with them without a pencil. I loved going to Indian
Point to get ice cream in the summer, going to Ann's Café for
penny candy and the A&W Root Beer stand in Nashwauk. I remember
my dad snowplowing on the lake to prepare for the St. Kevin's
fishing contest and the excitement of the whole ordeal. I'm sure
all the snowmobile activity during the contest chased the fish
away! I remember cheering for the Greenway Raider hockey team
because Nashwauk didn't have a hockey team. I remember when they
won the state championships and I would snowmobile up to Ann's
Café to watch them come back into town from Mpls. The highway
would be lined with cheering fans. I remember the Yugoslav
picnics at Grozy's point and the button box bands playing
great ethnic music. I looked forward to Nashwauk's July 4th
celebrations and all the people that would come home from all
over the US to attend. I remember the waterskiing competition we
(Terry Bemis, Karen Shea, Pam Grozdanich, myself and 7 other
skiers) had with John Arnold and friends. Terry Bemis with his
boat pulled 10 skiers at one time and, I think, eventually, John
got 10 skiers up behind his boat. The hardest part was finding
enough skis and ropes. I remember when Susan Grozdanich and I
swam from my house to Indian Point while Pam Grozdanich rowed a
boat beside us. There were many summer days that Pam and I would
water ski until we ran out of gas in the boat. In the winter, we
would use the snowmobile to pack down the snow to make a runway
for her dad's airplane. Milan Grozdanich was always working on a
plane in his hanger by the lake. I remember making snow bank
forts....skating on the lake....spending hours making saucer
slides with Pam G....ski jumps on the neighbors driveway with
Pam G....getting snowmobiles stuck in slush on the lake with Pam
G....walking all the way down West Shore Drive and collecting
Halloween candy....how beautiful the trees looked in the
fall....listening to the Loons during the summer
evenings....riding my bike all the way around the
lake....playing "king of the raft" on the lake with the "town"
kids staying at their cabins...trying to ride Egerdahl's
Shetland pony....catching perch at the end of the
dock....looking for bloodsuckers between our toes....throwing a
towel in the air and screaming so the bats would fly around and
scare us....catching fire flies in a jar....working at Butler
Tac for Ray Anick (aka Jim) and with Marion Barta (thanks for
putting up with me). How many times was that big rock painted at
the junction of Hwy 65 and West Shore Drive? I wish that my
boys could have childhood experiences as good as mine. Times
sure have changed.
Thanks for the memories Pengilly.
Jocelyn Long, Tampa, FL
25 Jan 2008
Though my job has brought me many places in this world, I always
remember my home town proudly.
-The smell of lilacs, red clover and wild roses in the spring
-Picking wild blue berries, strawberries, pin cherries,
chokecherries for my mom so she can make the best jelly and pies
in the world.
-Sitting on the porch eating rhubarb and sugar
-Spending all day at the main beach…..but only after all the
chores were done
-Getting golf balls out of the creek and selling them back to
the golfers for candy money
-Going to Ann’s Café and buying penny candy, ice-cream cones and
a huge plate of fries
-Chasing foul balls at the baseball games so we could get $.10
-Camping and fishing
-Riding those old run down snowmobiles with Carrie Flint and
having a blast, but praying to god we would make it back to her
folk’s house before they broke down
-Going sliding on the golf course, and always working up the
nerve to go down Devil's Hill
-Hanging at the skating rink just because there was nothing else
to do in the winter
-Building huge snow forts and snowmen with Pennie and Beaver.
I just wanted to say great web site and I wouldn’t trade growing
up in Pengilly for anything in the world. What great times we
had (Mike, Carrie, Brian, Tim, Brent, Jackie, Cindy, Leaf, and
Missy). I do hope your centennial is one for the books and who
knows, I just might be back in the States for that one.
Misti Rude
Daughter of Gerry and Joyce Rude
United States Air Force
In transient to Korea
19 Jan 2008
Pengilly Rocks!
I have a lot of great memories from growing up in Pengilly. My
Dad (Dennis Sandberg) owned Swan Lake 76 in the 80's.
Our place on the west side of the lake looks so much smaller
today. I must have caught 100's of walleyes in front of our old
place. I tried fishing there a couple of years ago and two jet
ski's buzzed me just when they started to bite. Playing golf at
Swan Lake country Club, swimming at the beach, playing hockey
every night at the rink, smoking cigs at the church, hanging out
at Ann's - that's the good stuff. I stop in town a couple of
times a year but I don't usually run into anyone from the old
crowd - Nick, Ken, Keith. Leanne, Deanna, Joyce, Dave. It is
nice to see that Pengilly is far from forgotten.
Pengilly forever!
KEVIN SANDBERG
18 Jan 2008
I just got done reading the article on the unveiling of the new
Pengilly sign, very nice job. It looks great.
I have so many memories of growing up in Pengilly, where do you
start, there are so many. The skating rink, the warming shack
and the old guy that would tie your laces for you. The sliding
hill behind the school that no child would be allowed on these
days!
Fishing golf balls out of the creek on the golf course. I
remember Beth Cogger getting this HUGE splinter in the bottom of
her foot from the bridge across the creek. I remember being
pulled behind Dawn Bradley's snowmobile on a blue plastic
surfboard too, probably would not be able to do that either.
Sliding down the hill and right across the creek.
Who can forget Ann's Cafe? The fries that came in a brown paper
bag and enough to feed the whole family. Oh, and the ice cream
cones! And I could never figure out why Ann sent me home when I
went in without a shirt ( I was probably six ) when Brad Cogger
did not have to wear his..
The old post office, I still remember our old combination. The
first car accident I ever had was in the post office parking lot
when I slid into the utility pole...first question dad asked was
if the
truck was ok :)
Getting into trouble for throwing mud balls at cars, the guy
who's car we hit was not happy and me and an unknown accomplice
were grounded for awhile.
Main Beach, spent many a summer day on that beach. Remember you
had to swim to the slide and back before you were allowed to
swim out to the raft.
I have so much more but will stop. It has been fun reading the
posts!
Pengilly was a great place to grow up. Hope to be able to
participate in the upcoming festivities.
Rachel Barta
16 Jan 2008
Just looking at all the comments people have made over the last
two years has brought back many memories. Pete Marinoff told me
to check the site out as it had many great comments and he was
so right! My name is Chuck Nelson and lived on the east side of
Swan Lake just south of the Arnold residence and on the lakeside
across from LeRoy and Chi-Chi Lueck. My mother and dad are
Russell and Margaret Nelson who moved from Pengilly in 1965 to
Superior, Wisconsin (our house was sold to "Bus" Andy Anderson
and later Creas owned it). They were residents of the same
house in Superior until 2007 when they moved to an assisted
living complex in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin close to my sister
(Ruth Anne Lohr-Nelson) who has taught school in the Wanekee
School System for over 30 years. My older brother, Dave
(Nashwauk-1960), was a pilot in the Marine Corps and actually
made a career of it retiring a few years back as a full-bird
colonel. He now lives in New Bern, NC. Everyone's comments on
the summers are right on...I was only 6 or 8 when they played
the movies at Marinoff's. One of my best friends in those days
was Pete's brother, Chris, who I believe lives in Shoreview, MN
now. So many friends to list but the Lueck's, (LeRoy & Fred),
the Marinoff's (Pete, Chris, Jim, & Bonnie), the Arnolds (Barb,
Bob, Pat, Theresa, Kathy, Becky, and John), the Morrissettes,
Darrell Anderson were my neighborhood friends. Then there were
the guys I played baseball with...Rick & Mick Metzer (Peggie's
brothers), Bob Dubovich, Gary Damyanovich, Al Gustafson, Terry
Funk to name a few. I do remember Josi Fragnito, Kathy Orlovich,
Wendy Koski, Peggy Metzer to name of the Pengilly girls...fond
memories to say the least. I sure would like to know where
everybody is now and would also like to know how many have
expressed their interest in coming back this summer.
Chuck Nelson
Stuart, Florida
cnelsn446@aol.com
14 Jan 2008
Hi, we are new part time residents to Pengilly and have greatly
enjoyed reading the guest book. I know that there are a number
of folks both year round and summer only residents who are also
relatively new to the area. When we read about Oja’s, Main
Beach, the skating rink, Anns Café, the Dam, and all the other
places mentioned in the guest book it congers up wonderful
visions of a time which nearly everyone refers to as “The Good
Old Days.” However, having not lived there in the years everyone
is talking about it is very difficult to picture where these
places were, or what now occupies the space. I hope that as part
of the Centennial preparation there will be a map so us new
timers can appreciate more of what the old timers remember.
Looking forward to the celebration!
John and Sharon Benson
21 Dec 2007
Wow what a great web site..... I was born in Hennepin Minnesota
in 1965 then moved to Pengilly. I remember going to Swan Lake
and going swimming and riding my bike to Ann's cafe and having
her big hamburgers and the large bag of fries she gave us. And
don't forget the milk shakes. We felt really spoiled if we got
to go to the drive up A&W stand. We use to also ride our bikes
and go fishing. The hill in Calumet was a bear to ride back up
on our long journey home. I just want to say I loved my friends
(Sandy Kangas, Buggsy). They were my best friends in school. I
remember picking pin cherries at Mitzi Metzer's house. I use to
think they were rich because they had a tree in their yard. LOL
Oh and of course do not forget the dam. I think everyone hung
out there. My grandfather ran the skating rank. ( Ben Ladoux).
He spoiled us with my grandmother's baking goods. Oh how much
fun we had. Those were really the good ol days. I was just home
last week. I wish I would of had time to see all the old
places. But spending time with my grandmother (Elfrieda Ladoux)
was so much fun. And seeing family I have not seen in years was
great. But I will for sure be home for the celebration. Hope to
see all my old friends there.
Thanks for such a great website.
Gerrie Hanke(Ladoux)
hotazgal999@aol.com
2 Dec 2007
Greetings to Friends in Pengilly, I'm Sharon (Johnson)
Sullivan, daughter of Albert and Rose Johnson. My dad, Al, was
the manager of the grocery department at Oja's. My parents
lived in "Ojaville" when I was born. We lived in the last house
next to Salmi's. My parents and I moved to the Eastside of
Swan Lake in May of 1948, I have a younger sister, Jeanne. We
lived for 22 years kitty-corner from the Lone Pine Town Hall
and attended N-K schools.
Since my dad worked at Oja's for over 25 years, I have many
memories of the store. I remember the Oja boys had a Dalmation
dog named, "Archie." When I was quite small, I would take
"Archie" into the back-room of the store, have him sit down and
I would sit behind him and slide down the small slide that went
into the store basement. The slide was used for sending cases
of canned goods to storage. I also remember taking a pack of
Black Jack gum from behind Betty Doust's counter. My father was
so mad at me. He made me apologize to Betty and take five
pennies out of my bank to pay her. After that, I was afraid of
both Betty and Mary Jane Ricker, the other check out. I have
memories of sitting on the floor and reading comic books at the
store until my dad or a clerk told us to go home. I also
remember sitting at the lunch counter and making annoying noises
with our straws in the bottom of the paper cone cup and being
asked to leave. I was fascinated to watch Leona Anick post the
monthly charge slips on the big rack. Mr. Ed Oja was the
postmaster. We had a mail box at the store before the rural
route came into being. Our box was 72. I remember asking Mr.
Oja for the mail and buying 3-cent stamps. I think the store
phone number was 2211.
Christmas Eve 1964 was the night of the big fire. My mother and
I were washing dishes after dinner. Fritz Roberts came running
into our house yelling, "Al-- the store is on fire!" My dad
went up to the store and didn't return until after midnight. He
also spent most of Christmas Day at the store because he was
concerned that the vacuumed packed cans would injure someone as
they exploded.
I spent summers during my elementary and junior high years at
Main Beach. I remember Louie and Ann DeLucca owning the
Lakeview Tavern and Louie getting after me for coming into the
tavern with sandy feet and a wet bathing suit.
The skating rink was a favorite place. That's where I got to
know the Pengilly kids since I didn't go to Pengilly School.
We loved going to visit Santa by the big tree across from Oja's
store. We all knew Santa was Michael Orlovich, and Santa knew
us all by name and who are parents were. Lone Pine Town Hall
had a special Christmas gathering for the local children one or
two years. I don't know who sponsored the event....perhaps the
Eastside Ladies, which my mother belonged.
I grew up with the Linquist, Tumola, and Royal girls at the
lake. Rosemary, Lynne, and Betty were two years older than I.
As I got older and involved in activities at school, my
closest friends were Becky Arnold, Karen Hamilton, Roberta Dagg,
and Robbie Ross.
I attended Itasca Community College, one year in Coleraine and
one year in Grand Rapids. I car pooled with Pat Arnold and
Margaret Kasper. I knew Margaret from Girl Scouts. She and
Carol Molick (dad was the Pengilly depot agent) belonged to my
Girl Scout Troop.
I remember that Pasty Day was on Wednesday when the women of the
Methodist Church made pastys. Dad always brought home "dinner
size" and "lunch size" as my mother called them.
The little white Pengilly library is where I did my services
hours in order to receive a service hour bar in Senior Girl
Scouts. Mrs. Langton was the librarian.
My uncle and aunt, Nick and Marilane Damyanoivch, Cousins,
David, Gary and Barbie, lived on old Highway 65. I remember
standing on their white picket fence watching the parade. Soon
their home was moved for the new highway to go through.
There are many wonderful memories of Pengilly. I hope to be in
Pengilly for the big event the end of August 2008 and visit with
many of you.
Sharon (Johnson) Sullivan
San Jose, CA
mail:
sjbythebay@sbcglobal.net
26 Nov 2007
I have fond memories of growing up in my hometown of Pengilly,
MN. The summers seemed so long and lazy when I was young. It’s
something we long for the rest of our lives and will never have
again... but we don’t know that till it’s too late and we’re all
grown up. Life was so simple and safe and our parents didn’t
worry when we were gone all day playing. I so enjoyed going
daily and swimming at Main Beach down by Bob Badavinac’s on Swan
Lake. We would leave barefoot with a towel and our suits on, (no
sunscreen), around noon when the lifeguards got there and I
don’t think we left once till supper time. We often had a dime
or nickel and used to go for penny candy at Anne’s Café by the
Post Office. When I was 16 my cousin Barbie Damyanovich and I
became the local lifeguards. We loved making money while getting
a tan and being with our friends. Work started at 1:00 p.m. and
that lent to having a healthy night life and yet never missing a
day of work.
I also remember playing with Kevin Hancock the neighbor boy, my
siblings Timmy, Kathy, Danny, and Susie in the field across from
our house where we had a camp in the “Big Tree”. That majestic
willow tree was so enjoyable to climb and hang out in. We played
house, war, Tarzan, cowboy and Indians often till dark. You know
every kid had to be home before dark! We kids were going to
protest its being cut down when the new Highway 65 went through,
but that didn’t work because they cut it down while we were all
in school. Progress isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It makes me
sad that I can’t find anyone who took a picture of our Big Tree!
Our chilly snow filled Northern Minnesota winters lasted
unseemly long. But, living next to the skating rink,
snowmobiling, sledding, and ice fishing took the edge off of our
long winters. We skated after homework most nights under starry
skies with our pals or siblings. At age 10 I think I wore the
same old white skates for three years! I so wanted the pale
slate blue skates with sparkling blue pompoms like my friend
had. Now I don’t even know if I have a pair of skates. My first
set of skates had double blades and attached to my boots. No one
wore helmets on their heads, no way, you just held the hand of
an older sister or brother till you got the hang of it. The old
skating rink was directly between the school and our house till
1960’s or so. In the summer it was daring fun to balance and
walk or race a pal along the top edge of the boards on the rink.
We often had people coming to get drinking water from the
skating shack and to use the phone. The boys on the Greenway
Hockey team would practice and pay me a nickel if I would run
and get them water. I even got good at sharpening my skates on
my dad’s grinder out in the garage. One night when the rink was
closed, under a full moon, my sisters and I went out and skated
till midnight in the crisp dark blue evening.
We had one of the first snowmobiles made called the “Foxtrack”.
That red bomber could go over poplar trees about three to four
inches thick! It was not fast, had a steering wheel, you sat on
a 2 person bench, it shifted forward, had neutral and reverse
and it worked best for trail blazing.
I miss the great ice fishing contests we used to have on Swan
Lake. I think the Catholic Church used to put that on for a
fundraiser. Once we lost the Pengilly Grade School and big local
functions ended Pengilly seemed to lose its sense of community.
That is why I am so glad to see this centennial taking place.
My best friends growing up were my first cousins, Candy Blaine
and Barbie Damyanovich and both, along with sister Susie, stood
up for me in my wedding. Other good friends were Karen Shea,
Tina Gregg (?spelling), and Sandy McRay. I think I lived many a
summer down at Karen Shea’s lake home. We often were on Swan
Lake goofing around or jumping on tire tubes on the beach. Those
old mining truck tire tubes were so huge you needed a ladder or
friend to get you in and out of the center.
I miss the old Pengilly Grade School being open. I loved the
halls and remember Grandma Hall’s picture hanging by the
entrance to the gym... her eyes always looked like they were
watching you. My Mom says she was a Godly Christian woman and
headed up a temperance league against drinking back in the day.
Rumor has it that the teachers could start school once the
(always late) Marshall kids got to school. I can still hear my
new shoes clicking down the hall and how big I thought I was.
The Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Marsha Berg taught my Mom and said
she would retire when she taught the last Marshall kid... that
was my sister Sue. Vida Potter was the school cook when I was at
the Pengilly Grade School. She was the best cook there ever was.
I still think about her homemade bread with butter. Everything
she cooked was excellent.
Colleen (Marshall) Vaneps
21 Nov 2007
Happy Thanksgiving to all Pengillians and families. We just
heard about Joanne's loss of her husband Don and have no address
to contact her at so thought we would send it to the guest book
and somebody there could let her know that our thoughts and
prayers are with her and her family during this time of loss. I
am in California, spending the winter with my daughter Rita. I
was fortunate enough to be able to bring my favorite companion -
Frank, a Westie pup that I have now become owner of. We are
enjoying the warmth and sunshine and want to send a hearty hello
to all. My daughter Rita came back to Minnesota for her birthday
in October to visit us, her son Steffan and his new baby boy
Ayden Joseph who is my great grandson. So, I, daughter Gwen and
Rita took the opportunity to drive up to Grand Rapids to visit
my sister DeLoris Metzer. It was wonderful to see her and I am
reporting she is doing fine. We also visited with Mickey Metzer,
my nephew, Mike Marshall my god son and Kenny and LaVonne
Blaine. I will be returning back to St. Cloud after Valentine's
Day 2008.
I can be reached at
ritametermaid04@yahoo.com
Vivian Fiskewold
15 Nov 2007
It had been a long flight on a military plane, which means mesh
seats and fluctuations between extreme cold and boiling hot, not
to mention eight hours of practical solitude. There was only one
other civilian passenger on this trip and we had not talked
since boarding the plane, and even then it was just polite
chit-chat. As we were landing we started talking more; I learned
that he was a trucker of sorts for the military and was just
coming from Norway back to the states and that he was traveling
to Minnesota. I was surprised at such an unlikely coincidence.
After he helped me move my luggage off of the plane and as he
drove me to the BX, he asked where I was planning on going in
Minnesota. I had been asked that a lot before and during the
trip so I had a prearranged answer of sorts, “Oh, nowhere you
would know, just a small town called Pengilly, middle-of-nowhere
type thing." His response, other than the usual, polite “So what
city is that near?” was “Ha, well my wife has a lake house
there, just off of Swan Lake.” I was taken slightly aback and
we continued to talk about Pengilly for a while. He was on a
return flight from Norway and I was just coming home from
England, it still amazes me that somehow, two people that far
away from Minnesota or even the states, could both be from
Pengilly. I had told him about the Pengilly Centennial, if he’s
driving through, he might just come by and say hello.
Sometimes, random acts of kindness can open your eyes to the
little miracles in the world. A teacher told me that
coincidences are a result of the universe's laziness, but he
also believes we will be marrying robots in thirty year's time.
So I am more inclined to believe that things happen for a
reason, maybe it was just because I needed a ride to the BX.
Carrie Marshall (daughter of Dan Marshall)
2 Nov 2007
The greatest thing that Pengilly did for me was to nurture a
fabulous husband!!! Thanks to all the people that contributed to
his character and personality. I feel very blessed to be married
to a Pengillian!!! THANK YOU!!! From an appreciative wife.
31 Oct 2007
My name is Russ Sundquist. I live in St. Paul with my wife Deb.
We have 4 children. I have practiced law in St. Paul since 1980.
I have great fondness for the time I spent at my home on Swan
Lake. I lived in 2nd Cooley from birth through the fall of sixth
grade. When the mines shut down 2nd Cooley, my family moved to a
new home on Swan Lake. We arrived in October, 1962. My father
purchased our land from Mr. McKilliken in the mid 50’s. Mr
McKilliken lived in the house now owned by Ray Jacobson. I
recall peeking into his livingroom window and seeing brass
candlesticks. I thought they were very fancy. The first family
we got to know were the Arnolds. Tweet and Kathy were about my
age. I next met the Keellers and then Jimi Fena. Jimi and did
lots of mischief in our neighborhood for the next 3 years. Soon
Fred Galley, Dave Erck, Mike Anderson, Pat Andreas and Greg
Perella joined our group. The girls that drew our attentions
were: Wendy DellaQuadri, Lynn Olson, Pam Keeler, Sherry Sweela,
Kathy Walker, Gayle Christianson, and many others. They were
all beautiful. Still are. Our summers were especially rich. I
did not like the fall when my summer friends left town.
My work career in Pengilly started with lawn mowing for Paul
Willard. He was a member of the Methodist Church and so was my
family. When I was in 8th grade and complained to my mom I had
no money she suggested I ask Paul if he wanted me to cut his
grass. Paul was very gracious and agreed. I did that for 2
summers. In the 10th grade I went to work for Bob Badavinac in
his gas station. This allowed me to get to know most people from
Pengilly. I liked Elmer Hay a lot. He had a great sense of
humor. I remember when it was a very big deal when Fran Aries
Bonneville took more than $10 to fill her gas tank. That was a
huge amount. Fran seemed very unconcerned about this tab. As I
recall it was actually $12 of super. I thought we had stepped
into a new era. I then went to work in the mines after my senior
year, and then drove school bus for NK while I went to Hibbing
JC. I then traveled to Northfield, Minn and finished my college
degree at St. Olaf. In my junior year of college, Norb Arnold
got me a job with the Minnesota Senate as a Page for the 1974
session. That was fun. I will always call Pengilly/Swan
Lake my home. I always enjoy my trips back home.
Russ S.
31 Oct 2007
Like many others, I also have some very fond memories of growing
up in Pengilly. Because we lived two miles south, we experienced
different memories from those kids that lived “in town”. We were
the only kids in our whole area that attended Greenway Schools
as we lived on the west side of old Highway 65. Our playmates
growing up were kids that attended Nashwauk-Keewatin Schools
(Laurie Hagen, Menards, Doughertys, Healds, Grozdanichs,
Abrahamsons). Instead of going to the Main Beach, we simply
walked across the road and went swimming, tubing, canoeing on
Swan Lake, at any one of our neighbors, where we were always
welcome. However, we spent the majority of our summers at Healds,
where we spent many hot afternoons swimming on their raft. I
will never forget how Tony Heald would spend endless hours
pulling us kids around on water skis behind his boat and how I
hoped every time that I would “let go” of the rope at the right
dock (as I was very nearsighted and couldn’t wear my glasses
skiing). While our parents were at work all day, us kids would
complete our chore list early in the morning and play the
remaining part of the day. We had full reign of our neighborhood
within about a mile radius and we used every bit of it day and
night! I remember wearing red clothing near the fence line of
Egerdahl’s cattle and the cattle “charging” us; playing in the
creek that ran through our property into Swan Lake and my
sister, Jackie, always falling in; playing in the woods and
digging up the “Indian” mounds in search of artifacts; making
forts in the woods or where ever we could find a place (our best
fort was in Heald’s chicken coop); riding our bikes to the “big
rock” and to the “top of the hill”; drawing, with coal found
from an old coal pile, “roads” on the road for our bikes;
playing kickball on the road and literally playing on the road
(it really was our playground); riding our bikes to the
BookMobile at Indian Point Resort; driving our 10 horse
snowmobiles around our property and Swan Lake at a ridiculous
young age, without our parents, while pulling each other around
on sleds for hours on end; sliding down Peterson’s or Heald’s
driveways to the lake and asking the neighbors to turn on their
lights for us -- once at the bottom of the hill and on the lake,
lying on our backs making snow angels, admiring the night sky,
and listening in the distance to the crackling of the ice or a
snowmobile; playing for endless hours in the deep snow day and
night; ice skating at night in front of Healds with a gas
lantern; us kids “dark house” fishing in front of Healds
complete with lunch on the stove; our big summer BBQs with the
lamb and pig on the spit, with family & friends at our house
well into the early morning hours, only to return for breakfast
the next morning; Serbian Christmas celebrations with the lamb
and pig and a house full of family & friends never minding that
the next day may be a “work” day; our first jobs at the A&W Root
Beer Stand in Nashwauk and having to ride our bikes (the 14 mile
round trek) to and from work each day.
I also have very fond and vivid memories of Pengilly Elementary
School, where I attended Kindergarten (1969) through the sixth
grade (1976). Our class was the last graduating sixth grade
class before its closing that summer. I remember what havoc its
closing had with many Pengilly residents and the surrounding
communities. We were the Greenway High School graduating class
of 1982. I have memories of:
Our teachers & staff: Mrs. Milton (Kindergarten) – who I
remember as being fairly old at that time; Ms. Mallaro (1st &
2nd) - who liked to chew Doublemint gum; Mrs. Nurkka (3rd) -
extremely laid back where the class pretty much ran themselves;
Ms. Bonaventura (4th) - an exceptional teacher with high
standards, who scared the living daylights out of me; Mr. Grell
(5th) – tall & easy-going; Mr. Peterson (6th) – young &
energetic who sent birthday cards; Mr. Brennan (Principal) – who
walked with a limp; Mrs. Peluso (playground attendant); Mrs.
Kuusi (cook); Mrs. Raich (special education); Ben LaDoux, Jr.
(janitor); Mr. Shock (speech). Playing hopscotch, jumping
rope, and “Chinese” jump rope on the pavement on the front side
of the school; bringing our bags of marbles & “steelies” to
school in the springtime; our parents letting us ride our bikes
to school the last day of school (quite an adventure for us
having to ride those 2 miles into “town”); whirling round &
round as fast as we could go on the merry-go-round and twirling
round & round on the small twirling bar on the playground;
sliding down Grandma Goss’ hill in the winter-time and being
careful not to ruin the butts of our snowsuits; walking the
perimeter of the school with Mrs. Peluso during lunchtime and
the sheer loudness of her whistle;
going into Ms. Bonaventura’s class and confirming for myself how
tough and frightening she really was (not to mention the fact
that someone, won’t mention names here, stole her chalk stick,
never to be returned, and how our whole class suffered for that
that entire year)!; the Pengilly Skating Rink where Ben LaDoux,
Sr. would keep those big kids in order and the warmth the
furnace gave off during those cold winter days; the awesome
Halloween parties put on by the PTA (where my mom was president)
and the excitement of all the games in the gymnasium and
throughout the school, cakewalks, etc; walking into the Little
White Library and being amazed at how small it really was and
how many books it contained.
Pengilly was a great place to grow up and I am looking forward
to the Centennial.
Shelley Shipka LaDoux
Pengilly Centennial Webmaster
21 Oct 2007
My memories of the summers my family shared with the Pearsons at
our cabin between Dick Whitney’s and Oz Seavey’s house were easy
to remember. My memories are as follows:
Visiting Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jill and Sheila, when I was very
young, every-time we came out to the cabin. Playing
croquet with Dick Whitney’s children. When we were young
boys, the Thouin’s and Pearson’s got together on weekends. Dave
and Dick Thouin, and Jim, Rob, and Tom Pearson would stuff our
swimsuits with wet sand and attempt to run off Dick Whitney’s
dock without our suits falling down before we jumped into the
water. Most of the time we didn’t make it!
Going to Oja’s store and exploring the isles. I also bought my
first pair of swim fins and mask there.The mouthwatering
hamburgers, fries and malts at Anne’s and Judy’s. FANTASTIC.
The Sunday morning my brother and I were swimming and coerced
Bob Seavey to run off Dick Whitney’s dock wearing his Sunday
suit before church. Playing cards with Mrs. Jacobson.
Picking blueberries along the driveway of the cabin. The
Sunday we came home from Mass and our dog Flip had cornered a
skunk under the cabin and got sprayed. We went out for
breakfast! Catching Lightening Bugs in a jar to light up
our bedroom at night. My cousins and I rocking the inner
tube until we flipped over in the water. Watching the
herons wade in the water in front of Mutka’s cabin and the Loons
swimming and singing while fishing. Fishing off Barta’s
dock with my dog between 5 and 9 a.m. every morning we were at
the cabin. Eating the fresh fish I caught with eggs,
potatoes, toast and orange juice. Riding across the lake
or fishing in the boat along the weed-beds south of Fena’s with
my dog in the bow. Enjoying the buffet dinners with my
dad’s and my Uncle Ian’s bar-b-qued chicken. The 5th and
8th holes at the Swan Lake Country Club. Also trying to avoid
hitting the ”Beer Tree” on the 7th fairway! The day I
played golf with Tim Marshall and he recorded a 25 on the first
hole! Reading on the indoor porch of the cabin during
rainstorms. Our family gathering in front of the fire in
the living room of the cabin on Sunday night. Working at
Butler Taconite Plant with “Big Mike Shipka” and Mr. Miskovich!
Just sitting on the beach in front of our cabin.
Dave Thouin
28 Sept 2007
Hi All,
I am writing this for my Mom, (Darleene Vail), as she does not
have a computer to do this on. She writes:
We moved to Pengilly in the spring of 1945. Charles was 3 1/2
and Kay was born in November. We lived next door to the
Hamburger Shack; then in 1949 we moved over to Marshall Street.
Riley worked in the mines for 36 years. He retired in 1979 and
every winter after that we went to AZ. Riley passed away May
22, 2000 and I am still going to AZ in the winter.
Besides the 2 children, I have 4 grandkids, 7 great-grandkids,
and on Aug. 25 2007, Brooklynn Reliegh was born, my
great-great-granddaughter.
I hope to see a lot of you folks at the centennial.
Darleene Vail
By Kay (Vail) Dworzynski
ron-kaye@bacavalley.com
21 Sept 2007
What a dee-light to go to the website and see the photographs
that my brother and I scanned and emailed in. Thank you so much!
I think we covered a multitude of Pengillians in the photogs and
hope everyone enjoys them. I want to personally thank the people
who are working diligently to put this whole thing together -
you guys rock!
Rita Fiskewold
8 Sept 2007
Fragnitos and Fisks Reading any one of the posts in this
guestbook spawns many more memories of Pengilly.
Josi has a great point about e-mail addresses. When I was
showing my mom the website and this guestbook, she wanted to
know how "Mini" (Josi's mom) is doing and she also wanted to
know how "Virginia" (Edwards, Lee Jam's mom) is doing. I
suspect there are some privacy issues here, regarding e-mail
addresses, and having one's e-mail address up on the www for the
whole wide world to use. Perhaps Shelley could mention at the
initial sign-in that e-mail addresses are optional and that one
can leave one's e-mail address at the end of a post if they want
it included. (Like Josi did and like I'm going to do. So all
the people who have been searching frantically for both of us
will now find us...) Johnny Fragnito and my sister Rita and
Darrel Johnson (who was eventually Rita's first husband) were
all in the Fifth Grade at Pengilly Grade School in the fall of
1959 when I started Kindergarten. Johhny Horton's song "The
Battle of New Orleans" was a big cross-over hit both pop and
country and Mrs. Berg was duly impressed when I sang the whole
song on the first day of school. (There are a few more lyrics
in that song than in, let's say, "Twinkle-twinkle, Little
Star...") I remember Johnny Fragnito standing on the top steps
of the school on one of those cement "railings" and shooting
marbles out of some kind of an air gun. All the kids down below
would scramble to get the marbles. Then, if you gave him two
marbles, you got to shoot one yourself. Somehow, I get the
feeling that Johnny made some money somewhere out there in the
world... Josi and Johnny had a younger brother, Joe, who started
kindergarten with me in 1959. They also had another brother,
Jimmy, who was in the second grade with my other sister, Gwen,
in 1959. So each of us Fisk's had a Fragnito in our class at
Pengilly School. Joe had red curly hair and went by the moniker
of "Bee." After a wrestling match behind the school on the
first day--which resulted in rolling down the hill and lots of
grass stains on our new school clothes--Bee and I became good
pals for the remainder of that school year. (Yes, the first day
of school at Pengilly Grade School was a singing, fighting,
action-packed day that didn't stop for seven years...until that
first long, lonely and scary ride over to the new world and new
people at the Bovey Jr. High...) It was fun to go to Bee's place
after school. I remember eating rigatoni (for the first time)
over at Fragnito's, getting pop from Plunky at the garage, and
driving around the yard and station on go-carts. The Fragnito's
lived in the house behind the gas station. Back to the
Fragnito's and Fisk's, it was a sad day early in the fall of
1960 when my buddy Bee had to leave First Grade to "move to
Montana." We were just getting going with Mrs. Stuland who had
decided that I could help Bee learn to read, and away he
went. Years later, when I was going to grad school at the
University of Montana in Missoula, I was always going to try to
find the Fragnito's. But I didn't. However, it should also be
noted that I did spend a lot of time in Missoula Saloons (like
Red's Bar, The Ox, Al & Vick's, and Luke's--named after Hank
Williams's pseudonym "Luke the Drifter") getting a secondary
education from my dad's cousin--Loren "Sarge" Simpson." After a
career in the army that began in WW II and included teaching
ROTC at the U of M, Missoula, Loren retired in
Missoula. Circling back to Josi's question about the parade in
front of Oja's store: somebody might be able to figure out
who's who. I was told by both my Aunt Shirley Marshall and Jean
Blaine that this was in 1958, the year of the Minnesota
Centennial. That is why many of the men wore their military
uniforms. The star in the car is a Dobas, older sister of Joel
and Bernadette, and she was Miss Minnesota, or a finalist in
this pageant or something like that. Apparently the "Navy" boys
were situated in front of the photographer as the star car
passed by the camera. Jean said that my dad (Ralph Ted Fiskewold)
was one of the sailors. Though I was only four years old for
most of 1958, I recall being at this event. Pengilly was
surrounded by lakes, creeks, pines, poplar, and railroad tracks;
there were two major highways on which to hitchhike out of town
(or later drive); the railroads criss-crossed right near our
home with cool trestles to climb and swing on; there were
culverts and dried-out culverts and another trestle down by
Obrien Creek; a golf course right in the middle of town; a city
dump; an abandoned mine on the north side of Ox Hide Lake; and
many memories up at the old ball park. All of this provided
more doggone places for a kid to play and hide out and hang out
than any unselfish kid could possibly ask for. We hopped on
rail cars, hitch-hiked to Grand Rapids and Hibbing, shot rats at
the dump, and had lots of fun. Everybody had a .22 rifle. What
self-respecting kid who grew up in Pengilly in the 50's and 60's
can't still hear Liola Goss hollering for the Pengilly Baseball
team while selling beer, pop, candy and chips from the
concession stand and at the same time keeping track of what kids
brought in how many bottles for a penny apiece and what kids
brought in foul balls at a nickel each? Talk about
multi-tasking... From the time that I could walk, my dad took me
to the beer joints--the Penguin Club, the Pla-Moor, the
Lakeview--and they always smelled great and they were cool and
dark on hot summer days. And the patrons of the bar always gave
me money to play the jukebox. (Between playing jukeboxes at bars
and comic books from our neighbors, the Goodman's, and having
two older sisters who read constantly--I could read by the time
I started kindergarten.) Beer was a dime and pop was a dime and
my dad's face just fell one day when Neil Edwards (at the
Penguin Club) told him "You'll need another nickel." "What went
up?" dad said, clinging the nickel onto the hardwood bar of the
Penguin Club. "Beer," Neil said. "But I heard pop's going up to
15 cents pretty soon, too." Needless to say, I didn't ask for a
five cent candy bar that day. I was happy enough with my seven
oz. bottle of 7up. As Ramblin' Jack Elliot would say: "What a
state. What a statement. What a time, what a beach, what a
dog!"
Ted Fiskevold
Detroit Lakes, MN
tedf@lakesnet.net
P.S. I've had great malts at Judy's, Ann's, and Indian Point
(remember the walk-up ice-cream stand). And great spaghetti out
at Burrato's! We'll never know if Judy made a better malt than
Ann Marie.
8 Sept 2007
Howdy Again! I love Pengilly - I go back every couple of years
to visit - I worked for a guy here in Quail Valley who's father
was the Personnel Director for Cooley Mines and he use to go to
Swan Lake, had a cabin there. Their name was Hayes. Eunice
Plagemann worked for him in Cooley - small world. My email
address is
ritametermaid04@yahoo.com and my phone number is
951-246-1808 for those who would like to contact me. I live in a
community similar to Pengilly, it reminds me of Pengilly - small
town atmosphere. I just closed up my non-profit resource center
that I was Director of for 12 years and will have ample time on
my hands to come back this next summer to be with my family.
I've been an elected official for 9 years first appointed to the
position for 18 months and then reelected twice to the School
Board. I love working with the kids. I was sad when my family
sold our home in Pengilly it was like loosing a family member.
Darel Johnson, who was my neighbor there in Pengilly who I
married and divorced lives about 20 miles from me. We had a son,
Brett who is a Riverside County Sheriff. I loved hanging out
with Peggy Metzer, Kathy Orlovich, Gayle Laird,
Josie........they were the coolest! And when I got to play
baseball with them - Wow!! I coached both adult and youth
baseball teams out here in California and ran the youth Boxing
Program in Perris for 8 years. I could go on and on as everyone
has said that gets on the site. Would love to hear from
everybody. Josie - I saw your brother Johnny when I was with
Bonnie Marinoff one time when I came home. He was gorgeous and
fun to be with. On and on and on --------
Rita Fiskewold Peters
7 Sept 2007
Hi, It's me again, Josi Fragnito, I was wondering if anyone
knows who is sitting on the car in front of Oja's store in the
picture of the parade on the Pengilly website. Also, it would
be nice if the people writing into the guest book would give
their email, phone numbers, or address so we can get in touch
with each other. I plan on being there to celebrate with
Pengilly, my mom, Minnie Fragnito will be there, she still lives
in Missoula, Mt. Rita Fiskewold Peters, I live in California
now too, my cell number is 253 376 1891 call me. We might be
near each other. Remember my brother Johnny had a crush on
you. I would tease him and call him a "Rita Lover" and he would
get mad and cry to Mom that I called him names, we still talk
about our great childhood growing up in Pengilly. I too would
have loved to have my boys raised in a neighborhood like
Pengilly. Nobody believes the stories about Pengilly, we were
so blessed and so lucky to have been part of that history.
Signing out,
Josi Fragnito
Le Grand, CA
josifragnito@hotmail.com
2 Sept 2007
Hello. I've enjoyed the website and photogs. My kids are gonna
send some of our family favorites that involve Pengilly. I
moved to Pengilly in 1942 from Bowstring. My father, John Jones,
went to work for J & L in Calumet. We lived right by the
Railroad tracks (across the road from Kertnichs). My mother,
Cubie Bell, loved her flower gardens and vegetable gardens. She
played canasta with Mrs. Kertnich, Mrs. Crusoe, and Mrs. Calvick.
In fact, the train wreck that Lee Jam mentioned came right down
into the yard of the house where we used to live. My brother
Albert lived there at the time of the wreck. By that time, I
had been married to Ralph "Ted" Fiskewold for about 10 years.
We got married in 1949 and we had three kids: Rita, Gwen and
Ted. My husband Ted was born in 1927 right in Pengilly in the
house that the Calvicks later lived in. I live in St. Cloud now
and would like to say "hi" to all my Pengilly friends. Living
in Pengilly for 60 years was great. My husband "Ted" passed away
in September of 2003. We had 54 years together, and 22 of those
were after he retired from Hanna. We spent eight months a year
in Florida for 20 years or so. My sister Dee (Jones) Metzer was
my best friend. She now lives in Grand Rapids. Many of my other
Pengilly friends were the Bartz girls (Eloise Morrow and Mary
Badavinac), Donna (Salmi) Beeule, Kathy (Beck) Elich, Patty (Leguari)
William, and Eunice (Gangle) Plaagaman. I miss them all. I have
fond memories of picking berries with Grandma Simpson, growing
my flower and vegetable gardens, sewing doll clothes for the
church bazaar, and fishing from shore at Indian Point. I
remember when I was growing up in Pengilly during the WW II and
my dad used to take us kids to the movies in Calumet or Nashwauk.
He had a truck and he would pick up all the Fiskewold, Blaine
and Simpson kids who were hitch-hiking to the movies. My mom
loved her movies! Ted and I had a great time raising our three
kids in Pengilly. I will be at the centennial event and hope to
see a lot of my old friends and family!
Vivian Jones Fiskewold
31 Aug 2007
Wow! What a fabulous website! I will be sending some photographs
in the next week. I remember Baseball games - collecting soda
bottles for a penny - playing softball with Kathy Orlovich,
Peggy Metzer, Gayle Laird with Pete Marinoff as our coach, what
fun. Golfing, taking lessons, shagging balls out of the creek.
Pengilly Grade School with Christmas Programs, Blue Birds at
Linda Anicks, going tobaggoning at Buck Lake with the Girl
Scouts when my mother and Eloise Morrow were leaders. Walking to
Swan Lake when the tar was so hot your feet would blister. The
Little White Library, sitting around the pot belly stove reading
- sometimes I can still smell the books and the smoke from the
stove. The Skating Shack in the winter time. My sister sticking
her tongue on something metal every winter. Fishing contests
with the Catholic Church each winter. Riding the school bus
forever to Bovey and Coleraine - yuk! Working in the cafeteria
at Pengilly Grade School with Ms. Vaughn.....Being the first
girl to attend gun safety classes cuz my dad made me --Yup!
I remember Oja's and Christmas with Mike Orlovich as Santa and
Ann's Cafe when my sister started a fire in the trash can and
when Oja's burned down. I remember the Penguin Club because my
mom and dad were close friends of Virginia and Neil Edwards.
And the Marinoff's - Bonnie is still one of my very dearest
friends. I remember snow and frozen lakes and that I don't
miss. I've been in California for 37 years now so I almost feel
like a native Californian! The times were innocent, we didn't
have the pressures that kids face today - the pace of life was
slow and meaningful. There are times when I need to go to a
tranquil place and my thoughts do wander to life in Pengilly.
Pengilly is a great place to be from, a great place to have
grown up in. Sometimes I feel sad because my kids weren't able
to experience some of the wonderful things I did growing up. I
will be there for the 100th Anniversary. It will be great
seeing a lot of people that hopefully will be attending this
event. Rock On!
Rita (Fiskewold Johnson) Peters
Quail Valley, CA
29 Aug 2007
Hi everyone. Well, I made it 'full circle' on Half Circle
Drive. I'm living in Mom and Dad's house (Kenny and Tilly
Laird). I might add that I love it. The minute I stepped back
into the house I felt as though I had never left. Who ever
said, "You can't go home again"?I have lots of memories of
growing up in Pengilly. Pete, you should know that Josi and I
were going to build a concession stand and sell treats. We never
made it. But I think that if they had kept on with the outdoor
movies we would have eventually given you a run for your money!
You know, that Josi is quite a salesperson. I think everyone in
town loved those outdoor movies and were sad to see them stop.
My Mom and Dad taught Josi and I to play Canasta. We played
often and a lot. We used to play gin rummy too. But Canasta
was always our favorite. It was a treat when we used to go to
the skating rink and Dick Craven, Ronny Mackey, and Delbert Luoma
would play cards in the skating shack. Josi always had such a
crush on Delbert. In the winter we walked to the skating rink
every day (even after school) and in the summer we walked to
Main Beach (we spent an awful lot of time there). In the summer
we played softball. David Damyanovich was our coach. Terry
Bobich was our pitcher. One time he was giving her a bad time,
teasing, and she whipped that ball at him, hitting him in the
upper arm. He quit giving her a bad time.
Kids now a days say they don't have anything to do. If that's
true, they just don't know the fun games we used to play. There
was anti-i-over, stretch, jumping on one of the big inner-tubes
that my Dad brought home from the mine, jumping and sliding down
the sawdust pile at the box factory, statues, climbing the big
tree in the woods across from Marshall's, building camps in the
woods, playing office in the box factory, walking the tracks,
etc. My brother and sister used to play 'here comes the game
warden' instead of 'cowboys and indians'. There were always
things to do. One day Josi and I had to do the dishes before she
could come out and play. When Minnie and Plunky came home, we
had the rubber spray head with the little lever on it spraying
all over the kitchen. They opened the door and Minnie got hit
full force with the water from the sprayer. Then there was the
day we decided to walk down to the other end of town and visit
all the kids we had met in kindergarten. We were gone all day
visiting Kathy Orlovich, Jan Olson, Peggy Metzer etc. Was my Mom
mad when we finally made it home!
I'll never forget the time that Mr. Guello (6th grade teacher)
had the class work in small groups to write short stories. We
could be anywhere in the school or on the school grounds. Josi,
Kathy Orlovich, Michael Kasper, and I formed a group and worked
on our story in the 'sick room'. Mr. Guello began checking to
see where everyone was and he knocked on the door of the sick
room. Michael held the door shut while Mr. Guello was pushing
the door to get it open. When he finally did he was pretty mad!
After that we could work in our groups but had to stay in the
class room.
Everybody keeps talking about the great malts from Ann's Cafe.
They should have tasted the ones from Judy's Cafe. Now those
were some great malts!!! Judy's Cafe was where the Crazy Loon is
now.
Say, about the train wreck. Mom, Dad, and I all slept through
it. Never knew anything had happened until the next morning. I
have always wondered how that happened too. It split the town in
two. Inconvenient until they got it cleaned up. At that time you
had to go over the tracks to get from one side of town to the
other. On our end we had to go around the Calumet cutoff to get
to Oja's store where the post office was.
The music was so different then. We had lots of funny songs such
as Flying Purple People Eaters, Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Ahab the
Arab, The Monster Mash, Alley Oop, May the Bird of Paradise Fly
Up Your Nose, Countin' Flowers On the Wall, My Bucket's Got a
Hole In It, I'm Henry the Eighth, I could go on and on. We also
had lots of songs about love (especially teen love) like The
Leader of the Pack followed by The Leader of the Laundromat,
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, Dreamy Eyes, Venus, and who could ever
forget, The Lion Sleeps Tonight? I always wondered what happened
to "Wonderland by Night". It was an instrumental but it was so
pretty and I haven't heard it in years. The Lettermen's "Little
Surfer Girl" always reminded me of Peggy Metzer. Gee, those were
fun times.
I hope that a lot of people come to the Pengilly Centennial
Celebration. I would love to see and visit with a lot of people
that I haven't seen in so long. Like I said, there was always
something to do and we did it all. Lee Jam was right when she
said that those were innocent times. One big indicator of the
innocence of those times is the music. Before I forget, I
remember the dayly bus incidents with the policeman in Calumet.
We would tear up every bit of paper we had from the time we left
the school until we reach Calumet. The bus would stop and we'd
throw all the torn paper out the windows. It was kind of like a
class-action. I can't help but laugh every time I think about
it.
Well, I'm gonna close for now. I hope to see a lot of you at the
celebration. It will be a lot of fun and well worth the time for
everyone to share old times and catch up on new.
Gayle Laird
8 Aug 2007
The Train Wreck and Other Memories
My name is Lee Jam and my mom owned the Penguin Club, which she
bought in 1957 after my dad was killed in a car accident a few
years earlier. One night not long after we moved to Pengilly, I
was awakened from a sound sleep and I knew from the screeching
on the tracks and loud crash a train had derailed. I wanted to
get dressed and run down and see it but my mom told me to go
back to sleep. As soon as I woke up the next morning, I dressed
and ran down past the box factory toward the tracks to see the
huge black steam engine on it's side, coal from the coal car
strewn everywhere, iron ore cars jackknifed or tipped over and
iron ore everywhere. I remember wishing I had a camera. The cars
that remained on the tracks blocked Highway 65 and I wondered
how they would ever get the cars and engine back on the tracks.
To my surprise everything was squared away in a very short time.
Highway 65 during those years ran from 169 past the Laird's
house, Rantala's house, Plunky's gas station, the Penguin Club,
and Judy's Cafe, which had the best steaks around. The new
catholic church had yet to be built. St. Kevin's was a tar paper
church next door to the Penguin Club and across from Plunky's.
One afternoon I was batting a ball around and batted one right
through the church window. Oops! I think my mom paid about $3 to
get a new window.
I was 10 years old the year that we moved to Pengilly, it was an
adventure living there as a kid. So many people have posted
memories that are still clear to me: the box factory, the sand
pit where we used to slide down the hill in the winter, Indian
Point bridge, Nordgren's resort, the golf course, and of course
the Main Beach! I lived there in the summer--was there from
morning to night and enjoyed jumping off the tower and diving
from the midway point of the tower--never could get up the nerve
to dive from the top, only jump. We walked the tracks and
tressels by the baseball field, played in the culverts down the
tracks past where the new catholic church is today, caught
tadpoles in the creek behind the grade school just below Goss's
house, played in the woods near the sand pit, and so much more.
It was a different time in our history... a time of innocence
before JFK's assassination.
JFK campaigned in Minnesota and came to Hibbing. I didn't get to
see him, but I remember it was big news on the Range. I was
married the day after he was assassinated. I had no way of
knowing then that I would live 20 years of my life in JFK's
Massachusetts and am currently planning on semi-retirement there
in 2008. I've been in Silicon Valley long enough.
I also remember when Bob Dylan's first songs were played on the
radio. The DJ pronounced the 'y' as an 'i'--anyone remember
that?
We used to get our mail at Oja's Store--box 145 was our mailbox
and our phone number was 9401. Odd how these things stay with
you for so many years.
For a time in the early 1960s we lived on the lake across the
road from the Plagmann family--Laurel and I were good friends.
Also across the road was Mary Bartz who I believe was a
telephone operator in Nashwauk--I remember her as being very
kind. Kids on that side of the road were bussed to Nashwauk and
we were bussed to Bovey for Junior High and Coleraine for HS.
I went to a lot of Nashwauk games and got to know a lot of
people there who decades later got to get reacquainted with over
the web. The web made the planet a lot smaller place. Living on
the lake I also met a lot of others from around the lake: Diane
and Tommy Saylor, Sharon and Amy Poore, their neighbor Mary Lou
Newell who I believe lives or lived in our old house on the
River Road past the Itasca Hospital in Grand Rapids.
After high school I lived in Minneapolis for a short time and
then left in February 1967 for the San Francisco Bay Area. My
mom and the four younger kids followed several months later when
school was out. The Penguin Club eventually burned--not sure
when that was--and there's a community center (I think) on that
site now. I've only been back about five or six times over the
years. Lived first in San Francisco until 1972 and then on
Boston's beautiful North Shore from 1972 to 1992 when I returned
to the Bay Area.
I'm going to try hard to get to the Pengilly Centennial next
year. It would be great to see people after so many years.
Lee Jam
Redwood City, CA
7 Aug 2007
Hi, my name is Barb (Royal) Shipka and I am compiling
information for Pengilly’s Centennial History and Memories book
which will include: photos and memories, history, past and
present businesses and organizations, pictures of Pengilly
residents over 90 years old, and military pictures.
Thus far, I have received some interesting history, memories,
and photos of early Pengilly. With the publisher deadline soon
approaching, I would like to hear from YOU………. today! At the
time of submission, we will be taking pre-orders for our book,
as there will be a limited number of extra books ordered.
Please send to me your favorite story and/or bit of information
now, so it can be included in our book: Barb Shipka, P. O. Box
215, Pengilly, MN 55775-0215 or email, ezeedays@aol.com
-- any questions? 218-885-2639.
If you have enjoyed this website, please pass along the above
information, as well as the website address
(www.pengillymn.com), to all of your friends and neighbors and
Thank You for dropping in and visiting our site and keeping
posted on all the upcoming events of Pengilly.
6 Aug 2007
My memories of growing up on the East Side of Swan Lake/Pengilly
area relate to my experiences of enjoying Swan Lake during all
four seasons of the year...skating, snowmobiling, swimming and
sailing.
Plunky's Garage was a fond memory because my brothers worked
there and sometimes they would bring me home strawberry pop for
a treat. They would also have lots of "stories" to tell about
working at Plunky's.
An ice cream cone at Indian Point Bridge and later at Ann's
Cafe was always a nice treat. You needed two hands to hold onto
the over-sized cone!
Oja's Store had "everything".
I now have an opportunity to visit the Pengilly area a couple of
times every summer and I enjoy playing golf at the Swan Lake
Country Club each time I visit. What a great course. Always a
fun time!
THANK YOU to the Committee members for all their dedication and
hard work in planning the Celebration. I am looking forward to
attending next summer's Celebration.
Betty Royal :)
6 Aug 2007
Oh my God! I just today was given this web site and clicked on
to see the old Swan Lake Bridge. We used to dive off the top of
that bridge and lived to tell about it......and Oja's
store....my mother, Helen Nordgren, worked there until the store
burned down. My father, Earl, was the first baby born in
Pengilly. His parents, Carl and Martha Nordgren, arrived by raft
to the property where the Nordgren Family lived for many
years.....where Swan Lake ended and Swan River began .....across
from "the Cove." I remember fondly the wonderful summers
swimming and swimming and swimming! How I loved the water. My
mother always said I could swim before I could walk. I attended
Pengilly Elementary School and still remember a teacher I loved
dearly, Miss Calenduci. I cannot remember the correct spelling
of her name but this is close. I have lost touch with
everyone so this has been a wonderful trip down memory lane. I
will be back on as more information filters in. I lived in
Minneapolis for many years and seven years ago I decided to move
out of the cold and into the warmth of Florida to a small town
called Fanning Springs, about a half hour from the Gulf.
Barbara (Nordgren) Beissel
2 Aug 2007
Hi everyone,
Many times Gayle Laird and I would say "growing up in Pengilly"
was like a fairy tale. I was in Pengilly from 1946-1960. My Dad,
"Plunky," decided to sell the garage after his father died and
moved us to Missoula, MT. I cried my eyes out with my best
friends, Gayle Laird, Kathy Orlovich, Peggy Metzer, Jan Olsen,
Wendy Koski, Mary Ellen Crea, Lee Jam, Bonnie Marinoff and Joyce
Goldbran to name a few. Dad would let me come back every summer
so I didn't lose touch with most of them. We had a cabin on Swan
Lake and he built us a raft and my brothers and I, with our dog
"Blacky," would ride in the raft to "Main Beach" (my brothers
were under 5 years old). We liked swimming to the raft at "Main
Beach" and the boys would push us off. Remember when we couldn't
go in the water during "Indian Days" when the water would be
red? To this day I don't know why that happened. We would go
fishing in "Oxide Lake" across the highway, but it was scared
because I think the boys would go skinny dipping there.
We Pengilly girls had a club called the "B-Bop Brats" and we
would set up our office down in the box factory. We had desks
and chairs and office supplies, we thought we were "big shots."
We had to be "on guard" though or the Pengilly boys would come
and mess up our offices. One day Gayle, Sharon Van Epps and I
decided to build a fort behind our house, we lived behind my
dad's garage, "Plunky's Garage". We carried wagons full after
wagons full of boards from the box factory and built a 2 story
fort, does any one remember that, we slept upstairs and Sharon
Van Epps had her own corner to sleep in, we put in a concrete
floor, a door and window, we had curtains and a small stove we
cooked jello and hot dogs on. When the HWY 65 came through Mr.
Baggers land, the HWY Dept gave me $50 for my fort and they tore
it down. I remember the skating rink and the warming shack, it
was so cold but we still walked down to go skating and every
time we would play crack the whip my glasses would fly off and
brake. We use to skate on Swan Lake and I remember Mr. Laird
always had a fishing hole and shack on the lake, it was fun to
see the water through the hole. Who remembers the sand pit? We
used to play for hours there until my uncle, Louie Chellico,
killed the black bear down there. Dad hung it in our garage and
skinned it to eat. I had nightmares about that bear getting me
for years, I was trying to get in Collier's or later Walker's
house, running up the stairs and shutting the screen door. We
use to walk the railroad tracks by the box factory and find
agates. Do you remember the scare of the bomb shelters, Gayle
and I would try to find out where they were just in case the
Russians would come. I never remember any crime or bad things
happening to anyone while we were growing up, we would leave our
house early in the morning and be gone all day and I don't
remember Mom worrying about us. I use to make the best "Rubber
Guns" my dad had all the old tire tubes. We used the wood from
the box factory, the boards were cut in rectangles "2x1/2x12"
and I could make double Decker with the clothes pins. We didn't
need toys, but I know my mom and dad bought us all these cool
toys for Christmas and my brothers John, Jim and the Bee would
have them broken by nightfall. My dad would blow up the old
tubes for us and we would jump on them, then we would take them
to the lake" Main Beach" and have a ball with them. My uncle,
Hooner Chellico, ran the "Lakeview" tavern and he would take my
brother Johnny and I on Sunday after Mass to clean up the mess
everyone would make on Saturday evening. That place seemed so
big to me. Remember when Saint Kevin's church was a tar paper
shack across from Plunky's garage, every Friday Mom would make
cheese pizza and Father would come over after confessions to eat
cheese pizza because we couldn't have meat. Who remembers coming
to my house after school (the bus stopped at our house) to watch
TV "The Mickey Mouse Club" and Spin and Marty? Who remembers
going to the creeks and catching frogs and blowing them up and
putting them on the highway and when the car ran over them it
sounded like a flat tire, that was a terrible thing to do. We
had a Girl Scout troop and Campfire Girls, I remember meeting at
the Pengilly Elementary School and Goldie Orlovich was our
leader, we marched in the parade with our Girl Scout float. Who
remembers learning to dance in the gym at the Pengilly grade
school, the waltz and square dance? Kathy Orlovich lived by the
golf course and everyone went golfing even if we didn't know
how, I don't remember if we paid to golf or not. I remember when
Gayle had a 2 seater outhouse and when we did a sleepover,
instead of going outside, she had a white pot that went under
her bed. She had a pump in the kitchen sink and if you used the
water you had to remember to keep some water to "prime the pump"
or Mrs. Laird would get upset. Who remembers playing "stretch"
with the pocket knife? We would throw or drop the knife and the
other person would have to stretch to the knife until someone
got stretched out, the other would win. I remember when the Post
Office was in Oja's store. I loved to go to that store, they had
everything. As kids we walked everywhere. But my dad loved
vehicles, he got me a scooter and Gayle, Kathy and I could all
fit on it at once and we drove it down to Oja's store. I
remember the snow outside my bedroom window as high and the
window sill and I would open the window and jump in the snow.
Who remembers riding the bus to Bovey and Coleraine and when we
went through Calumet, the policeman would stop the bus because
we threw things out the window, we called him Chester because he
limped, we were very bad. Well I'm just babbling on now, I
enjoyed reading everyone's comments.
Would love to hear from you at
josifragnito@hotmail.com
Josi FragnitoLe Grand, CA
19 Jul 2007
Plunky's Garage
Minnie Chellico and John J. Fragnito “Plunky” from Nashwauk were
married on 4 Oct 1941. Before Plunky was drafted into the Army
Air Corps, WWII, he worked at the Ford Garage in Nashwauk as a
mechanic. After the WWII, Plunky and Minnie bought the Tydal gas
station in Pengilly, MN from the Collier Family in 1945. Plunky
provided fuel, bottle gas and mechanical services to the
Pengilly/Swan Lake area. Later he changed to PURE gas. He would
deliver the bottle gas in the middle of winter day and night to
any one who would run out. He could fix any automobile, a self
taught mechanic. Plunky always had a worker to pump the gas and
take bottle gas orders and schedule service on automobiles. His
nephew, James “Hooner” Chellico from Nashwauk, was his first
employee followed by Richard Royal, then Mickey Pecharch, then
Donald Royal (Plunky nick-named Donald “Humphrey” which he is
still called today), and Peter Marinoff all from Pengilly.
Plunky had a knack of nick-naming everyone.
Minnie and Plunky raised their 4 children, Mary Jo “Josi” born
1946, Johnny Jr. born 1948, Jimmy born 1952, and Joe “the Bee”
born 1953. Plunky added the living room, piano room, and Josi’s
bedroom onto the house behind the Garage. The family lived in
the home until Plunky sold the business and house to Bob
Badavinac in 1960 and moved his family to Missoula, Montana
where Minnie, The Bee and Jimmy still reside. Plunky passed away
on 4 June 1983 and is at rest in the Veteran’s Cemetery in
Missoula. Josi lives in Le Grand, California and Johnny is in
Chelan, WA.
Josi Fragnito
LeGrand, CA
4 Jul 2007
There was a time, in the early or mid 50's, that the people from
Pengilly and elsewhere could go to free movies in our little
town. Most of the time, the movies were shown at the old "Club
65" which was owned by the Marinoff family. At other times, they
were shown at a lot across from Oja's store where the present
post office sits. How, you may ask, can money be made by showing
people a movie for free? Why would anyone do it? The
answer.......they weren't actually free.........the
businessmen in town paid for them. It was a way for them to
attract people into town.......and when in town, the people
would do their shopping, drinking, etc. Therefore, the movies
were only free for the people who attended them. Makes sense
now, doesn't it?
Now, with free movies being projected on the large sheet in our
yard, it was time for the Marinoff boy's to take advantage of
the situation. The first night, I, along with my brothers,
Krist and Jim, and good friend, Ron Rantala, popped up a large
quantity of popcorn. Having Ron join the Marinoff ranks was a
business decision made by myself because he had confidence
selling this popcorn, that was manhandled by four or five
kids, to the public. I didn't. Anyway, it was a success. Now,
we could take our money and reinvest it. And we did so by
buying candy, chips, and bagged pop corn from a vender. We were
on our way to becoming entrepreneurs. With commercial goods, I
didn’t need Rantala any more. I fired him. The venture lasted
for a few more weeks until we all tired of the whole thing and
the competition from Van Epps store basically ran us out of
business. Now the down side of these free movies was my dad and
Robert Shofner. Dad made us kids clean up the yard the next day
and then he pocketed the rental monies . And one night Robert
Shofner came to my yard to watch a free movie and he beat me
up. I really didn't have a chance against him because earlier
that day, I hurt my arm in a bike accident. I had wrecked Denny
Baggers new English racer on Tresler's hill (hill on the short
cut road to Calumet). The brand new English racer was not
worth much after I hit a rock, and went over the handlebars.
Anyway, thanks, Robert.......and no, I don't want a rematch.
Once is enough.
Peter Marinoff
30 Jun 2007
I recall Pengilly from a totally different viewpoint. My aunt
and uncle (George and Esther Hill) lived in Pengilly with their
daughters Joanne and Charlotte. My dad ran a potato and dairy
farm west of Cohasset and every Saturday during the school year
we would deliver potatoes to homes, the school, and Oja's store
in Pengilly plus the cafe in the early 1950's-1969. I would
often ride with my dad and help deliver lifting whatever I could
to earn my keep. Often my keep would be to stop at a restaurant
for lunch (a VERY RARE treat during those days). We would also
be sure to stop and visit Esther, my dad's sister. I recall my
uncle George building a ski jump in his back yard and making
exciting jumps for those of us off the farm. He also played
harmonica for the family and danced in his living room for the
kids. Uncle George ALWAYS had a treat for us kids...a stick of
juicy fruit gum...again...another special treat we seldom got at
home. Esther belonged to the Methodist Church and would often
invite us up for the 'harvest dinner' held each fall...all you
could eat ...and boy did we. The ladies and men that put that on
will always be remembered for their great cooking and kindnesses
to little kids attending the event. Swimming in Swan Lake was a
major treat...we could walk out quite a way before the drop off
hit and scared the life out of us...and having fish under feet
made life and swimming that much more enjoyable. Today I fish
the lake seeking that 'walleye' I here tell about...but I think
someone puts him to bed each time I come to town...as I have yet
to catch one. I also had connections to Pengilly when I worked
as a mortician at Peterson Funeral Chapel in Coleraine. We would
hold several services in town of people I knew growing
up...their families would help me recall days gone by and treat
me and my dad (who often helped ME on funerals there) with a
great deal of respect and friendliness...even in those times of
sorrow. Once in a while dad and I would go to Ann's Cafe so Dad
and Ann could visit ...hamburger, coke, and fries for $1.25 in
1991 still!! She was a great cook and kind lady. I have enjoyed
working on the Centennial Committee and visiting with many of my
friends there...looking forward to 2008.
See you all there.
Brian Carlson, now of Grand Rapids.
18 Jun 2007
Pengilly............what wonderful memories. Living between the
two tracks was an adventure. With the box factory and the
sandpit just a hop, skip, and a jump away........there was
adventures to be had. Unless Ronnie Mackey and his crew from
"Indian Hill" were in a bad mood and decided to beat you up.
They never did, but the threat was always there. And who didn't
steal wood from the box factory to built their fort out in the
woods (am I still liable for this dishonest act?). And once the
box factory closed for the night, there was a way to get onto
the roof and jump into the sawdust pile. As I recall, my old
friend, Ron Rantala, was the leader in most of the mischief
created around that area. I lived between Mr. Bagger and Mr.
Black. Mr. Bagger never wanted you on his land and Mr. Black
never wanted anyone to pick his sour plums. That left the
Marinoff boys and their visiting friends planning ways to get
the plums from Mr. Black and and ways to cross Mr. Bagger's land
without getting caught. I now thank them both for giving us a
good chase. They never caught us, but they certainly knew how to
stir up a bunch of kids.
And there were all of my great old friends.....Jerry Heino, Marv
Koivisto, Ronnie Mackey, Bobby Goss, Charlie Vail, and Gary
Nobel. We spent hours together roaming the streets of Pengilly
at all hours of the day and night.......sometimes getting into a
little trouble, but most of the time, just chumming together.
We would spend most of our time at Marv Koivisto's
home........Marv thought that he was popular but we were all
more interested in his sisters Janet, Joyce, and Judy. Main
beach was always a great hangout, also. There were days that we
would get there in the early afternoon and swim and fight on the
raft for the entire day. Oh, yes, and if we tired of main
beach, we could walk down the shore a bit and swim off of
Whitney's raft.....which, as I recall, was quite
elaborate.....for a Pengilly kid. Thank you Whitney's. And who
could ever forget the countless times that the kids in Pengilly
could count on Santa (Mike Orlovich) to give them a nice supply
of candy during Christmas. I remember being ill one Christmas
and not being able to get to the tree where Santa was giving out
the treats, and he brought them personally to our house. And if
you ever got a flat tire on your bicycle and went to Plunky's
garage, he would holler at you the whole time he was fixing your
tire and then would not charge you for the patch. And remember
Polly Morrow, Pengilly's, own personal barber who loved the
Yankee's. And he also loved the Pengilly Penguins. Polly left
us much too soon. And I also remember Peter Laird who got
killed while serving in the armed forces. I remember his
funeral procession as being very big and very sad. Peter also
left us much too soon. Pengilly, no one could ask for more
than what was offered then. A golf course where kids were not
necessarily welcomed, but were put up with as we took short cuts
to cross town. A lake which took up way too much time out of
our day. Oja's, where one could read comic books for free. And
sand pits and box factories and swamps and creeks. We had it
all. And we knew it.
Peter Marinoff
12 Jun 2007
Hi
My name is Jim Blaine, this is a really good web site. Lots of
fun looking at the pictures. Does anyone have any pictures
of Bagger's Store or Ted Lee's Gas Station, the old Pengilly
School or Club 65? There used to be a gas station next to where
the Tic Tock Cafe was. It was run by Erick Johnson I think;
later by Gust Lindquist.
I sent an email to the webmaster asking if anyone remembers what
we used to call the Swimming Hole on the Golf Course . LOL. I
don't think it's appropriate to say it here. John Paul Carpenter
used to run a McNess Rt. from his home in Pengilly, He had
really good necter . Fred Zerbe was a Butcher for Ed Oja. So was
Andy Bjork. Vern Marshall made two or three dollars on a bet
when he worked for the RR track gang. You would never believe
what he did to win.
Maybe you can use some of this BS lol lol. Keep up the really
good work.
12 Jun 2007
Hi, Marvin Koivisto & Joyce Saarela. 1962 and 1963 Greenway
Grads. My mother Verna also worked at Oja's store. Nice town to
grow up in. We now live in Yuma, AZ with 360 days of sunshine.
Don't miss the bugs and snow. Hope everyone has a nice reunion.
Lots of good memories.
12 Jun 2007
Hi!
My name is Jim Blaine, Just wanted to say that the first baby
born in Pengilly was Earl Nordgren, and as I remember it the
Bridge at Indian Point was always called the Indian Point
Bridge. Is there any information on a place on the east side of
the lake we used to call Bachelor's Paradise? There used to be
several old men that lived there, Lars. Gus , Chicken Gus. were
two of them. Also Charlie Grantis and Big Bill Lain lived in
that area. Charlie Grantis lived on my dad's 40 near Hay Creek.
Please do not assume I am old enough to remember when Earl
Nordgren was born . This was told to me by my Brother-in-Law F.
Vern Marshall. Earl and my dad were good friends though.
Has anyone made a map of the paths that we used to use to get
around that area?Does anyone remember what the swimming hole on
the Golf Course was called. LOL LOL . Don't think you can put it
in here LOL. Used to swim there lots.
This is a super Website , you are doing a wonderful job.
07 Jun 2007
Greeting Pengillians! My last visit home was in 1965 with my
parents Merlin and Millie and brothers Gaylon and Myron Vangen
to my Grandma Olga Vangens. I was just 16 years old and I sure
wasn't use to a "small town environment". Thank goodness for the
Whitney family. I got to hang out with Mary Kaye who was my age.
She was from a very large family but I can't recall just how
many there was, but it was a bunch! What I recall the most is my
walks across the street to Swan Lake's Beach. Us California
girls had to keep up their suntan. I went from Chocolate brown
to a beautiful Golden tan. I also have such fond memories of the
Olson family who lived next door to Grandma. I remember the
barbque's and the fresh Strawberry shortcake for dessert. I
remember walking to the post office to check if any mail for me
from my boyfriend in CA. Plus always loved the malts served at
the little restaurant. Now that I'm older I know I would enjoy
even more now than then the beauty and peacefulness of a small
town. It's crazy out here in CA. Have a great Centennial. Wish I
could join you but not sure if I can at this time due to health
issues. Good thoughts are with you all.
Marcia (Vangen) Harlow
05 Jun 2007
I worked at Oja's Market in 1944 and 1945. Married to Merlin
Vangen in 1947 in Nashwauk. Merlin owned "Merlin's Cafe". Moved
to CA in 1951 and I don't miss the snow. Enjoyed looking at the
website with my daughter Marcia and son Myron.
Thank you.
Millie (Shipka) Vangen
04 Jun 2007
Hello Pengilly, I am a misplaced Nashwaukian living out in
Calif. Just got word of this web site - keep it going - it's
great. I have great memories of Pengilly, My Aunt and Uncle,
Harriet and Frank Zagar lived about 3 blocks from Main Beach,
and spending summer with my cousins, Dick, Jim and Paul were the
best. We would play Robin Hood for hours in the two wooded areas
next to their house - I remember the free movie nights shown on
the big sheet and the yummy home made popcorn sold at those
movies. Some of my relatives had cabins on Swan Lake - so I was
very fortunate to always have a chance to cool off during those
hot muggy Minnesota summers. I remember driving out (in the
middle of the night I think) with my parents to see the big
train wreck at the entrance to Pengilly. As a kid, that was
quite an adventure. Now looking back, I certainly hope no one
was hurt. Remember driving to Pengilly to shop at Ojas for just
about anything you needed. So sad when it burned down. Always
had fun in your community. Keep up the good work and
congratulations on your upcoming "huge" celebration. I'll be
back.
Patsy "Forss" Partain
02 Jun 2007
I remember when Oja's burned down Christmas eve. We lived across
the street. We left our house. My sister Sue said goodbye
to our house. I was five or six years old. (Was it 1965?) the
Fetziks were living there. We went to the Krussow's for
Christmas, they were everyone's gramma and grampa. I remember
cans popping for days afterwards in the rubble. Anyone remember
the Krussows?
02 Jun 2007
This is a great site and long overdue. I remember the Marshalls
(probably Dan) icing the hill behind the school so we could
slide down in our "go to school shoes" in the winter. Thanks for
your service, by the way, Dan! Say hi to Sue! My mom and dad are
still living there on Swan Lake where they raised three pretty
good kids. After 55 years of marriage they do not want to be
anywhere else. I visit and I take my kids and their friends to
see what a great place it is. One of my kids brought a friend up
and she had lived in London, Saudi Arabia, and Southern
California. She said Pengilly was her favorite. I bought her a
t-shirt.
David Willard
30 May 2007
Even though I wasn't born in Pengilly, I still consider it
"home." My parents, Charles "Chuck" and Diane "Dee" Bradley
raised my brother and I there. There is a park dedicated to my
dad at the community center. Both of my parents had a true sense
of community living in Pengilly. I have a lot of great memories.
I remembering going to Ann's cafe, where she was always busy, so
I answered the phone and sold candy, etc. while I hung out
there. I usually got a free burger or something for helping. I
was a lifeguard at the Swan Lake beach. I used to waitress for
Margaret at Mr. Roberts. I still go there on occasion to say
"hi" and of course eat. I remember our neighborhood night games
(especially, tin can alley) with the Johnson and Becicka crew as
neighbors, we always had plenty of kids to play! Hopefully the
statue of limitations has ran out on my following
memories...spear fishing in the crick on the golf course and
running from the DNR man...keg parties at the tressel behind the
ballpark or at Michaelson's field or Draper pit. I have many
friends who still are there and hope to see them at the
celebration!
Dawn "Bradley" Morrow
29 May 2007
Hi, I sure have enjoyed the pictures and stories that have been
coming in. How many remember walking from the school to the
Little White Library after school when it was at the corner
across from the 76 station? There were times when we would run
back to the school just in time to catch our bus. There was
something about that little one room library that I hold on to
as a fond memory. I also enjoy sipping coffee from the cups I
have purchased at the ITC.
Rita (Kotaska) Nelson.
26 May 2007
Hello All! The best thing I remember as a child was going to
Ann's Cafe. Loading up on her penny candy and the food and
malt's were always great. Life was good growing up in a small
town. See ya all in Aug. 2008.
Amy (McNeil) Melius
24 May 2007
Hi all my Mom just told me about this Web site, it is great. A
GREAT JOB to all. I remember so many things about Pengilly, like
Pete M said the outdoor movies, taking a blanket to sit on going
over to Van Epps store to get pop and goodies to eat while
watching. Going down to the Main beach to swim, without a life
guard. Growing up next to the Marshalls, Ulenkamps, Meterzs,
Cravens & Hancocks and the Douasts across the field and Oja's
Store and Ann's what a place. Hope to see all in Aug 08
Kay {Vail} Dworzynski
24 May 2007
I am a young Pengillian and I know that plenty of people around
my age group are going to be attending the centennial events! My
memories of Pengilly start with camping with my family at the
Deaf Camp, Staying at Mr. Roberts on the 4th, riding our bikes
to softball practice and stopping at Ann's Cafe and the ICT for
treats and getting golf balls out of the crick at the course!
This should be a fun time for everyone.
Katie Kessler (Sertich)
21 May 2007
Thank you for visiting our website! Pengilly was a great place
to grow up in or visit. Please tell us what you remember while
you were here and if you're still here. On Friday, August 29,
2008 we are having Registration, but also a gathering of friends
who went to the Pengilly School. What do remember about going to
school there? How about the skating rink? Even though Some went
to Nashwauk/Keewatin schools and lived in Pengilly, please share
your thoughts and memories. We all had some common links. Tell
us about them, please. Our committee is busy planning many
events that draw us together before the Centennial, so check in
often to see what's happening and then join us!
Molly (Marshall) Randall
21 May 2007
Please keep the memories coming in to our website! We'd love
hearing all your stories from what you can think of while living
in Pengilly. We'd like to hear from anyone who had any
connections to our "Town That Never Was". How about the
school...what do you remember? Remember the skating rink? On
Friday of the Centennial we're going to have a Registration and
gathering of anyone who went to the elementary school. If you
just want to stay and visit with us, that's fine too. Bring
along pictures and stories to exchange. Thank you and spread the
news to family and friends to check us out.
Molly (Marshall) Randall
20 May 2007
What a wonderful website! I especially loved the old pictures.
Pengilly was a wonderful place to grow up. Like most everyone
else my age, my memories are of spending time at Ann's Cafe, the
beach and the Teen hang-out by the beach. I too plan to attend
and hope to see many old friends that weekend.
Vicky Badavinac
18 May 2007
What I remember most is weekends visiting my grandma, Joyce
Stensrude. We'd walk down to the corner gas station or up on the
old train tracks. She'd always feed the neighborhood dogs
leftover meat. Pengilly holds a special place in my heart.
18 May 2007
Pengilly has always been home to me, although I have lived in
many towns and cities across the US, Pengilly will always be
home. I now live in Hibbing. My best memories are the main beach
and my next door neighbor Pat Marshall and all the stories he
used to tell and never miss a beat. Pat would make them up and
he could tell great stories for hours on end, he would have been
a great man.
Bill Edwards
17 May 2007
Hello Pengilly, I'm so thrilled to see a website and be able to
contribute. My pictures will be arriving soon via my brother &
sister-in-law. I've now lived in WA state longer than I did in
MN, but I have so many memories of Pengilly!! The penny candy
and malts at Ann's, riding my bike 2 miles to early morning
swimming lessons at Main Beach, spending time with my Grandma
Langton. Too many to mention... Looking forward to the reunion
next year.
Margaret (Summers) Bonnell
15 May 2007
I do remember the free movies at our residence in the year(s)
1953-54-or so. If you wish, I could write a short article about
it. Also, my mother has pictures of the train wreck.....might be
interesting.
Peter Marinoff
09 May 2007
Barb and Shelly what a great job on this web site you guys rock.
I do have an addition to the family fun days on July 14th there
will be a street dance with a live band sponsored by the Crazy
Loon and Dozers. I will get the name of the band soon.
06 May 2007
What a great idea to have this web site. I also remember the
large portions at Ann's cafe and the times I would ride bike or
walk the 3 1/2 miles into town to the beach. What fun my
brothers and sister and I would have digging worms and selling
them to all the fishermen at the swan lake bridge. We then would
buy treats at the Indian Point Resort. It sure was fun growing
up in a small town. Looking forward to the centennial.
06 May 2007
hello this is betty toronto just dropping by to say "hi"
04 May 2007
I would like to say that you have done a good job on the web
site!! I remember Ann's BIG burgers, malts and the BIG bag of
french fries she always gave us!! The chewy red coins in the
candy case were always good and the ice cream cones were way too
tall !!!!! The beach was the place to go and I always could find
something to buy at Oja's. Pengilly was a good place to grow-up
and still is a nice place to live!!!!
03 May 2007
What I remember the most in my youth were the long summers. They
seemed to last forever. I loved going to the beach in front of
Badavinac's home. I enjoyed many a day swimming at Swan Lake
Beach. Where in my teens I was a lifeguard. We Marshall kids
loved playing tin can alley, hanging out in the big tree, and
swinging on the flag pole at the school. Good job on the web
site!!
Colleen Vaneps
03 May 2007
All we needed was a swimsuit and towel wrapped around us. As
kids we could hardly wait to get down to the beach during the
summer. It was difficult walking barefoot on the pavement when
it was hot, so we tried to stay on the sandy shoulders. We
seldom wore shoes to the beach because with all the kids in our
family we only had one or two pairs at the most and they were
our school or church ones. The Lakeview was nearby and we would
go into the bar to get candy and chips. I can still remember the
smell of that bar. If we were lucky someone we knew would be in
there who would buy us our treats!
03 May 2007
Hello to everyone from another of the Marshall kids, Kathy
Prawer. I won't ever forget how great my chocolate malt tasted
from Ann's Cafe. To this day, none has been the equal. Anyone
else remember reading the comic books in the rack by the door of
Oja's grocery store? I remember my brother Tim reading them to
me, until one of the employees would come and shoo us away.
03 May 2007
I would like to say how proud I am to serve in the Air Force and
expect to be home for the Centennial. The site looks great. I
remember delivering papers for years around most of the center
of "Town" and mowing so many lawns. Of course Pete's APCO sold
gas for $0.35 cents a gallon and the mower can only held half a
gallon. Also loved to go to the laundromat and get a red cream
soda. Ann's burgers were the very best to be had and she always
gave us kids more than we could eat so we shared them out.
Daniel Marshall, from Basrah Iraq. Got to 102 F yesterday and
expect 105 F today. |
|
|
of Northern Minnesota's Iron Range
