Fortney Farm 1955 and Present
		Four years ago when we were one of the first cabins north of Loon Lake, Raymond was our first neighbor that stopped in to welcome us to the area. His visits are always a highlight of our stay at the cabin. In talking with Raymond and Steve over the past several years, I have learned that they possess a wealth of historical knowledge about life on River Road and Soldiers Grove.Below are a few of the things I have learned from conversations with Raymond and Steve: The Fortney family has occupied the family farm on River Road since his Grandfather homesteaded the land in 1858. In that era, this was the frontier and the area was sparsely populated. His Grandfather hand-drove a well point 27 feet (just east of his barn) that connected with an artesian spring that has supplied abundant pressurized water for decades. (He says it's better tasting than the bottled spring water that we pay $1.29 for). The floods of '51 and '78 put the river bed within a few feet of his barn. The northern part of River Road used to be a marsh. During the depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was called in to drain the seeps, springs, and potholes to make way for additional farming operations. The creeks or drainage canals were blasted with dynamite to drain the standing water. Raymond and family have farmed as many as 300 acres of their land and adjoining parcels over the years. In the 1920's and 30's white-tailed deer were not in the area. As a kid he told others of seeing a deer and they all thought he was seeing things.
							Fortney Farm in 1955. This photo is full size.
					The Farm as it is today. 50 years later. Click to enlarge.