The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-03-04
PROGRAM
WINTER SPORTS
Results Expected to Make This
Area the Lake Placid of
the West.

An informal meeting to discuss ways
and means for developing an Arrow
head-wide winter sports and recreation
plan for the benefit of people living in
this area and to attract tourists and
vacationists was held last week at the
city hall in Virginia This meeting was
called by Mayor Purcell E. Barker OF
Virginia, and was attended by repre-
sentatives from civic organizations OF
the Arrowhead.
Those attending this meeting were
Mayor Barker, presiding; George Per-
ham, secretary Minnesota Arrowhead
association; Herman Oson, mayor OF
Tower; James Early, Hibbing Chamber
of Commerce: M. B. Elson, Gilbert
secretary st. Louis County Club; Israel
Havila, Virginia Sportsmen's club;
Royal Huber, Chisholm, American Lee
gion; A. Lahti, Chisholm Chamber OF
Commerce; Ray Hoefler, Ely Com
mercial club and American Legion; B
G. Leighton, recreation chairman. St
Louis County club; Gus Carlson, Tower
Chamber of Commerce; w. A. Fisher
president Virginia Chamber of Com
merce; Matt Mattson, chairman con-
servation committee, Virginia American
Legion.
A report of a brief survey made OF
the facilities and activities already
available was submitted and showed
that a winter sports program is being
promoted by practically every city and
village of this area, by farm COM
munities, resort owners, and numerous
civic organizations. It was found that
in the competitive sports division, curl
ing, hockey, speed skating and skiing
are attracting large numbers of par
Elephants and spectators, while even a
greater number are taking part in the
recreational activities of tobogganing
bump the-bumps, hiking, snowshoeing
spearing fish, hunting, ski hiking, snow
modelling and mushing. Many organi-
cations and communities reported the
conducting of winter frolic celebrations
that have attracted popular favor.
Various spokesman from the group
RO3A3bCo O0t l4ldt b1lC oCfClOHl11cl1t VI
the Arrowhead country as a winter as
well as summer playground is helping
to promote one of the greatest in
dustries Of northeastern Minnesota. II
is felt that such a program as is
planned will attract tourists and
vacation seekers as is being done in
the east, in California and in Colorado
A committee was named TO arrange
for meeting at Virginia in the near
future at which complete program
and plans viii be presented The COM
mittee is composed of Mayor Barker
and w. A. Fisher of Virginia, Gus Carl
son of Tower, George Perham of Du-
luth and B. G. Leighton of Hibbing
The movement is being fathered by
the American Legion of this portion of
the Arrowhead. B. G. Leighton, who
has held the position of playground
director at Hibbing for several years
has interested himself and several
others in the Legion program and in
connection with the Ely post has had
several week ends of outdoor sports at
BURNSIDE Lake recently.
The assistance of BURNSIDE Lodge
was rendered the visitors by Manager
Cook 1t is estimated that some 300
people from the outside, besides sew
eral hundred home folks, have in
terested themselves in the programs as
given and all were loud in their praises
over the opportunities offered for
making this one of the winter sports
centers of the country.