Lake Detroiters History :: "What goes around comes around, at least somewhat"

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What goes around comes around, at least somewhat

Lake Detroiters Association’s roots reach back almost 70 years.  A group of Detroit Lakes residents identifying themselves as the Detroit Lakes Property Owners Association, began meeting (and collecting dues) in 1944, finally preparing a detailed action plan in 1949.   Changing the organization’s name, then filing of Articles of Incorporation, Lake Detroiters Association, Inc. was officially established on March 4, 1950.    All funds and memberships of the predecessor organization were transferred to the new one. 

In reviewing old minutes and annual reports of LDA, I am struck by how today’s LDA organizational characteristics and programs are not so different from those of the organization in its formative years.  First of all, dedicated and effective leadership marked the early days of the organization, and that is clearly the case now.  For most of the 1950’s there were three officers and nine directors, nearly the same as the present board.    The directors in the 1950’s were geographically distributed and identified by the beach they represented, just as current board members are drawn from all shores of the lakes (though less now is made of their representation of a specific beach identity).  

By 1953, the LDA membership committee had  morphed into a beach captain system featuring 25 zones;  we currently have more than 50 but many of the interesting old beach names have survived - White Clover, Wildwood, Burritt, Nodaway, Long Bridge, Nason Bay, Pokegama, and others. 

“Active” memberships in those years ranged from 120 to 135 households, not so different than today, though a much higher percentage of possible members at the time.   But  in 1951 there were 7 “Associate” members (living near, but not on the shores of the lake),  and 32 “Sustaining” Members, local downtown businesses including Norby's, the banks, auto dealers, and hardware stores. In a nod to the past, in 2013 LDA Directors began a campaign to gain support from local businesses and other friends of Detroit Lake.

By the way, dues in 1950's were $5 for Active members, $2 for Associates and $10 for “Sustainers”.  Given that a 1950 $5 bill is worth about $45 today, LDA’s current regular dues are a real bargain.     We are closer to the inflation rate with the new sponsors who are being asked to pay $100 to show their support.    

LDA in the 1950’s had an elaborate committee structure; in addition to the 25 beach captains, there were 11 committees with a total of 52 committee-members, though there was some overlap in those roles.  I think it is a fair statement that more members in those days were involved in LDA leadership and activities.   

We share many of our current LDA concerns with our predecessors.   Last year’s low water level was a problem for many Lake Detroiters and there were some who urged that “something should be done”.   Throughout the 1950’s, LDA’s Water Level Regulation committee agitated for management of water levels at the Dunton Locks dam – they wanted low water in the winter to lessen shoreline erosion, and high water in the summer to facilitate boat navigation.    (I'll write more of this some time – suffice it to say LDA caused some lake level management attempts but they didn't work).     

Just as we worry about water quality problems now,  in the 1950’s LDA's  Sanitation and Pollution Committee’s campaign focused on upstream “polluters”  -  their work led to the city re-routing milk processing plant  waste from the storm-sewer  dumping into Detroit Lake to the sanitary sewer system (to be sent downstream to Lake Salle!).  Their efforts also resulted in construction of a sediment basin for a storm-sewer leading to the Pelican River.   The Weed and Algae Committee sponsored and supported chemical treatment and mechanical harvest, and explored dredging to remove silt and weeds.  The Fish and Game Committee's work yielded more frequent and accurate fish surveys on Detroit, and a special stocking program using LDA funds.  

Other committees of the 1950’s included Watercraft Regulation, Property Protection, Utilities and Taxes and Insect and Land Weed Control.   Their accomplishments included dredging, signposting, and lighting the channel, a mosquito eradication program, a vandalism and burglary reward system, and enhanced law enforcement to control bad boating behavior.

So LDA’s current mission “to promote the protection and enhancement of Detroit Lake has a solid basis in the organization’s history.   

Dick Hecock

June 2, 2013