timeline
1941-45
Bought Cabins #4 (Norway Pine) and #5 (White Pine) and moved them across the ice from Orr bay. The ice house and docks were also added. A 32 volt electric system was installed and all the neighbors helped install a new party line phone system. The milk house was moved and added on to becoming…
Read More1938-41
The duplex was moved, built 4 log cabins and purchased new wooden boats. Moved the cabin from on top of the root cellar, becoming Cabin #9 (Hilltop).
Read More1937
Started renting the old Trading Post, now a duplex, and two wooden boats Thomas had made, “Little Eva” and “Tar Baby”. The milk house was also converted to a cabin.
Read More1930-1936
1930-1936 Mike Terska was one of those young guests coming to the homestead on Pelican Lake to picnic and fish. Taking a liking to Helia, he asked for her hand in marriage. She moved away from the homestead to Mike’s family farm at Lindon Grove about 20 miles south. Mike and Helia had 2…
Read More1928
Our current Sauna was built, the third one to occupy this site. The first two destroyed by fire, this one has been more fortunate and still warms chilled bones to this day. Matt fit right in growing up in the lawless area around Orr, making moonshine, gambling. getting into gunfights and spending lots of time…
Read More1910
A trading post was constructed on the site where our present Cabin #1 (My Northern Home) now stands selling to and trading with local loggers and Indians. Trading and carpentry were the sources of income for Thomas. Many boats were built in a workshop where Cabin #3 is now. Thomas also built several schools around…
Read More1907
The Virginia and Rainy Lake Lumber Co. pushed the railroad to Orr bringing thousands of men, many immigrants to work in the surrounding forests. The VRL Lumber Co. was the largest on earth producing on average a million board feet of lumber a day seven days a week. Production on such a vast scale required…
Read More1904
Thomas and Ida Plii, parents of Helia and Matt, traveled on a two day journey from Virginia to Tower by train then across Lake Vermillion by boat up the Vermillion River to the Pelican River and into Pelican Lake in search of and finding a homestead on the south shore of Pelican Lake, the present…
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