Updated
Some answers about the new fire hall and your homeowners insurance - Updated 7/15/21
We on the board have had several requests to know more about the ISO rating and possible reductions in insurance rates. The fire hall being located much closer to most of Ponto Lake Township residents should have an effect on insurance rating. We have heard that some companies have not really reacted as you would expect with lower rates. The only answer to these situations is to shop around now that the ISO/mileage to the fire hall has changed.
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Many insurance companies, but not all, rate their insurance on the ISO rating of the area in which you live. Our rating in the township area should have improved with the addition of the fire hall in the middle of the township. We have heard from several homeowners that the new rating is available to insurance companies that use ISO rating. We have no idea if the rating will drastically improve or improve just a little. The rating is generally not public knowledge.
Many insurance companies base their rating on miles to the nearest fire hall, or they do not use either ISO or miles and have their own rating system. For some insurance companies all you need to provide them is the address of the fire hall and they can re-rate based on location alone. For these instances the address of the fire hall is:
Ponto Lake Fire Sub-Station
Ponto Lake Township Town Hall and Emergency Services
1201 State Highway 84 NW
Pine River, MN 56474
Now that all the information is in, the first step would be to notify your insurance company of the changes to the sub-station fire hall location in the township. Asking for a re-rate may have a positive effect on your insurance rates.
We have a current donations drive going on for the town hall and emergency services building fund. Donations are welcome and can be sent to Ponto Lake Township, PO Box 678, Pine River MN 56474. Donations are usually tax deductible.
To learn more about the building go to the menu above under more...
Ponto Lake Township Map and History
Ponto Lake Township is located about 8 miles East of Backus, Minnesota. The township has some of the nicest lakes in the area within it's boundaries.
Ponto Lake Township was formed on August 10, 1906 by the Cass County Board of Commissioners. The first town meeting was held at the Ponto Lake School on the West side of Ponto Lake on August 25th, 1906.
Elected officers were; Michael Smith, M.A. Collison, and J.E. Tripp as Supervisors; P.N. Kruckow, Treasurer; Sean Butler, Clerk; P.N. Kruckow and W. Moffet, Justices of the Peace; and Constables, John Hamilton and M.A. Collison.
After the township was organized, work was started on the roads. Teams of horses and equipment were provided by local citizens. Wages, if paid, were not more than $.25 per hour, or in some instances, $1 per day.
The next major project, with limited funds, was the telephone system. On May 28th, 1920, bids were opened for the first telephones and batteries. The poles and wires were ordered with borrowed money. In the beginning, the main use for the phones was for fire protection. There were only so many telephones and no money to buy more. You put your name on a list and waited until someone moved away or forgot to pay their switch fee.
Our previous Ponto Lake Town Hall was built in the early 1950s. Money was raised by donations, barn dances and box socials. Labor was donated by township residents. The first building was destroyed by a wind storm. Due to lack of funds, a roof was built over the foundation. A new Town Hall and Emergency Services Building was completed in early 2021. More information is available on this site.
Ora and Herman Siltman donated two acres of land for the Ponto Lake Cemetery. John Henry Siltman was the first burial in the cemetery on December 25, 1899. Many of the first settlers of Ponto Lake Township are buried there. The Goode family were the first homesteaders in the area. Uhlig, Kruckow, Siltman, Daniels, Hamiltons, Herders, Chamber, Bailey, Trippe, Hayes, Metzer, Smith, Collison, Butler, and Moffett were other well-known names in the area. Many improvements have been made in the cemetery over the years, including a Veteran's Memorial, which was built with donations.
There were four school houses to serve the early residents of Ponto Lake Township. The Ponto Lake, Harriet, Lowe and Herder Schools were also used for social gatherings, elections, church services and even an occasional funeral. The last school to close was the Herder School in the late 1930s. The three other schools are used as private residences today.
Country stores were a vital part of Life in Ponto Lake Township, allowing residents to avoid long trips to town. The Pontoria Store also served as a post office in the early 1900s. The Long Pine and Back Forty(since closed) are still in operation.
Lena Kruckow, Former Clerk
p. 173
Cass County Heritage
The Cass County Historical Society, 1999
Ponto Lake Township was formed on August 10, 1906 by the Cass County Board of Commissioners. The first town meeting was held at the Ponto Lake School on the West side of Ponto Lake on August 25th, 1906.
Elected officers were; Michael Smith, M.A. Collison, and J.E. Tripp as Supervisors; P.N. Kruckow, Treasurer; Sean Butler, Clerk; P.N. Kruckow and W. Moffet, Justices of the Peace; and Constables, John Hamilton and M.A. Collison.
After the township was organized, work was started on the roads. Teams of horses and equipment were provided by local citizens. Wages, if paid, were not more than $.25 per hour, or in some instances, $1 per day.
The next major project, with limited funds, was the telephone system. On May 28th, 1920, bids were opened for the first telephones and batteries. The poles and wires were ordered with borrowed money. In the beginning, the main use for the phones was for fire protection. There were only so many telephones and no money to buy more. You put your name on a list and waited until someone moved away or forgot to pay their switch fee.
Our previous Ponto Lake Town Hall was built in the early 1950s. Money was raised by donations, barn dances and box socials. Labor was donated by township residents. The first building was destroyed by a wind storm. Due to lack of funds, a roof was built over the foundation. A new Town Hall and Emergency Services Building was completed in early 2021. More information is available on this site.
Ora and Herman Siltman donated two acres of land for the Ponto Lake Cemetery. John Henry Siltman was the first burial in the cemetery on December 25, 1899. Many of the first settlers of Ponto Lake Township are buried there. The Goode family were the first homesteaders in the area. Uhlig, Kruckow, Siltman, Daniels, Hamiltons, Herders, Chamber, Bailey, Trippe, Hayes, Metzer, Smith, Collison, Butler, and Moffett were other well-known names in the area. Many improvements have been made in the cemetery over the years, including a Veteran's Memorial, which was built with donations.
There were four school houses to serve the early residents of Ponto Lake Township. The Ponto Lake, Harriet, Lowe and Herder Schools were also used for social gatherings, elections, church services and even an occasional funeral. The last school to close was the Herder School in the late 1930s. The three other schools are used as private residences today.
Country stores were a vital part of Life in Ponto Lake Township, allowing residents to avoid long trips to town. The Pontoria Store also served as a post office in the early 1900s. The Long Pine and Back Forty(since closed) are still in operation.
Lena Kruckow, Former Clerk
p. 173
Cass County Heritage
The Cass County Historical Society, 1999
