The How why and when of Gunnerson Pond

[Spencer M]

Hello forum members, I seek knowledge in the field of WMSTR history. The first lesson i want to tackle is Gunnerson Pond. When was it created? Why was it? How was it made, and finally, where did the giant green sea monster come from?

[Brian K. Nelson]

Hi Spencer,
Gunderson pond is a pond created during the glacier age. It was made as the glaciers came from the north. The world famous "Steamer Hill" is comprised of dirt that was removed from the pond. You can find serveral hills on the south side of many lakes and ponds around the area.
The terracing on the west and north side of the lake was done by the Clarence Gorance from Vergas, MN back in the early 1980's. Clarence did almost all of the work with a single D8. Monday evening of the show during supper I sat with a gentleman that was Clarence's brother.
I'm not sure where the name Gunderson Pond came from. I suspect it is due to that the log cabin in the workers campground on the southside of the pond is the Gunderson Cabin. This cabin was moved from a farm between Turtle Lake and Lake 15 several years ago for the Rollag Centenial Pagent. This farm was called the Tom Gunderson Farm. The only actual homestead on the grounds is that of Tosten and Tolav Lien, 2 Norwegian bachelor brothers their farmstead was located what is now the campground north of SnobHill. I believe that the harness shop in the horse area is the only remaining building from Tosten and Tolav's farmstead.
We can't forget that there was a church on the grounds over a hundred years ago also the church was located about in the area where the Post Office is located now.
Perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong..

[Brian K. Nelson]

Hi Spencer,
We can't forget that there was a church on the grounds over a hundred years ago also the church was located about in the area where the Post Office is located now.
Perhaps someone can correct me if I'm wrong..

Sorry.. I should say that the parsonage for Grong Church (the church on the north side of the village of Rollag) was located in the area where the Post Office is now not a Church.

[flombecky]

Brian,
I think the building that is "original" (aka the square nail building-used to sit by the tracks and stored plumbing supplies and much miscellaneous) to the show grounds is the building closer to the barn in the horse area-don't know what they call it, but Justin Demmer was doing his ferrier demo's there this year. The harness shop I think is a new building and is closer to the house.
I could be wrong, so ask someone with a better memory than mine---that would be my brother!
You have some great posts and pictures on this forum-thanks for sharing.
How fortunate we didn't have this weather last Saturday.
Becky Meyer

[karl stange]

i have also heard gunderson pond is naturally spring feed. somewhere in the pond a depth sounder registered 240ft +/-, when this was i do not know but this is what i heard.

also, the pond itself was considerably smaller back in the 70's and 80's. again this is from what i've heard.

anybody.... correct me if i'm wrong.


i almost forgot about "gunny" the monster (as i call it). this came up from the depths of the spring about 5 years ago or so i believe and the thing just won't leave.

[Lee]

Speaking of "Gunny", where did he come from and where is he now?

[Timkerk]

somewhere in the pond a depth sounder registered 240ft +/-

:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

[Mallands]

One correction guys: we that are in the campgrounds that surround the pond prefer to call it Gunderson Lake, therefore having (renting?) lakeshore property. ;)

[40avery]

I knew the person that sounded the "pond" he had 14 to 16 feet just south east of the hot pond as the deepest part of the pond. It is a pond because if it classified as a lake we would have a lot more regulations to deal with. Many people the road that entered the bottom land just below the lower lutefisk campground. Many camped along this road until the big grade was established and the pond level was raised some. I do not believe there are any springs in thei pond because the only time it flows is after rain showers.

[Spencer M]

Wow it sounds like the pond has a rich and diverse history! Gunnerson pond is cool....

[40avery]

One small note it is Gunderson pond

[Spencer M]

Gunderson! Ive been spelling it wrong the whole time here on this forum. Shucks! I bet the green street sign by the pond would have had the correct spelling, if only I had looked at it I would have known for correct way

[M Kerkvliet]

Another problem with the spring fed theory... This past show was a dry one. It kept Gary Muhl very busy with the dust buster. Someone told me... might have been Tom Hall, that we sucked 6" of water from the pond that weekend. He has a level indicator somewhere. If it were spring fed, it would have to be a slow spring!

Also, Gunny is gone. So sorry to inform you all of this. He (she) met "it's" demise this past summer. When it was found by a concerned party, it was in about a dozen pieces, so it was decided by a representative of the board to give it a respectable send off. Maybe someday a decendent will show up here.

[Spencer M]

Gunny is gone! Come to think of it i actually didn't see her out in the pond this year. I looked every time I went by on the caboose. Maybe a giant Bart Simpson or Snoopy will show up :D