Minnesota Lakes

Going to our friend's MN cabin for a few days was a dream you want to last longer. K.C. had undergone her first chemo treatment, had to get a son to a swim camp at the U, and couldn't predict how she would feel. Tutu was with us but was up front about driving 40 mph if she had to. I was a decrepit back up; but I was pleased to be chosen and did do a bit of back up driving on our way home, until the dark of night blurred my aging vision.

We spent the first night with P's 91 year old mother in the city. It was love at first sight, just like it was with E.S., our friend in a chariot ie. wheelchair. Sunday morning we went to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Both K and Tutu wept through the service. K's friends were there from 20 years ago. K was with her tribe. The Crucifer carried in the Cross, hands properly gripping the pole which was pressed into his forehead with such devotion that I too could have wept for the beauty of it. Liturgical, with a Cantor; it was such sweet reverance. Later we would stop to see the Chisago Lutheran Church, built by Swedes in 1802 which was breathtaking in its restoration.

The cabin was restful and restorative. We were not without our medical alarms, however. K had a blood draw which indicated a danagerous white count drop and a need for antibiotics. Her Omaha doctor's office called immediately after the faxed results. Tutu lept upon a flopping sunfish on the dock and got stabbed in the thumb with a fin. When it redlined we took her to emergency, coming home in the dark of night, with the big dipper shining its welcome back.

Tutu sang Bengali songs to us and tried to teach me one of religion making life smooth. A neighbor gave us a pontoon ride around one end of the lake where I made a photo of the old church we looked at.I am going to try put some of the photos on Flickr, there is a nice one of the old Swedish church and the interior of the cabin.

Waiting for Midsummer

Juhannus is celebrated on the Saturday between the 20th and the 26th of June. It is the Feast of St. John the Baptist on the church calendar but we called it Juhannus and it brought every Finn, spouse, and friend, tick and mosquito, into Casper's Gulch for a picnic, homemade ice-cream, games and competitions, and my Grandpa Tuovinen auctioned off the fancy work for the Ladies Aid of the Cave Hills Lutheran Church.

Other folks came as well, and it surprised me that my hero, Frankie Clark, told me that he came as a kid with his parents from Buffalo. They were English Papists, but they must have enjoyed the congeniality, or maybe watching the Finns loosen up a little and have some fun. Anyway, he said they came every year; it made me happy to know that.

Later when I was in my 40's, my mother and I enjoyed the bonfires and dancing in Finland on Juhannus. The next day we arrived at our paternal Finnish relatives who had asked all of the clan over to see the American Cousins! After the greetings, meeting and feasting, Seppo took out his accordian and all the women danced together in the livingroom. I wanted to Polka with Seppo, but he was the music so that was out. The torte was so tall and so wonderful I have never forgotten it, and the old women dancing was a sight to behold.

When the women wore out their hips and knees, Seppo put the accordian down and took me for a motorboat ride.

Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory

"Underground science is a hot field. Physicists use deep labs to shield experiments from cosmic radiation. A “neutrino detector” that operated underground at Homestake for 30 years won a Nobel Prize for researcher Ray Davis. Deep labs in Russia, Italy and Japan have yielded results that are forcing theorists to change their view of how the universe works." From the Rapid City Journal, June 4, 2007

A little exploration, not for gold, but on the web, brought me the realization that Homestake Gold Mine, the stepping stone, or drop off into the abyss, of my forefathers, is in direct competition with an iron mine near Ely, MN. But it isn't Finn vs. Finn this time. It is state vs. state and Colorado and WA are also in the final four compteting for a National Science Foundation decision. The state that gets the tap is in for a huge grant, many jobs and lots of publicity world-wide.

Sometime soon -- maybe this month -- the National Science Foundation will announce a site for the proposed Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory. The NSF envisions a DUSEL that would also host geologists, seismologists, biologists and even experts in national security.

I discovered the Ely, MN Soudan connection in the news article. There are interesting photos of all sites on Bill Harlan's blog.

A geological engineering son's first job out of the SD School of Mines and Technology was working for Homestake doing surface exploration for gold in the Northern Black Hills. He once told me if you buy land there, be aware that you could have a gold mine for a neighbor. Then gold dropped to $42 an ounce and the big companies lost interest, even Barrick out of Canada, who bought the Homestake called it quits.

I once had dreams of living in Lead. There is a Hearst Additon of new homes, named for the Newspaper family that owned Homestake and much of the town of Lead.

In October 1877, George Hearst arrived in Deadwood to view the "New El Dorado" with his own eyes. His initial stay in Deadwood only lasted 40 days, but the impact of his visit would reverberate through the Hills for more than a century. In early November 1877, Hearst wrote back to his partners in San Francisco, describing the vein of gold ore on the Homestake claim as being 30 feet wide, 1,500 feet long, and at least 100 feet deep. He estimated that 60-70% of the assayed gold in the ore could be easily reclaimed with the correct equipment. He then recommended that 100 stamps be brought to the Homestake, stating that it would take at least 25 years to do the job. Hearst continued, telling his partners that many of the claims immediately north of the Homestake were almost as rich.

When Homestake discontinued operation, housing was available and inexpensive. But that is no more, the wealthy from both coasts have discovered the charming pristine Black Hills and land prices have shot up; not with the lure of gold or neutrinos, but perhaps Kevin Costner and his brother had something to do with it; or the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. It has been said that HBO's "Deadwood" has had some kind of impact on the viewing public leading to a new source of tourist visitors to the Black Hills.

Blessed are the folks that had the sense to hold on to the land they once acquired in the Black Hills. Unfortunately, when we left in the late '60's we sold everything we once had. Drat.