
Events
FOURTH ANNUAL WHEELS AT THE LAKE 2025
Once again in 2025, let’s rally some wheels and keep this event alive
Meet up on the 12 th of July, we hope that you continue to enjoy the reason why
Open up your garage bay, fire up that dusty ride, drive on out and enjoy the day
Invite your friends with an interesting ride to share, so come on up and enjoy
the fresh lake air
11 AM to 2 PM is the time, no entrance fee and won’t cost you a dime
Best of all we will vote for “Best of Show” and there may be a Winner’s Trophy and prize,
you just never know!
For more information and to reserve your spot, please contact:
Rene Mather at 425.772.6428 or Larita (Tweetie) Humble at 206.794.7141
Lake Cavanaugh Community Center located at 35022 S Shore Dr, Mount Vernon
BLHS Work Party #4
BLHS Volunteers will meet at the BLHS Storage Unit at the Big Lake Store at 10:00 AM. We will be organizing, sorting, and cataloguing artifacts in our storage unit in preparation for our next community exhibit in 2026. Interested community members are welcome to join us.
BLHS Work Party #3
BLHS Volunteers will meet at Big Lake Community Church in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM continuing to re-organize community files, sorting photographs and documents, removing duplicates, and editing captions in preparation for our community exhibit in 2026. Interested community members are welcome to join us.
BLHS Work Party #2
BLHS Volunteers will meet at Big Lake Community Church in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM continuing to re-organize community files, sorting photographs and documents, removing duplicates, and editing captions in preparation for our community exhibit in 2026. Interested community members are welcome to join us.
BLHS Work Party
BLHS Volunteers will meet at Big Lake Community Church in the Fellowship Hall at 10:00 AM to re-organize community files, sorting photographs and documents, removing duplicates, and editing captions in preparation for our community exhibit in 2026. Interested community members are welcome to join us.
Big Lake Historical Society Board Meeting
The BLHS Board will meet at 6:00 PM around the table with the goal of planning the April, July, and October Quarterly Membership meetings as well as some get down and get dirty (not literally, but figuratively) work parties. Please bring your calendars and come prepared to dig deep. President Kyle Hoffman will open the meeting. Following the reading of the minutes for the BLHS Membership Meeting, October 24, 2024, the Treasurer’s Report, and Calendar Committee’s Report, the board will plan goals and speakers for the April, July, and October meetings, as well as set dates for work parties.
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
BIG LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
JANUARY 25, 2024
COMBINED QUARTERLY BOARD & GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MINUTES
The meeting was called to order by President Kyle Hoffman at 6:02 p.m. at the Big Lake Community Church. A quorum was present.
Officers present:
Kyle Hoffman, President
Lloyd Watkinson, Vice-President
Melba Hall, Treasurer/Historian
Pattie Pleas, Secretary
Board members present:
Trudi Davis, Newsletter/Webmaster
Andrea Xaver, NOVEMBER 17, *(2022) PRO TEM
David Granstrom, NOVEMBER 17, *(2022) PRO TEM
• Melba Hall gave the Treasurer’s report.
• The minutes of the October 26, 2023, meeting were read by Pattie Pleas, and were moved, seconded, and approved by the Board.
• Nominations were made for the open positions of secretary and a board member to be voted on at the July 2024 Annual Business meeting. Liz Stewart was nominated by Pattie Pleas to be on the board and was seconded by David Granstrom. Liz Stewart was also nominated for Pattie’s position as Secretary and later in the general quarterly meeting accepted both of her nominations. Nominations for officers and board members will remain open through the April quarterly meeting.
• The Board meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.
General Membership Quarterly Meeting was called to order by President Kyle Hoffman at 7:00 PM.
• Calendar Committee Chairman Andrea Xaver gave a report on the 2025 calendar committee. A decision was made to keep the calendars focused on the history of the communities making up the Big Lake Valley, Baker Heights, Big Rock, Big Lake,
Walker Valley, Montborne, Ehrlich, Finn Settlement, McMurray, and Cavanaugh.
The majority of those attending the meeting prefer using historical photos – along with any relevant before and after pictures. The cost for the 2025 calendar will remain at $20 each. Pattie Pleas and David Granstrom will work with Andrea Xaver on the 2025 calendar committee. LaRita Humble volunteered to find photos of the Lake Cavanaugh community to consider.
• David Granstrom, Andrea Xaver, Phil Zimmerman and Trudi Davis are working as a team to get a replacement sign at the old townsite on Gary Johnson’s property.
• Trudi Davis discussed the August 2024 biennial display. Jim Davis has been offered some free soundboards to make more display panels if needed. It was decided that 4 or 5 doubles should be sufficient. Trudi stated that they will make as many as is possible with the donated soundboard and with what materials are still at hand. Any additional costs will be billed to the BLHS.
• The BLHS Biennial Exhibit will be held at the BLVFD’s community room on August 10th and 11th. There was discussion to hold a community picnic following the display on Sunday. Attendees will need to bring their own chairs and a sack or box lunch.
• Kyle Hoffman volunteered to organize a display of vintage tractors for Exhibit.
• It was discussed and proposed that the society go ahead and begin collecting stories and quips for a BLHS self- published book of memories from the Big Lake Valley. It was decided that each board member will bring a story or quips of a memory for inclusion into the book to our April meeting. A question arose regarding the book was whether there were ever any famous or notable people in the Valley. Some mentioned Charles Nordstrom, but no other person was mentioned.
• At the invitation of Mick Steinman, we will hold our next general quarterly meeting, April 25, 2024, at the Cavanaugh Community Center, 35022 S Shore Drive, at 7:00 pm.
The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
BLHS Quarterly Membership Meeting
BLHS General Membership Meeting Agenda
April 27, 2023, 7:00 PM Big Lake Community Church
Mission:
A. The Society with all its resources shall work to preserve the character and the natural
environment of the Big Lake Community.
B. The Society will solicit, collect, preserve and restore such materials, equipment and
memorabilia relating to the history of the area.
C. The Society will work with the community, if appropriate, to enhance, and preserve its
unique, cultural, historic and environmental character.
D. The Society shall encourage the development of the Big Lake Biennial presentation of
Historical Photos and Artifacts.
Meeting goals:
A. To discuss going forward with the preservation and digitizing of society’s photos and documents.
B. Create agenda and speakers for the July 27, 2023, Third Quarter Meeting.
1. Welcome/ Introductions
2. Reports
• Approval of January 26, 2023, Minutes & Financial Report (copies available)
• Calendar Report: Andrea Xaver
• Moving forward with the preservation and digitizing of photos and documents.
• Next issue of the newsletter
3. Pulse—
• Review what has been accomplished
• Set the goals and agenda for July 27 Third Quarter Meeting of 2023.
4. Connection— Community sharing: Guest speaker, Mick Steinman of Lake Cavanaugh
5. Adjournment
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
The meeting will be held at the Big Lake Community Church
Mission:
A. The Society with all its resources shall work to preserve the character, and the natural environment of the Big Lake Community.
B. The Society will solicit, collect, preserve and restore such materials, equipment and memorabilia relating to the history of the area.
C. The Society will work with the community, if appropriate, to enhance, and preserve its unique, cultural, historic and environmental character.
D. The Society shall encourage the development of the Big Lake Biennial presentation of Historical Photos and Artifacts.
Meeting goals:
A. To review and assess the success of the 2022 BLHS Biennial Exhibit.
B. To discuss going forward with the preserving and archiving the society’s artifacts and photos.
C. Create agenda and speakers for the January 26, 2023 Quarterly Meeting.
1. Welcome/ Introductions
2. Reports
· July 28, 2022 Minutes
· Financial Report
4. Deliberation topics –
· What’s next? Who, What, Where, When, and How? Moving forward with the preservation and archiving of our society’s artifacts and photos
· Next issue of the newsletter
5. Pulse—
· Review what has been accomplished
· Set the goals and agenda for the January 26, 2023 Quarterly Meeting.
6. Adjournment
7. Connection—(sharing and storytelling time)
2022 BIG LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY EXHIBITION
BLHS HISTORY EXHIBIT
WHEN: SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 14TH
(10:00 AM—5:00PM)
WHERE: BIG LAKE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY ROOM
EXHIBITS INCLUDE EARLY PHOTOS OF BIG LAKE AS A MILL TOWN, THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES (WALKER VALLEY, MONTBORNE, EHRLICH, THE FINN SETTLEMENT, BAKER HEIGHTS, AND BIG ROCK) AND SCHOOL CLASS PICTURES, AS WELL AS ARTIFACTS—REMNANTS OF BIG LAKE’S PAST.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY, TO REUNITE WITH FORMER CLASSMATES, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, SHARE STORIES PAST AND PRESENT, AND TOUR THE OLD MILL SITE.
THE EXHIBIT IS FREE, HOWEVER WE DO ACCEPT DONATIONS AT THE DOOR.
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE WILL BE THE NEW 2023 CALENDARS ($15.00), OUR BOOK IMAGES OF AMERICA—BIG LAKE VALLEY ($21.99) AND POSTCARDS AS WELL AS A SELECT NUMBER OF CALENDARS FROM THE PAST.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING BIG LAKE VALLEY HISTORY WITH YOU!
BLHS Annual Business Meeting
Board Meeting Agenda:
Welcome
Review the minutes of the last meeting
Treasurers report
Calendar Committee report
Report from Editor Davis--online inquiries and activity
2022 BLHS Biennial Exhibit—Status
Election of Officers—New Officers are: Kyle Hoffman, President; Lloyd Watkinson, Vice President; Pattie Hanstad Pleas, Secretary; Melba Hall, Treasurer/Historian
Other
Ajourn
Biennial Exhibit Committee Meeting
Final planning and organizing responsibilities for the exhibit.
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
Location: Big Lake Community Church
Business Agenda: Planning for the 2022 Biennial Exhibit. Calling all HISTORY BUFFS—those who are inquisitive, interested in exploring and probing, those who wish to protect, preserve and conserve; the BLHS is recruiting those willing and able to donate their time to help the BLHS prepare for their 2022 Biennial Exhibit.
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
WELCOME!
BLHS Annual Business Meeting—CANCELLED due to COVID 19 restrictions
7:00 PM
Big Lake Community Church
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
WELCOME!
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID 19 PANDEMIC
STAY AT HOME—BE HEALTHY, BE SAFE!
To the BLHS April Quarterly Meeting
New Meeting Time: 7:00 PM
Big Lake Community Church
The BLHS Board will evaluate month to month regarding a make-up meeting and the July annual membership meeting.
The Board will also determine by June 1 whether to move forward with our BLHS Biennial Exhibit scheduled for August 8 & 9
The BLHS Quarterly Meeting
Welcome!
To the BLHS 2020 Quarterly Meeting
6:00 PM
Big Lake Community Church
Discussion will include organizing the 2020 BLHS Exhibit, August 8th and 9th, as well as filling open positions on the board.
Ron Reinard will be our guest at the this month’s meeting, sharing information, as well as questions. His Grandfather Reinard built an iconic house in Walker Valley in 1907. His son Frank, lived in the house many years and built a detailed scale model of a futuristic city known as “Space City”. It attracted many curiosity seekers.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Calling all HISTORY BUFFS—those who are inquisitive, those interested in exploring and probing, those who wish to protect, preserve and conserve. The BLHS is recruiting both members and non-members interested in local history, especially Big Lake and the surrounding communities. You are encouraged to join an open discussion Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 6:00 PM in the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene. Normal formalities will be abandoned for this meeting so that we can have a roundtable discussion around the subject: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Please plan to attend this vitally important meeting so your thoughts are included in the discussion. The formal business meeting will be postponed until January 23, 2020.
BLHS 2019 Annual Business Meeting
Where: Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene
Business Agenda: Election of Officers and New Board Members; acceptance of revised bylaws.
Social Agenda (6:30): Dale Thompson will share stories of his childhood growing up in the Baker Heights/Big Rock area.
2018 Big Lake Historical Society Biennial Exhibit
Dates: August 11 & 12
Times: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
NEW Location: The Community Room at the new Big Lake Fire Station
Theme: How Timber and Mills Shaped the Big Lake Valley
The Big Lake Historical Society is presenting its biennial display at the new Big Lake Fire Department’s Community Room, across the road and opposite the Big Lake School at the north end of Big Lake. The event will be held Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12, 2018, from 10:00 AM-5:00 PM each day. The exhibit's theme is: “How Timber and Mills Shaped the Big Lake Valley”. Historical photos and artifacts will be displayed. At l:00 PM, Melba Hall, the Historian, will have a power-point presentation about early days. This will be followed at approximately 2:00 PM with Andrea Xaver leading a walking tour of old town Big Lake. Entry is free, but donations are appreciated. Big Lake Valley books will be available for purchase. Coffee and cookies will be offered as well as opportunities to sit and visit with friends and neighbors in this room with a view and comfortable setting. Please join us as we share the history of the Big Lake Valley. Parking is at the north side of the building, so as not to obstruct emergency vehicles and firefighters’ activities.
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
Big Lake Historical Society Annual Business Meeting
Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene
Join us Thursday July 26 at 6:00 PM for the annual business meeting including the election of officers and board members. Our guest speaker is David Granstrom, he will be sharing early stories of life in Finn Settlement. Following Dave's presentation there will be a time of discussion and sharing over coffee and cookies.
At 5:30 before the business meeting is called to order, those who are willing and able to help with the set-up of the display for the August exhibit will meet at the church to organize and plan.
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
Big Lake Historical Society met Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM and a short business meeting was held, with discussion centering on the date and location of the biennial display.
The business meeting was followed by a presentation by Jim Farmer, formerly of Montborne. Jim shared his research into the life of Nelson Bennett, best known for building the railroad tunnel through Stampede Pass. Bennett, next to Mortimer Cook, was most responsible for opening up Sedro-Woolley to settlement and commerce with the construction of the Fairhaven and Southern Railroad.
Jim also read a poem he had written of his memories of sounds while growing up at Montborne.
Washboard Memory
Walker Valley Farms
Garden, Orchard, Chickens
Couple cows for milk
Extra for neighbors four-bits a gallon
Thick cream on top.
Up and down the hill each morning
The Darigold truck rattled.
Empty cans for full at the stoops
Evening and morning milk for the creamery.
Gravity, chains, washboards, and milk cans
It’s a symphony from Grandmother’s yard.
Jim Farmer
April 2018
BLHS Quarterly Meeting
ANNOUNCING
BIG LAKE HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S
Quarterly Meeting
Thursday, January 25, 2018
Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene
6:00 PM. The meeting will be called to order and a short business meeting will convene and include reports and minutes. Also, the nomination of Dyrk Meyers to the board, and discussion of time and place for a special board meeting to consider tabled items from October meeting.
6:30 PM. The evening’s speaker is Deanna Ammons, Clear Lake and Day Creek historian, followed by open conversations about local history. Coffee and cookies will be served.
This is an open invitation to please join us in support of the Big Lake Historical Society.
For more information contact Trudi Davis at biglakehistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Big Lake History Exhibit
AUGUST 13 and 14—Plan to attend the Big Lake Historical Society’s Biennial Display at Big Lake Elementary School. This year’s display is dedicated to the presentation of our new book. Schedule includes:
Saturday, August 13
10:00 AM—Doors Open, Exhibits
11:00 AM—Meet the Authors and Book Signings
12:00 PM—PowerPoint Presentation with Melba Hall
1:00 PM—Tour of Day Lumber Company Town Site with Andrea Xaver
Exhibits, antique and classic cars, sharing history and stories, meet old and new friends, enjoy refreshments
5:00 PM—Doors Close
Sunday, August 14
12:00 PM—Doors Open, Exhibits
1:00 PM—Meet the Authors and Book Signings
2:00 PM—PowerPoint Presentation with Melba Hall
3:00 PM—Tour of Day Lumber Company Town Site with Andrea Xaver
Exhibits, antique and classic cars, sharing history and stories, meet old and new friends, enjoy refreshments
5:00 PM—Doors Close
Our new book is released!
Arcadia Publishing releases Images of America--The Big Lake Valley. Soon to be announced date and location of book signing and book promotion.
BLHS Spring Quarterly Meeting
Join us and help promote our new book, plan the 2017 Calendar, and prepare for the biennial Big Lake History Exhibit in August. We meet at the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene at DaLacy Lane and SR 9.
Quarterly Meeting
Please join us for our quarterly meeting held on Thursday, January 21 from 7:00PM to 8:30PM at the Big Lake Community Church of the Nazarene.
Point of discussion: An update from Arcadia on the progress of editing and publishing of the society's new book Images of America-The Big Lake Valley.