Hello Clam Lake!
The weather this week was much cooler – thankfully – than last week. As much as I hate to admit it, it’s almost like a touch of Fall is in the air. One sees the random red or orange leaf and goldenrod flowers beginning to bloom. Summer’s days are numbered at this point reminding us to enjoy it while we can!
ST. GEORGE CHAPEL – Mass is celebrated every Saturday at 6:00 pm at St. George our historic “Chapel in the Pines. As we enter August we are reminded that only a few more weeks of service remain at our beloved chapel before it will, once again, close for the season. The last Mass of 2023 will be held Saturday September 2nd over the Labor Day weekend. For the past 74 years St. George has served as a summer mission chapel for locals and summer visitors. Our slogan? “No Vacation from God’s Service!” Come pray with us! All are welcome.
HISTORY MOMENT – Taken from an August 1952 edition of the Glidden Enterprise: “Mr. and Mrs. Roger McCorison and little daughter Kathy are spending a two week vacation at McCorison’s Clam Lake Lodge, visiting with friends and relatives here and in Glidden.” Also at this time, it was noted that- “Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Person and Mr. and Mrs. Dexter Sharp (Mrs. Sharp being the former Peggy Person) and children (Lynn, Judy and Jan) are at their summer home for a short stay.” Kathy (McCorison) Arias, granddaughter of Frank and Maude McCorison, is now a full time Clam Lake resident as is Jan Sharp the granddaughter of Ben and Beth Person. The Persons would be our oldest family still in residence in Clam Lake with them having built their cabin in 1929. The McCorisons bought Barth’s Barn – the former summer home and hunting lodge of L.L. Barth (Hines lumber baron) in 1937 renaming it the Clam Lake Lodge which it remains to this day.
ELK HABITAT UPDATE – I had a chance to speak with wildlife biologist Josh Spiegel this past week to get an update on what’s going on out there in the forest regarding their ongoing work with elk management. He relayed, that as most of us have observed, that the main focus for the forest animals during this time of the year is the rearing of their young. At this time elk calves often become more visible as they travel about with their mothers. Right now, his team is focusing on their habitat work which includes maintaining open ground and prescribed burns. The maintenance involves mowing and getting the land ready for planting that is done in wildlife areas every spring and fall on state and federal land. Prescribed burns are done every five to six years to mimic natural fires which will produce new plant growth for the animals to enjoy. A mixture of clover and grass (timothy and orchard grass) are planted in the wildlife areas with a sprinkling of oats on top. As with any planting they have to “make hay while the sun shines” knowing that we are only a month away from the start of the elk rut season. Time flies! Thanks go out to them for their work on making our forest a sustainable place for the elk and other wildlife.
Until next week…..
Pictured is a wildlife area of about 5 acres being prepared for planting and a spring prescribed burn on 55 acres. (Photos courtesy of Josh Spiegel.)
