Anna May
Robertson was born in 1876, and lived in the Spirit Lake, Iowa area. She was
married to A.C. Robertson at the time they bought the
Island
on a contract for deed from Chauncey Hasbrouck about 1914. A.C. Robertson sold
his undivided half interest to Anna May at the time of their divorce in 1921
for the princely sum of $1843.42.
At that
time, Anna May, known to her friends as Robin, was already the sole proprietor
and builder of Klose-to-Nature Kamp, the resort she created on the
Island
. Her sense of beauty and love for the
Island
is still visible. She was an avid gardener. Now wild grapes and lilies exist
willy-nilly throughout the
Island
. Cement steps leading from near the Lodge to the north beach are bordered
with pretty stones and shells, as is a large, square fish pond near the
kitchen of the resort. Without the benefit of electricity or power cement
mixers, she added TLC to her improvements. Robin’s caring presence endures,
and adds charm to the ambiance of the entire
Island
.
Al
Woock, famous fireplace and cabin builder, farmer, and early area
resident, told of attending lawn dances near the front of the resort. Sunday
dinners were served for area guests in the beautifully decorated dining room.
Their parrot, named Polly, survived for 30 years.
George
Bowman was a resident, butcher, and later a cattle buyer in
Pine
River
when Klose-to-Nature Kamp was flourishing in the 20’s and 30’s.
He and Robin shared birth dates, bonded rapidly and were married in the
30’s, long delayed until religious restraints of divorce were resolved by
the death of A.C. Robertson. With the Great Depression and drought starting in
1928, the resort went into a decline, finalized tragically by a fire that
destroyed the lodge in 1932. Only the majestic fireplace and chimney remained.
The Bowmans soon abandoned the
Island
and moved to a small house on what is now
Lorraine
Stromquist’s property.
When that house burned down in 1953, the parrot again survived and
moved with George and Robin Bowman to Akeley. Robin died in 1957, George 4
years later. They are buried at
the
Oakdale
Cemetery
in Akeley.
From
Lorraine
Stromquist: The Bowmans
owned many household antiques and were acquainted with and loved by many in
the area. According to
Lorraine
’s friend, the late Opal Roby,
Robin often painted porcelain dishes and wares and loved horses and horseback
riding. She rode extensively on the large fields, hills and valleys on
Lorraine
’s property. She continued to
ride horses to age 82 until she fell and broke a hip. Again, according to
Opal, one of the last statements made by her was “Oh what a beautiful land
God has given us.”
