7
Johnson Lake’s History
G.V. Reynolds of Overton claimed in a 1965 newspaper article to have placed the second permanent structure at the lake in the early 1940’s. The home was moved from Overton to a site adjacent to what is now Crappie Corner. “A mighty deserted-looking area then,” according to Dr. Reynolds. “No trees, no water, no plumbing, just a simple cabin on a sandy knoll.” More cabins soon followed, their owners coming from longer distances despite the difficulties posed by gasoline rationing. After the war ended and resources again became available, the pace of development increased. The boom in cabin-building was said to have started in about 1950 and a cabin sprung up on almost every available and suitable lot. By 1964 there were 548 cabins on the lake’s shore, ranging from one-room structures to more elaborate homes costing as much as $15,000. The number of cabins surpassed 600 by 1966 and another 36 lots in the North Cove, North Shore and Perch Bay areas were ready for development in 1969. Interest was unabated as more than 400 applications were entered into a
as Medo’s Resort. Butch and Ellen Stevens later acquired the lease and operated Stevens Cabins until selling it to Allen and Naomi Hudson in 1957. The Hudsons operated the business as Johnson Lake Resort until 1963 when Harry and Reba Collins acquired and operated the facility as Collins Resort. The Collins in turn sold the resort to Clinton and Roesetha Mutchie in 1968. Ownership then passed to Elmer Bergman (Bergman’s Resort), Greg Medo, and then Shannon and Stafford Thompson, before returning to Medo in 2002. The Nebraska State Game, Forestation and Parks Commission (now known as the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission) first stocked the lake with game fish in 1941, although fishing was prohibited for the first year to allow the fish to grow and reproduce. Fishing became instantly popular when it was first permitted on July 1, 1942. The first true “cabin” on the lake was reportedly constructed by S.E. Salisbury in 1942. It was described as a one-room, wood-frame building on Sandy Point. Cliff Hurliss and Dr.
by everyone who desires to use it.” Included in the committee’s plans were a public boat dock and beautification plans for the shoreline that would include tree and shrub planting. By 1950, boats were common on the lake, but almost all were small wooden or aluminum fishing boats powered by five- and ten-horsepower motors. By the early ‘60’s, larger crafts constructed of fiberglass with 50- and 60-hp motors were seen much more frequently on the lake. The experience of owning a cabin at the lake was simply not complete without a boat, and the number of boats swelled rapidly during the 1960’s. As evidence, a group of cabin- owners from Grand Island cooperated on construction of a boat dock that extended two blocks out into the lake and could accommodate as many as 32 boats. During the first several years of the lake’s existence, Central permitted only one “concession stand” at the lake, an establishment operated by a Mr. Remmenga from Elwood. The business was located on the east side of the lake on the site of what is now known
SERVING DAWSON COUNTY
SINCE 1960
Levander’s of Lexington 2809 Heartland Road, Lexington, NE 68850 Office: 308-217-0695
Dan’s Sanitation 324-6693 • Lexington
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