Mining for Cement

Mining for Cement

In 1950 the LeHigh Portland Cement Company of Minneapolis purchased the land on both sides of Long Lake and the land to the north of Mud Lake. They proceeded to mine the Mud Lake area for cement which in it’s fine powder form when mixed with sand, stone and water would form concrete used for construction.

When the mining played out they abandoned the area and in 1964 partially “donated” and sold the land to the YMCA to be used for recreational purposes.

Many local “kids” would hike or bike out to First Lake to go swimming and fishing and remember seeing the machinery north of Mud Lake.

There is a saying that “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. This is no less true today than when it was written.

It is nice to study the history of our area (Bertram Lakes) but we must be cautious when we do so. We cannot always look at history through our own eyes but we need to practice studying it through the eyes of the people who lived it.

When we look at the land, we must understand that between 1850 and even until the 1940’s most of the people did not have modern conveniences. They hand pumped water, used “outhouses”, rode horse drawn wagons to town, grew and gathered much of their food, made most of their clothes, used dirt/gravel roads and walked to school.

Conveniences like electricity, cars, radios and others were slow in developing and took time to impact the area.

So, it takes time to look at history this way but with practice it can be accomplished. The next time you are at the beach by Bertram Lake, pretend you are a member of a Sioux family gathering hazel nuts for the winter.