"Our 50th anniversary trip quickly developed a new title. It was the 'Tale of the two Dorothys' trip. The two Dorothys who helped to make northern Minnesota so famous. Would we do it again? In a heartbeat."
Recently, my wife and I visited Northern Minnesota for a get-away. Did we have an agenda? Kind of. For starters, we wanted to spend our first night in Grand Rapids. Why? The Judy Garland (Baby Gumm) museum. A few years ago, we traveled to Florida and stopped in Kansas to visit relatives. While there, we decided to visit the Oz Museum in Wamego (Where??) Kansas. It was high point of our trip down to Florida. To complete the circle, we decided to see the Oz related museum in our own back yard.
"Dorothy" Number One. In other words, Judy Garland. One of the Dorothys who made Minnesota famous. For those who have visited up in Grand Rapids, know about this place. As much as I knew about the Wizard of Oz, and how many times I have seen it, I learned a whole lot more. The fabulous, yet tortured life of Judy Garland. Her love for family and her homestead in Minnesota. A must see for all who desire to wander down that yellow brick road.
We continued on our journey. Final destination was Ely Minnesota. Why? That is where we spent our honeymoon. Since it was our 50th anniversary, we decided to go back to where it all (our marriage) began. For those who have been to Ely, no matter how many times, understand the magic of that area. Perched on the edge of the BWCA, and just outside the Mesabi Range, Ely is an easy place to fall in love with.
"Dorothy" Number Two. My wife had been reading up on a woman named Dorothy Molter. There is a museum up in Ely about Dorothy's life. Truthfully (and I am ashamed to admit it), I had never heard of her. Either that, or I had heard about her at some time, and forgotten. So, we decided a visit to Dorothy's museum and "go learn something".
As a Minnesotan, I have always been impressed with the life of Bronko Nagurski. He was from the icebox of the nation - International Falls. Once Bronko retired from football and wrestling, he returned to International Falls. He was as rough and tumbled in the way he lived in that rugged town, as he was in the squared circle. But as close as Bronko was to living "off the grid" in International Falls, that was nothing compared to the life that Dorothy Molter had up in Ely.
Dorothy lived a life on Knife Lake in Ely which was one of true adventure. But it was hard - very, very hard. So hard that many male survivalists at that time, wanted no part of living in that harsh environment 12 months of the year. But Dorothy did. From cutting ice out of the lake to manager her "icehouse", to cutting wood for heat, to fishing for food, Dorothy survived day to day, no matter of the season. Her life was regulated by the length of the days. And despite of all the hardships she endured, she invented a root beer and bottled it, right where she lived. "Kwitchurbeliakin" (quit you belly aching) was the name of her brew. We bought a six pack and brought it home.
Our 50th anniversary trip quickly developed a new title. It was the "Tale of the two Dorothys" trip. The two Dorothys who helped to make northern Minnesota so famous. Would we do it again? In a heartbeat.
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