As you meander south from the beach, you walk on a trail between Lake Bertram and Long Lake.  Eventually you come to where Otter Creek exits Lake Bertram which is spanned by a concrete structure – a dam. This dam was constructed in 1942 by the U.S. Conservation Services and became under the control of the Minnesota Department of Conservation (now the D.N.R.).  Originally there was a concrete “Power House” located on the south end of the dam which electrically controlled the level of Lake Bertram by raising or lowering the two “stoplogs”.  Approximately 300 feet southwest of the dam is a flat area where the builders of the dam pitched their tents In those days workers often camped near their project to minimize cost and transportation. A capped well still exists in the area.  Annual fluxuation in the water level of Lake Bertram are so minimal that the dam in its present form serves an appropriate purpose.

Jim’s History Corner – Lake Ice

Over 100 years ago, before electricity and refrigeration, people used ice boxes with blocks of ice to keep many of their foods cool and safe. Many residents of Monticello and the surrounding area needed a fresh and available supply of  ice to provide their needs.

They were happy to have this supply within a horse and wagon ride away – the Bertram Chain of  Lakes. Actually, the lake most used was Long Lake. Under the south end of the lake there is a large spring that provided clean, fresh water to the lake and for this reason the ice during the winter was clear and fresh, also.

The west end of the lake currently has a boat landing which was the original entry point for the men who would do the cutting of the ice. The cutting itself wa

s quite unique – holes were drilled by an auger to make room for the saws which then cut the ice into chunks.

After being cut, the blocks were hauled by wagon to the ice house which was located near the beach on Bertram and east of the pump.

The ice was cut for many years from Long Lake and was a very renewable supply for the residents of the area. Packed in straw it could last through the summer.

I should also mention that over a hundred years ago there were very few trees and underbrush between the boat landing on Long Lake and the beach on Bertram. It was mostly pastureland. This made it a lot easier to haul the ice from Long Lake to the ice house by the Bertram beach.

Jim’s History Corner – The “Y’s” Men

As one walks the property of Bertram Lakes, a person will see several “plantation” pine trees.  These “plantation” pines were planted by a group of men from the New Hope Branch of YMCA.  This group is known as the “Y”’s Men (nice play on words).

These men were volunteers who conducted activities to help raise money for YMCA projects.  During the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s one of the major fundraisers was the sale of Christmas trees throughout the Twin Cities area.  In order to raise the number of trees needed, they established a planting program whereby they would plant thousands of seedlings each spring.  After a few years, the young trees were pruned into the shape of a Christmas tree.

In November, they would spend a week cutting and bundling the trees for sale.  These trees were much desired by the Cities people because of their freshness, color, and reasonable price.

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Jim’s History Corner – The Farms

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There were originally 9 farmsteads located on the Manitou Lakes property.  The farm lands were purchased either independently through the farmer or through the LeHigh Portland Cement Company.  A map of the locations will accompany this letter.

The only farmstead remaining is the house and barn which houses the
caretaker of the property. Many of the building were torn down including machine sheds, henhouses, granaries, silos and other out buildings.   Some were burned down as practice for the Monticello Fire Department.

Several stone/cement foundations can still be found on the property – remnants of an era past. It’s not hard to sit by some of these and reflect on the families of those who lived their days working, playing, laughing, crying and loving.

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George Bertram (Life in New York)

The namesake of Bertram Lakes was not a native Minnesotan.  George Bertram was born March 4, 1820 in Delaware County, New York.  His parents both immigrated from Scotland.

In 1833 he became an apprentice tailor, a career he would practice the rest of his life, although it would be interrupted by other endeavors.  In 1841 he married Julia Hamilton.  In the next several years he would father 2 sons and 2 daughters.

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Jim’s History Corner – The Tailor

George M. Bertram was born in 1820 in New York.  At the age of 13, he was apprenticed to Andrew Little, a tailor in New York to learn the trade.  He did well and in 1840 was released from his indenture by Mr. Little who stated that George proved to be “Honest, Truthful, of High Integrity, and Sober”.  George set up business as a tailor.

In 1846, Elias Howe invented the first workable sewing machine but it didn’t
make an impact until 1850.  At this time, George Bertram saw the “writing on the wall” and decided to move west. After helping to found the town Excelsior, he moved onto Monticello where he plied his tailoring business. One of his clients was “tip” Mealy who was providing uniforms for the newly formed Monticello Baseball Club.  From 1860 to 1867 he was also a representative of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.

Do you like these history tidbits from Jim?  Make sure to leave your comments below.  We love to hear from you!  Don’t forget to forward this tidbit to your friends and family members.  Together we can save this land!  We appreciate your support!

Jim’s History Corner – Schools

In 1874, Monticello was a very small village. The “Academy” serviced the school children of the town and the very immediate surrounding area. The rest of Monticello Township was serviced by rural schools.

The children around the Bertram Lakes Area attended two of these schools.  Either Prairie West School No. 6 or Cahill School No. 5.  Children who attended these schools usually walked to them.

Prairie West School still exists and is located on the north side of County Road 39, just west of the old Silver Springs Golf Club entrance.The small white building was remodeled into a home.  The Cahill School was torn down in the late 1970’s but was located on the west side of Cahill Ave, one block south of County 106.  

On a similar note – on the 1879 plat, the land east of Long Lake was designated as “school property” but was never used for a school.

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Jim’s History Corner – “Wright City”

In 1860, George Bertram was awarded 80 acres of land on the south end of Lake Pleasant (later named Bertram) and Lake Otter (later named  Long Lake).  It was here that he planned to establish a town called “Wright City”.  

A plan of the original town exists in the Wright County Historical Society in Buffalo.  Streets and avenues are arranged in the typical “block” fashion and named following the tradition of honoring figures, trees, and family names (Washington, Jefferson – Oak, Elm, Cherry – Alice, Jane, Julia).

A mill was proposed on Otter Creek and a Market Square was planned following the design of many other Minnesota towns. Bertram gambled that the new railroad would come out at or near “Wright City”, but instead it was routed near the Mississippi River through Monticello.

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