history

The firat meeting of the Association was held on April 3, 1949 at the Hotel Racine in Racine, WI. Those present were:  Mr & Mrs. Ray Behrens, Mr. & Mrs. G.H. Bergstrom, Mr. & Mrs. A.R. Carlson, Mr. Frank Hess, Mr. & Mrs. LeRoy Hess, Rev & Mrs. Lorenz Lamping, Mr. & Mrs. George Rausch and Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Traxel.  This represented 8 properties.  The dues at that time were $0.50 per person so a couple paid $1.00, an individual $0.50.

The first elected officers of the Association were:

President:  Mr. F.L. Lamping

Vice President: Mr. G.H. Bergstrom

Secretary/Treasurer:  Mrs. G.H. Bergstrom

Another meeting was held at the Lamping cottage on Boulder Lake on May 29th, 1949 when the charter for the Boulder Lake Private Homes Association was signed by the menbers and adopted. It was mentioned that the purpose of the Association should be to get to know your neighbors as well as to discuss the various mutual interests such as the lake level, vandalism, maintenance of the roads, water pollution, taxes, and bringing in electricity to the homes.  Except for the electrical lines, as of 1973 many of the same things were still being discussed. 

From the first meeting until the meeting in 1965, the annual meetings were held in April at one of these places - the Hotel Racine; Joe Deutsch Restaurant in Milwaukee; Boulevard Inn, Milwaukee; Ambassador Hotel, Milwaukee; and the YMCA in Milwaukee.  In 1965 meetings were moved to member homes on the lake. They were held either on a weekend near the 4th of July or Labor Day weekend.  In 1973 the meetings were moved to the Doty Town Hall as the membership was too large to be held at a home.  The meeting time was also changed to Memorial Day Weekend.

In 1963 the Association joined the Wisconsin Federation of Lake Property Owners.  It was felt that belonging to a statewide organization would be helpful.

In 1968 the Association looked into getting buoys put in the lake.  It was reported that each buoy would cost $24, and the state would assume half the cost.  Also in 1968, dues were raised to $2.00 per year.

Over the years, the lake level had been a main topic of discussion at the meetings.  In 1953, the State had determined what the lake level should. be. The dam was originally wood planks which sometimes unknown persons would remove.  In 1974, a more permanent fixed dam was constructed to maintain the level. 

This was the history of the Boulder Lake Private Homes Association from 1949 to 1973.

By:  Marilyn (Traxel) Burki