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 present 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 basement and remains that way today.
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, 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 present 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 basement and remains that way today.
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, Clerk
p. 173
Cass County Heritage
The Cass County Historical Society, 1999
