The following article was contributed by Patricia Pesko. Mike is a LakePlace.com member and the owner of this Shell Lake WI Vacation Rental. (Only $750/week!)

Shell Lake is a beautiful, crystal clear lake that has been enjoyed by numerous individuals for generations. Researching the history of the lake, it was originally a Native American summering ground, a place to be refreshed and to seek respite from the heat. At the turn of the century, families from large cities, especially the Chicago area, would pack the families on a train and send the wives and children to spend entire summers in the small, rustic cabins or at the numerous family-owned resorts that dotted the shores of Shell Lake. Those children, in turn, would bring their families back to enjoy the summer in Shell Lake, many of them going back to the same cabins. (The small resorts have long ago disappeared.)

The cabin my husband and I purchased on a lovely lot in a secluded area of Shell Lake has a feel of “family” about it. The sturdy oak floor has wear marks, in certain sections, attributing to numerous feet passing over. When I sometimes sit in solitude in the cabin, especially on a beautiful moonlit night, I can almost hear the children talking about the fish they caught, the cousins next door and the fort they made in the big woods behind. I can see bathing suits and towels strung out to dry on the clothesline, which is still there. (Rummaging through a lofted area in the cabin, I even found the worn chintz clothespin bag with unusual wooden clothespins still tucked in the pocket!)

Other items were also left behind: items that gave me a clue to former occupants. There are paper fans with advertising from funeral homes that when unfolded form a beautiful picture, a heavy mix master on a a stand with odd attachments, various olive-green wool army blankets, old boxed games with pieces missing and childish writing covering some of the boxes, numerous mismatched cups, plates, pots and pans along with a metal chamber pot! All of these items have been disposed of and replaced, although it was done with a twinge of sadness on my part, knowing I was replacing not only “things” but perhaps also the memories of people who once so enjoyed this sweet cabin.

Our cabin in the woods sits quietly with some other relatives like it that bear a family resemblance. Like the others (many are being replaced with new cabins or homes) it is basic, sturdy and most of all, home. It’s its own unique “person” waiting (with many updates and accommodations) to provide loving, happy, summer memories for willing new families.

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By: Patricia Pesko
LakePlace.com Member
Shell Lake WI Vacation Rental