We moved onto the farm in the winter of 1953, which happened to be the worst winter of the decade. The following summer, the landlord agreed to add onto the barn and to build a silo, all tools essential to creating a dairy farm. The chicken coop is located to the far right. The Allis Chalmers “racing” tractor is parked adjacent to the driveway.
Lincoln County District 29 one-room school (1956). Ron and his classmate occupy the first two desks on the far right, followed by a second and third grader. Fourth and fifth graders are sitting in the middle row, and the row on the left has a sixth, seventh, and eighth grader.
Ron and sister Sue on the family swing set (1957). The “saintly and quintessential” outhouse can be seen behind Ron.
Photo of three dozen farmers who arrived with their machinery to harvest our crops (1959).
Ron, Sue, and Pat survey the crop damage after a hailstorm destroyed the corn crops (1964). A field like this one was the scene for the tractor races Ron hosted, unbeknownst to their parents.
Sister Sue and Mom in the milking parlor. The milking stalls were designed and built by Mel and were considered highly innovative for their time (circa 1962).
Steve on Ron’s lap during a summer visit home from college (1968).
Mel and Clarice Lambrecht in the dining room of The Lakeview Supper Club (1971). The kitchen, to the left and not pictured, is where Pam and Steve slept on a rollaway bed. Notice the glulam beams overhead.
Steve and next older sibling Pam during a loosely supervised excursion in Lake Shaokatan.
Steve getting an early start on honing his drumming skills at The Club. Live music was a huge draw on Friday and Saturday nights (circa 1969).
Dad and Ron in Dad’s freshly restored 1956 pickup in the 2003 Polska Kielbasa Days parade. The spotlight used for all sorts of shenanigans is mounted on the cowl to the left of the driver. This photo was taken one week prior to Dad’s passing as a result of a failed quadruple bypass surgery. The truck is now owned by Steve and is affectionately named “Mater.”
Steve on his Honda minibike. Lake Shaokatan and one rental cabin appear in the background (circa 1975).
Steve's police report from "Bug Juice."
