Itasca State Park Oral History Project: Interview with Bert Pfeifer

Titles: Itasca State Park Oral History Project: Interview with Bert Pfeifer (Supplied title)

Description: BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Bert Pfeifer was born in North Dakota. His great-uncle was Theodore Wegmann. He and his wife began their resort, Bert's Cabins just outside Lake Itasca State Park in 1939. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: July 20, 1993: Personal background; working for his great-uncle Wegmann in the store instead of being in the CCC; first impressions of Itasca; work in the Wegmann farm and store; a typical day at the Wegmann store; putting up ice; description of the Wegmanns; detailed description of the Wegmann store; the tourists, even during the Depression; the pageants; lack of time for leisure; salary from Wegmanns; trips to Bemidji for banking and supplies; other resorts in the area (Headwaters Inn, Sauer's and Parkview Resort); shoplifting troubles at the store; the arrival of the first CCC men (from Kansas); contact with the CCC men; the work of the Transient Relief Camp people; impact of CCC work at Itasca; the McMullen-Rust feud; religion; politics; his wife and her teaching experiences in northern Minnesota; the gradual development of his business, Bert's Cabins; World War II and its impact on his life and work; Theodore Wegmann's death and funeral; part-time work in the park; work at the University Biological Station; Frank Pugh and other park managers; building of the Catholic church; in the early years, differences between the park and long-term residents. August 20, 1993: Prices of goods at Wegmann's store; recycling; elk pens and buffalo stockades; the deer; work at the sawmill; getting supplies from Bemidji; Mrs. Wegmann's failing health; putting up ice; the development of Bert's Cabins; the visitors at the cabins; the future of the cabins; relations between the park and local residents; park development; electrification of the area; campgrounds; thoughts on other Itasca Park people; final reflections.

Dates

• 07/20/1993 - 08/20/1993 (Interviews conducted 7/20/1993 and 8/20/1993.) (Creation)

Creation

• interviewee: Pfeifer, Bert
• interviewer: Rieger, Amy K.

Identifiers

• Library Call Number: OH 102
• Accession Number: AV2003.42.15

Holding Type: Oral History - Interview

Project

• Oral History - Project, MHS Collection, project: 'Itasca State Park Oral History Project' <OH 102>

Quantity: 4 hours sound cassette 61 pages transcript

Format

• Content Category: sound recordings
• Content Category: text

Measurements

• 240 minutes length

Subjects

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