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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGolf course history f/LE: 260,5-040A6 oPC//A-te.A /2/> , 5, an .sem^il 12, 1971 I r to,:a ad a letter from Roland. 3erg' nd Chairman of the Orono Golf Promotion Committee, requesting in- formation regarding the history of the golf course. Roland wanted to write the history, but as I delved into old records and abstracts I found items of interest that I wanted preserved for my own children and therefore decided to write the history, giving a copy to Roland to use as he saw fit. After considerable study and thought about the matter the decisien was made to present the material in three parts : first, a summary of the ownership of the land, secondly the story of how the golf course was started and developed, and thirdly,a series of notes on items of interest that could be aussmented by any individul who had an "Orono Golf" experience. It is obviously very difficult for me to write the story about Orono Golf Course without the frequent use of- the personal pronoun; it will be used as sparingly as possible, but will not be avoided where required to present facts and items of interest. Leo J. Feser, May 1, 1971. /d 4,- e.4 //re s 6 1.7 � � � � •� / -1 i t S ` A SHORT HISTORY of ORONO GOLF CURSE Part I--- The land and its ownership. The rolling hills of Orono were formed in the most recent period of geological time, starting about 60,000,000 years ago. Geologists tell us that three great glaciers swept dawn from Canada,pushing everything along with and ahead of them, eventually depositing the debris over a great part of northern United States where it was left to weather, erode and finally support plant life in a climate as we now know it. The hilltop at 7 tee affords an excellent view of an area which less than a century ago was dotted with lakes and ponds. The late Mr. Frank Walsh, former owner of the property, once told me about a beaver dam that was built about forty yards back and to the left of the fifth green. This dam backed up the water forming a pond that extended over most of thefourth and fifth fairways. Those people who remember Orono acte r e big rainstorm in 1951 have a pretty good picture of how this area lookad 'int-he days of the beaver! The first occupants (sot owners) of the land before Lr..: coming of the white man were India of the Sioux and Chippewa tribes. These tripes were very unfriendly toward each other and tne/ playeci games much more rough _ One can easily imagine a S;•ux brave standing on the site of 9 tee taki.q o. pot shot with a number two arrow at some .poor Chippewa who is trying out his 1, _a the little lake that extended around id cont of what is now the 2nd tee and off over the lowland to the south. There was no Sioux word for "Fore!" The first "owners" of Orono were the king and, queen of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella. The Indians didn't know about awning land; they ;ust used it. Oror :s in that great tract of land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mou::z•liii , known historically as the Louisiana Purchase. This land was used as a fort of political pawn by both France and Spain until Napoleon Bonaparte settled the, - r - business by selling it to the United States. President Jefferson bought what was to be the Orono Public Golf Course for less than four cents an acre -- a total of less than two dollars! Minnesota was still a territory in 1856 when Mr. Edward F. Walsh applied for a patent covering considerable more land than that used by the golf course. The patent was granted to him in 1859 when the State of Minnesota was less than two years old. It is interesting to note that the document conveying the land to Mr. Walsh was personally signed by president James Buchanan. Mr. Spencer Smith, grandson of the original owner who still lives on a part of that property, has that original document in his possession. The late Frank Walsh, son of Edward F. Walsh, decided to sell the property, but failing to find a buyer for the entire tract decided to plat the acreage into lots. This was done and the plat was dated March 14, 1924, a rather significant date as we shall note later. Streets and avenues were platted both sides of the Orono Orchards Road. At rus point the story of the golt cot.rse becomes more closely interwoven with land and ownership, so the latter part of the narrative will deal more fully with the details of ownership. At this point is _s well to note that all lots and street:. originally platted south and west of the Orono Orchards road were taken out of plat in February 1930. Orono Golf Course Incorporated was formed in April 1955 with all stock wholly owned by the Feser family. Insofar as the property abstract was long and complicated, the Corporation applied for and received a Torrens Title Certificate. Acting upon a mandate expressed by the voters of the Village in the govember 1967 election, the council exercised its option to purchase the property. The final payment and acquisition of full title by the Village is scheduled for July 1, 1972 - 2 - Part 2 --- The conception and construction of the golf course. What germ of thought grew into Orono Golf Course? It was brought about by friends who pressured me for a chance to play at Woodhill Country Club. Employed b Woodhill in 1921 as "greenkeeper"II was not in a position where I could invite my friends to play golf there. Even the members who brought guests to play at Woodhill were required to pay green fees; employees were given playing privileges' but hardly the right to bring in "guests" to play for free! (The only public golf courses at that time were Glenwood (now Theodore Wirth) and Columbia, both Minneapolis municipal courses, and both having sand greens. (it was obvious that a public golf course was in demand in the area, but it was not until the winter of 1923-24 that it occurred to me that I would be involved in the matter. By no means certain that I would devote my life to greenkeeping, the decision was made to ask the Woodhill people for a three month leave of absence to be used for travel and study. Orono golfers owe a debt of gratitude to the then Woodhill officials who granted the request, for among the many places visited on that journey were a number of golf courses in the Pacific Coast states. Public golf was getting quite popular in the Los Angeles area, and it didn't require a great deal of insight to understand that golf was going to be a most popular game for people of all economic circumstances. The salary paid to a greenkeeper in 1924 wouldn't build a putting green today, much less pay for the land to build it on. What I didn't have was money---well, about $500.00 in a savings account. If a golf course for the public in Orono was to be my doings, it would have to be a bit unusual in more ways than one. The idea was very interesting, however, and I returned home in early March of 1924 determined to fully investigate the possibility and act if at all possible. Most of the land where the golf course now is was hay and pastureland in the early 1920s. My youngest brother, the late Karl Feser had taken quite an interest in golf, but was not one of those who asked permission to play at Woodhill. Armed with a shovel and a few tomato cans he "borrowed" some of Mr. Walsh's pasture, planted tr tomato cans in the most likely spots and shared his so called "Woodpile" country club with his friends and the cows. All hazards on the "Woodpile" course were strictly. natural. It was Karl who dreamed up the possibilities of a golf course on this land. As pointed out earlier, the property had been platted, mapped and registered on March 14th, and was advertised for sale by a Minneapolis real estate company, Olson and Berdan. Response to the advertising was very weak. The Mr's. Walsh, Olson and Berdan were becoming quite concerned when I approached them with a proposition. (Would they consider letting me buy a lot at a time over a period of years, in the meantime letting me use whatever lots were needed to start a golf course? If the venture held some promise • of success, would they concentrate their sales efforts to the north side of the Orono Orchards Road, leaving the opportunity to develop the golf course on the south side? If they would agree to the proposition, I would buy one lot on the north aide just across from the 9th (now 5th) green and construct a small building to house the concession and golf shop. They agreed. With Karl's help I laid out the golf course. It was not what is there today, tho roughly, and I do mean roughly, it followed the same general pattern. On a day in late April a man drtving a Ford model T wouthward on the Orono road pulled up sharp to watch a "crazy" man pushing a lawn mower around in a hay field south of the road. The "c-azy" man told me later that he did feel a bit foolish, mowing in a hay field with a hand mower. He was Spencer Smith, starting construction of the then 9th green. All of the original greens at Orono were built on locations where the original hay or pasture sod could be refined to form a crude putting green. This was accomplished by mowing, top- dressing, seeding, topdressing again and again until the surface was smooth enough to permit putting with a least a 107. chance of the ball ending up near the hole. We have often wondered what Grandfather Walsh might have thought had he been able to see his grandson pushing a new-fangled mowing machine down by the beaver dam! - 4 - While Spencer, assisted by-Karl on off-school days and evenings, was busy building greens, the other Charter Member of the golf construction "crew", Frank Eisinger, was building fairways. Again the basic sod was disturbed as little as possible. Ftank dragged off rocks, trees, brush, everything that he could hitch his team to, following this with his horse-drawn disk which pulverized the high • Spots. This was ftrlfhwedby dragging a "planker" over the ground, and the final procedure was rolling with a horse drawn roller. No seed was used on the fairways; indeed no seed was ever used on the fairways at Orono except later in areas where grading alterations were made. The native quack grass, bluegrass and white clover eventually took over providing a very drought-resistant turf as later years would proven • The greens had to be watered, however : :.A.Arater tank was bought and mounted on one of Frank's wagons. Not having a well on Eke property, Prank would take • the water wagon home with. him in the evening . fix. it frog.iL is well with the assistance of a wind milt._ pull..it back the next mornit5 ezA4 Bosh the water care- fully on the "greens". It worked out fairly uel1. Orono 1/1$414 heNfas have existed if .it were not for the hard. and sk,Elful labor .ghat-Ft • Ginger applied in those difficult but exciting days. As soon as the grass an the fairways was strong enough and long enough to mow, Frank did the lob with his team and three fairway mowers, very sim,-Amr to the fairway mowing units now attached to tractors. Mowing fairways and rough with horses was common ps a dice in the. 'Arty 1920s. The first tractor mowing of fairways was at Minikanda in 1915, folLawel iy'*bat at Woodhill in 1921. Teeing grounds were not terribly imports nc at e4ixrkf•(h'ono• Wooden or plastic tees were unknown so the ball was teed up on a I.E'tbie mound of wet sand. The markers were put ikely spot on the fairway w.._:. the "tee-stand" nearby. A tee stand was a wooer or metal device that held a pail o taster over a sand container. The player tipped a bit water onto the sand, took up a couple of fingers full, built a Little tee about half the size of his ball, placed the ball carefully on top, and--wham! c-- There can be little doubt that any golf course anywhere was "constructed" as quickly as Orono! By July 4th the little "golf house" was ready, putting cups and flags were set, tee stands arranged and Orono was open for play. Tickets were sold on opening day for 350, and the first adverse comment came rather early in the morning from one male golfer who stopped to have a coke. Wiping the grime from his face while looking as tho he had just emerged from a torture chamber, he muttered, "Mister, why don't you get a horse and a gun?" This for all of our efforts and 350! But is was not all that bad. So great was the demand for a place .to play golf that over 1,000 rounds were played that year before the season ended. The year 1925 was one of continued struggles tho improvements were made all along and despite the condition of the course the- play was doubled. At this point much credit must be given to the Woodhill Country Club officials of the time. It • -was obvious that these men were in complete sympathy with my desire to provide a golf course where the average wage earner could afford to play. Permission was given to borrow tools and to buy seed, fertilizer and top-dressing materials from the club at cost. The skilled workmen at Woodhill were able to give a lift when time permitted. The trust that the Woodhill officials had in me was far too valuable to violate. I look back with great pride and satisfaction to the fact that when the books were balanced each year they were found to be a bit in favor of my sponsors. . The present clubhouse was built in 1926 and my bride of June moved in with me in early July. It was to be our home for the next 38 years. Our business got out of the red' that year, and remained in the black for the next eight years until the devastating drought of the early 1930s. The drought period will be dealt with a bit later. The two inch well at the house was drilled just before the house was built and a large pressure tank was installed in the basement. From this tank a two inch pipe ran out to a standpipe that was equipped with a quick opening valve. Frank Eisinger could now pull his tank wagon under the standpipe and fill it with water in a few minuted! With additional water we were now able to construct some teeing areas. It was about this time that Frank Anderson came to work with us. Until 1929 lots were acquired at the rate of two or three each year. A system was worked out wherein we could buy two lots whenever enough cash was available to pay for one. This was done by simply mortgaging the two lots for the price of one, thus giving the mortgagee good security for his loan. During these transactions the help of Kenneth Bollum of the State Bank of Long Lake and the late Alvin Frick of the Wayzata State Bank was greatly appreciated. These two men helped us thru many difficult days. (Mr. Frick was partially rewarded for his interest when he got a hole in one on the old 7 green!) At this point in the history of Orono a unique personality entered the picture. He was the late Albert H. Crosby, treasured personal friend, Woodhill member and Orono resident. One could go into considerable detail as to how he approached us with an offer to help but help he did by making an ample mortgage loan that enabled us to buy the rest of the required lots and have some money leStfor real improvements. He also arranged to have the land taken out of plat. The present Orono Golf Course is somewhat of a monument to the memory of Albert Crosby. The old water wagon was discarded in 1929 and a system of piping was put in pro- viding water to all the greens and tees. It was based on the water supply contained in the swamp lying west and south of present 2 tee. A powerline bordering the present 2nd fairway supplied the pump located down to the right of the 2nd tee. This served very well until the drougnt of the early 1930s. Slowly as the source of water failed, we had to rely more and more on the little well at the home. Before the drought passed the only green grass at Orono was on the putting greens, and they were barely kept alive. The high fairways were as hard as bricks and the low peat fairways cracked open wide enought to swallow a golf ball. For three years drought and .=epression held us in the red, but rains finally came, and the depression eased a bit and golfers returned. It was truly remarkable that the tough old fairway grass retained life thru all the heat and drought. - 7 - Good years continued until 1942 when the war took its toll. The gross income for golf and concession in 1943 was $745.90; in 1944 it was $573.15. The course was "maintained" during those years by Ruth and Bob, both barely teen agers. Immediately after V.J. day, August 15, 1945 gas rationing was lifted and golfers swarmed back to play on what was left of Orono. The damage done to the course was repaired, extra tees were built, the 4th and 5th fairways were raised and the ponds were dug to supply the fill. The deep well was drilled in 1954 and the water system extended. Play increased so much during the post-war years that the Orono facilities were • no longer adequate to meet the requirements of so many golfers. The decision to have the Orono course sponsor a new one was carried out and thus the Medina Public Golf Course came into being. For many years our score card carried the slogan "The little golf course with the faaiiy atmosphere". This apt phrase not only applied to the fact that many families from grandparents thru grandchildren played their golf at Orono, but the operation was' strictly a family affair. Florence played a most essential part in the operation, being in fact office and pe_sonnel manager. Ruth and Pat managed the concession at various times for several years as wel.. as oftimes lending a hand at the grounds maintenance work. Bob and Dave were both indispensable it. the operation, literally cutting their teeth in the golf business. Both are still actively engaged in golf, Bob as president and manager of Medina Golf Course and Dave as Superintendent of the Honeywell CountryAub. Enough has been said of my own activities except to say that health problems necessitated a •zove to a more gentle climate. In 1964, exactly _orty years after the founding of Oronc golf course, we turned the management over to Tom Wasgatt who lived in the old home until It was sold to the Village. Part 3---Notes of Interest Orono Golf Course, originallYcalled Orono Orchards Golf Course, was the first - 8 - privately owned public golf course in the state of Minnesota. It was also the first public golf course in the state to have grass greens, for all municipal courses had sand greens in 1924. At one time Orono had 11 sand traps. It was impossible to maintain them properly. Our golfers didn't like to rake out footprints in the sand. In addition to ordinary farming activities the Welshes had an extensive fruit and berry business. Apple orchards extended over considerable acreage on both sides of what is now the Orono Orchard road, hence the sub-divisTow name of Orono Orchards. There were a lot of granite and limestone rocks in the pastureland that had to - be dug up and removed in construction days. One limestone near 5 green was jutting about one foot out of the ground. Frank Eisinger decided to dig it out, having no idea of its size. When he finally got it out, he decided to put it up near the entrance to the old golf house. The sign was painted on it and it remained there until it was moved to its present location. /Despite the fact that at one time the golf course-hadf--the ntokname.=af,v"Coronary Hills" only one person died of a heart attack while-playing gabf: there. With the exception of two of the drought-depression years and two of the war years, public liability insurance was carried by the owners.• Not a single claim was filed against the owners during forty years of operation. One of the unusual "events" that took place at Orono was 'the fastest rounds of golf every played". Two teams, each composed of six or eight men, I don't recall exactly, took part. The idea was to see which team could get a ball around the nine holes in the least time. Players were posted at strategic locations where they ex- pected to be close to where the ball landed. Each player after hitting the ball dashed over to another pre-determined position where he would again hopefully receive the ball for another shot. The ball had to be holed at each green from which it was - 9 - thrown or carried to the player on the next tee. Both teams got the ball. around in a matter of minutes--I don't recall the time. I do recall that most of the participants were "bushed' when they got in and decided they could do without another "event" of that nature. According to good authority the last wild bear shot in Hennepin County was killed in a tree to the right of a point half way up the hill'-on the 2nd fairway. In•'addition to my immedriate� fa uidyG and the people already,mentioned in the history, Karl Feser, Frank Eisinger, Spencer Smith, Albert Crosby, Frank Anderson, Frank Walsh and Olson and Berdan, Kenneth Bollum and Alvin Frick, there- were a .lot of other people who because of their special interest or service helped to make Orono Golf Course the success that it The following.__=ze to mind, and there are no doubt omissions in the list due to some loss of memory: :_rs. Albert Crosby, Norman Clark, Charles C. Bovey, Frank Heffelfinger, Philip Little, Jr. , Tony Feser, Mike Feser, Frank Thomas, Walter and Laverne Olson, Roland and Esther Berglund, Harold ineNbta`Gerber. EllavNelson, Leona Neilson, Tom Wasgatt, Earl Maxwell, Pete Rettinger, MargeTiiingeria Rob,Eisinggt,e Doug_Clark. and M.G. Gullixsonice' _ _ :_ _ • �- • 4 • i0,: Western Hennepin County Pioneers Association •r"s e3 S .l. 7 - 1. T ~ -- 7...;,,,,,r,,,,!,:1:4„ a k i° a�,t ma8 , a .„w wr .0 — ir k .. OLD C INSOL L a ,` t-�= ) } - r Established 1907 N Volume 150 Winter 2009-2010 This publication is presented periodically to update and inform our members. Founded in 1907, WHCPA HCPA was formed from the earlier "Territorial Pioneers of Hennepin County. The first meeting place was the Stevens House in Minneapolis. Later, the Association held the annual meetings at the Bederwood Temple on the east shore of Stubbs Bay, Lake Minnetonka. WHCPA's constitution, adopted August 12, 1908, states our mission in part, "is to preserve a record in the lives of the Territorial Pioneers of the County and as far as maybe practicable assure the preservation and care of such places, articles, portraits, paintings, manuscripts, publications, etc. as may be of historic value." Upgrades at Museum Property e d iii. itt' r s i .''''''' F$ igx New WHCPA Museum accessible entrance and parking lot. Not since the WHCPA acquired the old (constructed in 1917 with an addition in 1937) decommissioned Long Lake Elementary School building in 1968 have we seen so much change to our campus. If you've driven by or, better yet, stopped in, you know what I'm talking about. Herewith, a bit of an update to fill you in on what's been going on. As you know, the taking by MnDot of the carriage house part of our property resulted in our having enough money to purchase from Art and Jim Loosen their parcel adjacent to our property to the south. So in a way, MnDot precipitated the changes, which likely couldn't have occurred otherwise. Some good has come out of our loss. Needing space to display the displaced carriage house artifacts, we commenced a capital campaign in 2006. We set our sights high -- dreaming not only of an addition to our existing building, but also improvements to the grounds and to the old school building. While we felt fortunate to have raised over $300,000 before the economy took a dip (we carry on quietly working on fundraising, though, and continue to receive donations and still have our sights on a building addition), we realized that perhaps it would be prudent to tackle some of the planned renovations at the current time and put the building project on hold. To oversee these renovations, board member Jim Dillman volunteered to act as general contractor, a task that no other board member felt competent to undertake. So we're grateful for Jim's help in this manner. Doing thus and with his many contacts in the community, Jim was able to save us a good deal of money. The project began with Jim applying for and receiving a grant from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to construct a green parking lot. The flat, grassy area between the museum building and Highway 12 has always been an overflow parking area but could be rather soggy in spring and fall, resulting in stuck cars on more than one occasion. The green parking lot will alleviate this problem. The area was graded and a base of crushed gravel was topped with a gridwork of rigid plastic panels which in turn were filled with soil and planted with grass seed. The gridwork provides stability and the gravel base helps prevent water runoff. Our thanks to the MCWD for funding this project. Other renovations that occurred early on include closing off the driveway west of the building, installing drain tile and raising the grade to divert water away from the building. Electrical service, sewer and water lines — perhaps old enough to warrant historic status — were upgraded. The front door — that is, the one that might be called the true front door—the one at the top of the steep flight of stairs— was replaced. The old door was mighty drafty and was beginning to show its age. The new door, with side windows, lets in a lot more light, making the entryway an attractive and inviting spot. New lights were installed in the stairway and in the kitchen and the island counter in the kitchen was moved to an inline wall, making the room much more useful. Probably the most noticeable and most functional change has been the new entryway. The notion was to eliminate the short flight of stairs down to the ground floor. This was accomplished by removing the existing entry, lowering the grade and constructing a spacious new entry at the kitchen/archives level. A new sidewalk dispels any question of where the entry is. Jim also designed the rerouting of the driveway to the south of the log cabin school house and a reconfiguration of the parking lot, which has made the cabin feel more a part of the layout. We're pleased to have an improved level parking lot and freshly — paved driveway as the existing surfaces were in dangerously decrepit shape. These improvements have brought many favorable comments as the fresh look makes it feel as though "someone lives here again", in the words of one visitor. Do come by and let us know what you think. As I said, it's been years since any major improvements have been undertaken here, and it was high time to have taken the plunge. Our many generous donors have made this possible, for which we are exceedingly grateful, we are constantly reminded that our greatest resource is the support of our members and friends. Yes our archives and artifacts are precious and irreplaceable, but without the support of the community this organization would not—flourish. Jim has passed on a list of people and companies who have worked to make the improvements possible, often donating time and materials or billing at reduces rates. Ron Beatty, Attorney, worked with us in our negotiations with MnDot and the Loosens. Mark Gronberg, Gronberg and Associates, did all the survey work. Don Baird of Schoening Excavating did site work. Members of Boy Scout Troop 507 moved artifacts. Members of Boy Scout Troop 206 laid the gridwork on the parking lot. Bob Ahlstrom designed and built the new entryway. Bob along with Joe Merz and Joe's brother worked on installing the new front door, installing sheetrock and painting. Steve Schmit helped Bob, and also did plumbing work. Bob along with Bob Steffel removed three maple trees, with Emery Tree Service grinding out the stumps. Bob had an assist with the entry from Don Ahlstrom. Larry Groth of Groth Sewer and Water did the sewer and water work. John of All Star Electrial performed electrical work. Katie Dillman helped along the way in most every aspect of the project. Scott McKowndid the sheetrock taping. John Dunn of Dunn Bros. Painting donated time and materials to paint the new entry, inside and out. DMJAsphalt installed curb and pavement. Neaton Bros. Co. installed the silt fence and mulched the green parking lot. Brian Kerber of the Lawn Firm did the hydroseeding. Kelley and Kelley laid sod. Dan Hutchson, board member, installed retaining walls and helped with the green parking lot. §§§ A BIT OF LOCAL GOLF COURSE HISTORY By Leo & Bob Feser With comments by Steve Kelley All of us who have lived around here long enough have lifetimes of bright memories to share-memories of growing up, working, and growing old in this neck of the woods. As you know, The WHCPA is a depository of a good many of those memories, but we are always appreciative of additional bits of history that come our way. We were delighted, therefore, to receive from „ Bob Feser recently a fat envelope stuffed with .r pictures and his remembrances of his family's career in the golf course business. In searching the WHPCA archive files to see if there was-further particulars on the Fesers to � flesh out this article, we did, indeed, come upon a richly detailed account on Orono Golf Course history written by Leo in 1971. We P thought it all made captivating reading — of someone being in the right place at the right time- and believe you'll feel the same way. In Bob Feser at Orono Golf Course 1942 or 1943 the recollections that follow, Bob's words are in regular type, Leo's are italicized. Bob Feser: "In 1955 I was working at theme Denver Country Club in Colorado. Late that summer my dad, Leo Feser, along with my brother Dave came to Denver with a proposal. He informed me that he had an option to purchase the Farm in Medina and would like to build another golf course. At this point I digress to tell a little about my father Leo. As a young 1 child he was stricken with polio (in those A days referred to as infantile paralysis). He was unable to walk for about 3 years until Dr. Abbott took his case and through the E , rtr3 l rta1 use of braces and therapy was able to begin walking again. During this time, Albert Crosby of the Crosby Milling family Spurzem Dairy Barn now on Baker National Golf Course and who was the same age as Leo used built about 1890. A remnant of a past era that guards the to pick him up in his pony cart and take left size of the green on hole #1 of the lake course. him for rides. They became life-long friends. In the early 1920's Leo was in the apple orchard pruning and spraying business and had acquired considerable expertise of horticultural practices. Charles C. Bovey, an executive of Washburn Crosby Co. (from which WCCO got its call letters) and a founding member of Woodhill Country Club, offered Leo the job of Greenskeeper, a position he held for 30 years. Under Leo's care, the golf course became one of the Midwest's finest country club courses. Woodhill, designed by the famous golf course architect, Donald Ross, and constructed in the years of WWI, was in rather poor condition at the time Leo took over its care. Though Ross had laid out the course beautifully, it had few trees, many boulders protruding out of fairways, bad turf on the greens, and other problems. Among additional improvements Leo made on the course, he developed a new strain of bent grass called Woodhill Bent. Jack Nicklaus, who played the course in an exhibition round, said the greens were "The best he had ever played on". During those early days at Woodhill, Leo was courting Florence Ice, later my mother. Florence's father was Charles Ice who was the blacksmith in Wayzata and later in Excelsior. His father was Charles Ice Sr. who had fought under General Sherman's command during the Civil War. He was from Kentucky, and upon returning home after being badly wounded at the battle of Refsaca, Georgia, he found that he was very unpopular with his neighbors because they felt he had fought for the "wrong side". He was said to have stated "I'm going to get just as damn far from this place as I can" and he moved to Minnesota and settled on land which later became Dunwoody Farms and later still, Woodhill Country Club. As a young man, Leo was quite ambitious and decided to buy what was then one of the apple orchards he had earlier cared for, a parcel called Orono Orchards." Leo Feser's comments: "The first "owners" of this land were the king and queen of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella. The Indians didn't know about owning land: they just used it. Orono lies in that great tract of land between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains known historically as the Louisiana Purchase This land was used as a fort of political pawn by both France and Spain until Napoleon Bonaparte settled the business by selling it to the United States. President Jefferson bought what was to be Orono Public Golf Course for less than four cents and acre—a total of less than two dollars! Minnesota was still a territory in 1856 when Mr. Edward F. Walsh applied for a patent covering considerably more land than that used by the golf course The patent was granted to him in 1859 when the State of Minnesota was less than two years old It is interesting to note that the document conveying the land to Mr. Walsh was personally signed by President James Buchanan. The late Frank Walsh, son of Edward F. Walsh, decided to sell the property, but failing to find a buyer for the entire tract decided to plat the acreage into lots. This was done and the plat was dated March 14,1924. What germ of thought grew into Orono Golf Course? It was brought about by friends who pressured me for a chance to play at Woodhill Country Club. As Greens keeper, I was not in a position where I could invite my friends to play golf there. Even the members who brought guests to play at Woodhill were required to pay green fees: employees were given playing privileges but hardly the right to bring in "guests"to play for free! The only public golf courses at that time were Glenwood (now Theodore Wirth) and Columbia, both Minneapolis municipal courses, and both having sand greens. It was obvious that a public golf course was in demand in the area, but it was not until the winter of I. �; =t���� , �a tip _. 1923-24 that it occurred to me that I would be � -' ""`�,,,. involved in the matter. By no means certain that I 1�►, �, , � ,\{$ would devote my life to greens keeping, the decision 1\11 l ' was made to ask the Woodhill people for a three 1 ' \i v month leave of absence to be used for travel and study. Orono golfers owe a debt of gratitude to the ? ``' then Woodhill officials who granted the request, for 11 among the many places visited on that journey were a i number of golf courses in the Pacific Coast states. , Public golf was getting quite popular in the Los ';,jAngeles area, and it didn't require a great deal of { Alinsight to understand that golf was going to be a most tie ry , popular game for people of all economic a .1 circumstances. of --1:t. If agolf course for the public in Orono was to be r� � tt�i, fi my doings, it would have to be a bit unusual in more ' ways than one The idea was very interesting, Cr% however, and I returned home in early March of 1924 determined to fully investigate the possibility and act if Leo Feser-Founder of Orono Golf at all possible. Course 1923 - 1924. Photo from Most of the land where the golf course now is was hay the 1916 Wayzata High School and pastureland in the early 1920s. My youngest Annual Yearbook. brother, the late Karl Feser had taken quite an interest in golf, but was not one of those who asked permission to play at Woodhill Armed with a shovel and a few tomato cans he "borrowed" some of Mr. Walsh's pasture, planted the tomato cans in the most likely spots and shared his so called "Woodpile" country club with his friends and the cows. All hazards on the "Woodpile" course were strictly natural. It was Karl who dreamed up the possibilities of a golf course on this land As pointed out earlier, the property had been platted, mapped and registered, and was advertised for sale by a Minneapolis real estate company, Olson and Berdan. Response to the advertising was very weak. Walsh, Olson, and Berdan were becoming quite concerned when I approached them with a proposition. Would they consider letting me buy a lot at a time over a period years, in the meantime letting me use whatever lots were needed to start a golf course They agreed With Karl's help I laid out the golf course. It was not what is there today, though roughly, and I do mean roughly, it followed the same general pattern. On a day in late April of 1924, a man driving a Ford model T southward on the Orono road pulled up sharp to watch a "crazy"man pushing a lawn mower around in a hayfield south of the road The "crazy"man told me later that he did feel a bit foolish, mowing in a hayfield with a hand mower. He was Spencer Smith, starting construction of the then 9th green. Spencer was the grandson of Edward Walsh and lived on part of his grandfather's property. We often wonder what grandfather Walsh might have thought had he been able to see his grandson pushing a newfangled mowing machine across the fields While Spencer, assisted by Karl on off-school days and evenings, was busy building greens, the other Charter Member of the golf construction "crew'; Frank Eisinger, was building fairways. The basic sod was disturbed as little as possible. Frank dragged off rocks, trees, brush, everything that he could hitch his team to, following this with his horse — drawn disk which pulverized the high spots. This was followed by dragging a "planker" over the ground, and the final procedure was rolling with a horse drawn roller. No seed was used on the fairways: indeed none was ever used on the fairways at Orono except later in areas where grading alterations were made. The native quack grass, bluegrass and white clover eventually took over providing a very drought—resistant turf as later years would prove. The Orono Golf Course would never have existed if it were not for the hard and skillful labor that Frank Eisinger applied in those difficult but exciting days. As soon as the grass on the fairways was strong enough and long enough to mow, Frank did the job with his team and three fairways mowers, very similar to the fairway mowing units now attached to tractors. Mowing fairways and rough with horses was common practice in the early 1920's. The first tractor mowing of fairways was at Minikanda in 1919, followed by Woodhill in 1921. There can be little doubt that any golf course anywhere was "constructed" as quickly as Orono! By July 4‘h the little "golf house" was ready, putting cups and flags were set, tee stands arranged and Orono was open for play. Tickets were sold on opening day for $ .35. So great was the demand for a place to play golf that over 1, 000 rounds were played that year before the season ended The present club house was built in 1926 and my bride of June moved in with me in early July. It was to be our home for the next 38 years. . And it was here that Ruth was born in 1928 and Bob in 1930. Our business got out of the red that year. Until 1929 lots were acquired at the rate of two or three each year. A system was worked out wherein we could buy two lots whenever enough cash was available to pay for one This was done by simply mortgaging two lots for the price of one, thus giving the mortgagee good security for his loan. During these transactions the help of Kenneth Bollum of the State Bank of Long Lake and Alvin Frick of the Wayzata State Bank was greatly appreciated These two men helped us thru many difficult days. (Mr. Frick was partially rewarded for his interest when he got a hole on one on the old 7 green!) At this point in the history of Orono Golf Course a unique personality offered his assistance. He was the late Albert H. Crosby, treasured personal friend, Woodhill member and Orono resident One could go into considerable detail as to how he approached us with an offer to help but help he did by making an ample mortgage loan that enabled us to buy the rest of the required lots and have some money left for real improvements. He also arranged to have the land taken out of plat The present Orono Golf Course is somewhat of a monument to the memory of Albert Crosby. Good years continued until 1942 when the war took its toll The gross income for golf and concessions in 1943 was $745.90; in 1944 it was $573.15. The course was "maintained"during those years by Ruth and Bob, both barely teen agers. Immediately after V. J. day, August 15, 1945 gas rationing was lifted and golfers swarmed back to play on what was left of Orono. Play increased so much during the post-war years that the Orono facilities were no longer adequate to meet the requirements of so many golfers The decision to have Orono course sponsor a new one carried out and thus the Medina Public Golf Course came into being." Back to Bob Feser's article: Returning to the subject of my Dad's trip to Denver, I agreed to go into the business with him and returned home on Thanksgiving Day, 1955. We incorporated so we could sell stock, raise money and start work immediately "cleaning up" the old Spurzem farmstead, tearing down old buildings, hog pens and other structures and rolling up and discarding barbed wire fences. We spent the next year constructing Medina Golf Course. In 1960 I married. My wife Marilyn became my partner in life and my partner in making Medina Golf Course successful. Her efforts at advertising, clubhouse management, and even jumping on a tractor at times to help catch up on mowing were an important part of our modest success. Leo suffered a severe heart attack toward the end of construction of the Medina Golf Course and though he was able to guide us into the phase where we actually had golf customers, he gradually became less involved and retired in Arizona, so in 1964, exactly forty years after the founding of Orono Golf Course, management was turned over to Tom Wasgatt, who lived in the old home until it was sold to the Village. In 1974 we completed negotiations with The Hennepin County Park system which was purchasing land in Medina. They operated Medina Golf Course for several years before deciding to completely remodel and modernize the facility, now know as Baker National Golf Course. Had it not been for the series of events that led up to the construction of Medina Golf Course and the gift by Mr. Baker of his land on Lake Independence, Baker National Golf Course would not exist today. My wife and I are now retired and living in Ocala, Florida. I wish we could thank all our stockholders, customers, the state banks of Wayzata and Long Lake who supported us financially, and all the people who helped us build and operate the course over a 20 year period, but there are way too many. My bother Dave now lives in Virginia and has had a long career of being a Golf Course Superintendent. My sister Ruth is a retired professor at the University of Wisconsin and lives in Wisconsin. As for the Spurzem family, I never knew them but there is a nice (and true) story about them. On or about their wedding day they were down on the shore of Spurzem Lake fishing. Mrs. Spurzem happened to drop her wedding ring on the weedy shore. Though they looked for it a long time, they couldn't find it. Fifty years later on their golden wedding anniversary they decided to go down to the lake and go fishing to celebrate their 50 years together. It stretches credibility but, yes, Mrs. Spurzem looked down and saw something shiny. She stooped down and picked up her lost ring! Here is one last little foot note from Steve Kelley. Leo hobnobbed with the golf greats of his era and is legendary in golf circles as a pioneer golf course Superintendent. He was charter member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, and has an award from that organization named in his honor. The Leo Feser award, presented since 1956 is given for the best Superintendent — written article published in the Association's magazine. We thank Bob for taking the time to pass along his remembrances and are appreciative of Leo's efforts at recording his memories. We would love to hear from any of you with your own memories of Orono Golf Course. We'll let Leo have the last word, with a few random recollections: Orono Golf Course, originally called Orono Orchards Golf Course, was the first privately owned public golf course in the state of Minnesota. It was also the first public golf course in the state to have grass greens, for all municipal courses had sand greens in 1924. At one time the golf course had 11 sand traps. It was impossible to maintain them properly. Our golfers didn't like to rake out footprints in the sand In addition to ordinary farming activities the Walshes had an extensive fruit and berry business. Apple Orchards extended over considerable acreage on both sides of what is now the Orono Orchard road, hence the sub-division name of Orono Orchards. There were a lot of granite and limestone rocks in the pastureland that had to be dug up and removed in construction days. One limestone near 5 green was jutting about one foot out of the ground Frank Eisinger decided to dig it out, having no idea of its size. When he finally got it out, he decided to put it up near the entrance to the old golf house. The sign was painted on it and it remained there until it was moved to its present location. Despite the fact that at one time the golf course had the nickname of "Coronary Hills" only one person died of a heart attack whole playing golf there. According to good authority the last wild bear shot in Hennepin County was killed in a tree to the right of a point half was way up the hill on the 2nd fairway. §§§ Greenwood Township Greenwood Township-(Re-named Greenfield about 1955) lies in a mainly agricultural area of northwestern Hennepin County, in a region once covered by the Big Soft Woods, flanked on the west by the north Branch of the Crow River, on lands that encompass the Hennepin County portions of Rockford and Hanover and comprising 25 sections of land, a smaller version of the normal 36 sq. mi. townships. Township 119, Range 24. • a � Fn G` � S Early Greenwood Residents: The William Schoening Family in 1885 Seated(L-R): May Muncy,J. W. Schoening, Art Schoening, Pauline Kunde Standing(L-R): Bertha Slater, Willy Schoening , Gustie Hanscome, Fred Schoening, Hulda Cook, Charlie Schoening(from Seattle) My Great-grandfather William H. Schoening (known as Willy) served as Justice of the Peace for Greenwood Township from about 1915 to 1950, as evidenced in the township record book that is in our family's possession. Besides being a lifelong farmer, Willy was also a country veterinarian. He was active in the early years of the farmer labor party of the state, and served as a delegate to their conventions. He had one of the first McCormick reapers in the area. According to Lore (Schoening) Brown and others who have researched our family tree, the family came from Runau Germany, a Prussian Duchy. An elder William Schoening married Pauline A Kunde and they immigrated to America about 1860. William (II) Schoening married Alvina Gusie. He was born at Stillwater, MN on Dec. 13th, 1862. They married in 1890. This writer has their Golden Wedding day photo dated 1940. The Justice of Peace Civil Docket contains entries from 1915 to 1940 on some 40 pagesall in Willy's handwriting. Most deal with minor disputes over property and some assaults. The ledger itemizes costs of the proceedings which Willy would have been reimbursed for from the County, I believe. A complete report on this would be quite interesting as would biographies of the early settlers in the township. -- Jim Roehl 3 ms 's` err. ^r n c laa, ���r se:,.. 11 wimme— ��� f � I `� � � e 4 d � A� g R k 6 .� 9 PP 8 .d i Yr Greenfield City Board in 1958 at the time of the switch from township to city status. Back Row L-R: Walter Schoening, accessor;John Steinke, roads; ? city attorney; Vernon Paluge, constable; Eddy Bursch constable; Wm. Guise, treasurer. Front Row: Jake Kettnecker, clerk; Glen Conzet, council; Lawrence Bursch, mayor; Wally Rose, council; Art Schoening, council. §§§ Visitors' Comments We here at the WHCPA, often receive brief notes from members commending us on our good works. When someone takes the time to be generous with compliments, we feel pretty pleased with our efforts. We were struck recently with the more than kind words from Thomas Hughes of Aiea, Hawaii, as follows: Thank you for the OUTSTANDING work being done in preserving the heritage of our past for the future generations, without your efforts, that history would be lost. I have done research in many parts of the USA — but WHPCA is the best I've seen in preservation of local history. Sincerely Thomas Hughes BEST xx.xx A s� T z Non-Profit ORG US POSTAGE PAID k PERMIT#30 LONG LAKE, MN .j Western Hennepin County Pioneer Association, Inc. 1953 W. Wayzata Blvd.-P.O. Box 332 -Long Lake, MN 55356 www.whcpa-museum.orq PIONEER MUSEUM (952)-473-6557 Orono City Hall Regular Hours are Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM 2750 Kelley Pkwy. INDEPENDENCE TOWN HALL MUSEUM Orono, MN 55356 Call Earl Taylor 763-479-1457 MEDINA LOG CABIN (WOLFELD'S) May be viewed during city office hours. All WHCPA tours are FREE to the public. President: Steve Kelly 952-473-0733 Vice President: Laurie Merz 763-473-0081 Curators: Mike Ellis 952-473-4534 Russ Ferrin 952-935-2984 Newsletter Staff: Jim Roehl 763-473-8188 Dan Stubbs, Dick Stubbs Special Tours:Jerry Borgert 952-473-5671 - I it -