Unsafe at any speed

(Minnetonkascenes file photo)

I drove by the Minnetonka City Hall on MTK Blvd, and I could see to my right that they had one of those movable signs that told you, alerted you, to the speed you were driving. I believe it was positioned on Williston Road. The sign was changing constantly; 30 mph, 24 mph, 28 mph, 26 mph..... But no cars were passing the sign... it was simply a mumbling Light Emitting Diode.

Vintage Excelsior

"My father paid $280 in 1924 for our first flivver. It was a touring car with isinglass curtains to be rolled down when it started to rian. The fron seat passenger had to lean forward to keep working the hand operated windshield wiper for the driver. Although we could go through a foot of mud, it sometimes became necessary to climb a steep muddy hill backwards. In reverse the lowest gear, nothing could stop the Tin Lizzie." - Ellen Wilson Meyer, Tales From Tonka.

The cars above are of a later vintage, of course. - Ford Model As- circa 1929 is my guess.

The little blue sign says "Still plays with boats"

Walking the Streetcar line

I was walking along the Excelsior streetcar line, like a hobo with a digital camera, when I noticed a yellow railroad tie. I thought; "This must be the signal for the streetcar conductor to do something". ( sound horn) - Looking ahead I noticed a gentleman peering out from the Excelsior Museum pole barn, where streetcars are being restored. I wandered in and he gave me a detailed, impromptu tour of "The Winona", The"1239", "The 78" and other streetcars being lovingly restored.

The barn was dark and I resorted to using a flash with my pocket camera #2.

From my archives - last summer:

Distinguished sailors

New stamps at the post office. Distinguished sailors available now.
Appropriate for Lake Minnetonka communications.

Silvia, Cottagewood Grocery circa 1920 and a postcard from the past.

Anna Jean from Richmond, Washington (State) sent this card. These are fragments of a young girl, her sisters, and her mother who came to work in Cottagewood, Deephaven in the 1920s as servants (this is my estimation). Her mother's writing on the back of the cards is simple and sincere.

"Working at Cottagewood Minntaka" (sic)



The girls of Cottagewood 1920, standing on the runningboard. On the right, Sylvia.

No fishing from the dock, in the morning light.

Just before the boats arrive. Wayzata.

The empy docks at Wayzata Yacht Club will soon be filled.


Wednesday evening. Sailing lessons in progress on Carson's Bay.

Tommy's Tonka Trolley

I stopped by to visit Tommy at his "Tonka Trolley". He was busy folding napkins and readying for another season on the Lake. It was early and business was slow. Tommy was temporarily competing with a nearby Easter egg hunt in the Excelsior Commons - where the Nathan's Hot Dogs were being given away free.

Excelsior - Open Water

It's all about shapes

The bottle on the left is one of two prototypes for the shape of the Coca Cola Bottle 1915. A less curvaceous bottle was adopted, and is now an American icon.
The "Coca-Cola" name and script logo was designed by the company bookkeeper, Frank Robinson.