Lost Town of Clear Lake…
Submitted by Lori on February 16, 2010 – 6:23 pmOne Comment
Acoma Township Lost Towns:
Clear Lake Factory Photo taken from Hutchinson Produce Co. Creamery Book-1906
The Lost Town of Clear Lake…
Founded: 1912 ???
Location: 100 yards from Clear Lake in Acoma Township.
The Clear Lake Store was built in 1912 about 100 yards from Clear Lake in Acoma Township. John and Rose built the store and sold it to August
Luthens in 1918. Luthens sold the store to Al and Iris Kueger. They ran the store until 1983 when Dale and Jan Krueger took over the management of the store.
The Clear Lake Store had living quarters along the south side of the store. Area farmers, fisherman, and people using the lakes in the area were the major patrons of the store.
It was a nice little store back in the day. When I was born my parents bought a new house just south of this store that was once a horse farm. The farm itself not sure what happened to it but the house and everything was gone. Was told it burnt down. So a new house was built on the lot. Clear lake was in my back yard. Many trees around it. As a kid, my father would mow our yard I believe it was 6 acres. But anyways, while he mowed I walked along the shore and would find petrified wood that was always fascinating. I brought a couple with to show-and-tell to school and all the kids would look at it figuring how that was possible. One piece I brought to school weighted 54.6 pounds. So my backpack was quite heavy that day.
The little store was a walk away. Around the curve and you were there. They sold gas and groceries. I can even remember they sold beer at one time. Maybe there was a little bar in there at one time not positive. But I think there was at one time. On bad weather days like a big snow storm that was a handy little store to have around. It was a nice quiet area to live and we pretty much knew everyone in the area by first and last name. Sometimes when bad weather hit or something happened. Neighbor would help neighbor out.
At night time you could see the stars and moon at times reflect off the perfect calm clear lake. With the sound of grasshoppers and crickets in the distance. You would also see flashes in the sky traveling at a very fast speed. I always assumed it was a satellite crossing the night sky. At night you would hear and see low flying milltary plans my guess they were passenger carry planes 2 or 4 prop planes. During early winter / late fall you could see the northern lights green or blue in color.
When I was 4 years old during summer once we had a big wind and a few trees fall down along the lake. I was to busy riding my peddle john deere tractor. I could hear a train in the distance. My father grabbed me off my tractor and ran me in the house to the basement. I overheard my father say it’s a twin twiser tornado out in the field just west. (south west of clear lake store) Damage I don’t remember anyone saying anything other then corn field was ruined and trees down in the area. I do remember watching dad and his brother clean up some of the fallen trees on our yard.