October 27, 2007 - Old memories of Shavehead Lake- from Sherman Van Lieu
October 25, 2007 - Old memories of Shavehead Lake.
By Sherman Van Lieu
I was a young boy when my family ran the lake resort owned by Mr. Lloyd Amos back in 1956. At the time we had six cabins I believe, and most of our cabin rentals were rented by summer folks from the Chicago area. I remember the chestnut trees along the dirt road, the large swing set for the kids, and all the great summer adventures with the Huff family kids, David Hoffman, Junior Braizlee(sp), and many others. I also remember Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson, Mr. and Mrs. Gramburg(sp), the Van Kirks, and the Snook family.
I can still see Doc Guyer(sp) swimming while pulling a boat behind him. I remember the hard times we had navigating the hill during the snowy season, and when it rained. My parents usually left our cars at the top of the road, and walked up to get them, it was safer that way.
I also remember the time my father pulled a 25lb. snapping turtle out of the lake one spring. I had never seen a turtle that large before.
My mother ran a small grocery store out of our house for a while for all the summer business, and we even had a gentleman who opened a donut store right on the lake front at the resort.
I was just there in September of 2007, and much has changed, yet much is still as I remember it. One Chestnut tree is still alive. Shavehead lake is still as beautiful as ever, and I am glad I had the opportunity to have lived there for a few years.
November 30, 2007 - RE: Old memories of Shavehead Lake- from Sherman Van Lieu
Posted by Jeff Courtney
My family owned the house next to the boat launch on the penninsula back in the late 70's through the 80's. What great memories I have of Shavehead Lake. I remember men like Gordy (2 hses. away) and Mr. Cooper in the red barn house teaching me to fish and Scott ? (the first person to barefoot waterski on the lake) teaching me how. I would like to create some of those same memories with my children now that I am older but it is hard to come by houses for sale on Shavehead unless you have an insider. If anyone has the inside scoop I'd love some help. I'm even interested in renting on hte lake for a week or two if possible until I find a place for myself. Great web-site. Thank you for the opportunity to express my love for Shavehead lake.
I have great memories of the lake as well. My family had a house on the water near the boat launch on the peninsula. Guys like Gordy (two houses away) and Mr. Cooper (Red Barn House) taught me to fish and a guy named Scott and the end of the peninsula was the first to barefoot waterski on the lake and taught me how. I would like to share similar memories with my kids but cant seem to find a home on the water for sale. I'd love to rent in the mean time and look forward to my spot on the lake some day. Thanks for the opportunity to share my memories.
December 6, 2007 - RE: Old memories of Shavehead Lake- from Sherman Van Lieu
Posted by Sherman Van Lieu
I believe there are a few rentals on Shavehead lake. Just get online and type in real estate Shavehead lake, or rentals on Shavehead lake, you should find some.
Good luck
March 30, 2008 - RE: Old memories of Shavehead Lake- from Sherman Van Lieu
Posted by Mike
Jeff- Camp Friedenswald has cabins available for rent- Click on the Camp Friedenswald or the "For Sale / For Rent" categories for their availability. Mike
August 13, 2008 - RE: Old memories of Shavehead Lake Peninsula
Posted by Sophia Michna
I have many very happy memories of life on the Peninsula. We built there 46 years ago. I believe we were about the tenth house on the peninsula. Many of my memories are recorded in the cottage chapter of my personal life story -- I'm 80 and going strong. I have difficulty working this machine. I am trying to contact "Marilyn" of the Peninsula to give her a book of all the newsletters from the year one. Marylin, if you read this please contact me. I'm a short way from your house. At the cottage, I'm only there weekends (if I can get a ride up). I'm assuming I will be there on the Labor Day weekend. Memories? A whole chapter.
August 13, 2008 - RE: Fourth of July at Shavehead lake Peninsula
Posted by Sophia L. Michna
Another Fourh of July at Shvehead Lake (4 for me). "Fourth's past" wee not so all encompassing. W ch had our private celebrations (in the beginnifn we were only ten houses on th whle peninsula). But more "pioneers" came and now we are a village - a suburb. A very hapy place, indeed. "God's Litte Acre" -- our "Piece of Eden"
I love the Fourh of July at Shavehead. Sott Knepple used to have his own gala fireworks display. It was so outstanding that people from all over the lake came to watch. Soon rsidents started contributing to his purchase of fireworks (did you know that today $100 will buy about 5 minutes of fireworks?) A wondeful evening. Boats line up all over the norhwest end of the lake to watch. When an especially beautiful firework shoots up, people yell and hoot, and toot their boat horns. I love the "Grand Finale" when silently all the boats line up single file, with red and green lights distinguishing one boat from the other, and silently, silently they glide through the dark wae. Such a solemn moment. I wonder what everyone is thinking.
Everyone takes off for their homs and to their private parties. Some still haven't had enough fireworks and have their own small show. Tidbits are passed around. Some imbibe! Weather-wise, I can't tink of a bad Fourth of July at Sha vehead. The pitch-black sky is dotted with twnkling stars. We look for the Milky Way. We look for shooting stars. This year a strange "ball of fire" moved slowly across the sky. Was it a plane on fire? Was it a comet? Was it a flying saucer? No one seems to know.
Before the fireworks, the air is wonderfully exhilarating. Now it smels of gunpowder and wood- burning fires. What would a Fourth of July at Shavehead e without a bon-fire? We toast marshmellows and make Smores. The youngest are allowed to stay up until they fall asleep in their parent's arms. The firewors start to die down. In the deep dark of the evening nature's fireworks turn on - the whole fron lawn is full off fireflies turning their lightsn and off!
Sleepily, silently, one by one, we trundle offto bed. We've had a very happy, happy day.
I wonder how many of us rize that the Fourth of ly is really Independece Day - and what it realltands for?
November 9, 2008 - RE: Old memories of Shavehead Lake- from Sherman Van Lieu
Posted by Sherman Van Lieu
I was wondering of those of you who come here do you remember the lake resort at the base of the hill where the road splits north nd south? I believe it was there through the fifties, maybe even the forties, and if anyone had any information about it. It was called "Shavehead Lake Resort" there even used to be a sign advertising it on US 12 about one mile before you crossed the Indiana state line.
There used to be six or seven cabins there. I wishing well that is still there that my sister and I made extra money with when the tourist dropped their coins down it, there are probably still some down in it. I swing set that I believe is still there when, and a stream running the full length of the property.
I remember that the owner of the property Mr. Lloyd Amos did some strange things in and around that main house. He had hid several huge bottles of champagne in the stream that ran along the length of the house, which my father found one year when he was digging a section of the steam up. We would also find money in, and around the house, one time my father found some money wrapped up in rags, and was shoved in an old cast iron pipe in the basement.
This was all back in the late fifties when I was just a kid.
If anyone has any stories about that place let me know?
This website is for the benefit of all of the residents of our Shavehead Lake community. Courtesy of Mike Bosela -resident, board member and treasurer - Enjoy!
This website is for the benefit of all of the residents of our Shavehead Lake community. Courtesy of Mike Bosela -resident, board member and treasurer - Enjoy!
