ROMANCE BLOOMS AT SESEKINIKA

by Alan R. Schloz

The year is 1926. Gladys Royce of Toronto is vacationing with her sisters at Island A 13 at the south end of the lake. The cottage was then owned by Mr Hastings. Gladys had several relations living in and around the area of the North including her cousin Elaine and husband Marvin Ireland of Engelhart, and Jack Pilsworth, a pioneer who came to Engelhart for a land grant who later owned the island next door to Island A 13 on the lake.

Down in Boston, Massachusetts a student by the name of Arthur H Schloz from Toledo Ohio was attending college. A fellow student with whom he had become friends told Arthur about a gold claim he had staked on the shores of Sesekinika Lake and of a train that could take them there. Before too long they were off on a long trip to Lake Sesekinika. There my father met my mother and romance bloomed. There was a wedding in Toronto, Ontario the next year.

I am Alan Schloz, the son of Gladys and Arthur Schloz. My parents were able to purchase Island A 13 in 1947. I spent many great summers there with my parents, my maternal aunts, my parent's friend Andy, and my own friends. Later on I would bring my own family there, my wife Janice, our four children, their friends and some of our friends, and now return with my children, their spouses, my grandchildren, and friends.

I have so many wonderful memories of summers at the lake. I remember the days when, in retirement, my father, mother, their good friend Andy Anderson, and my mother's sister would come in June and stay until October or November. When they arrived at the lake they would be greeted by Jamie Little with a can of pure Canadian maple syrup as they came down the hill to the lake. The Littles lived right across the lake from our island and we kept our boat docked there. My parents would leave whenever the snow began, to avoid being trapped at the lake by the snow and unable to reach the highway.

Andy and Art were known in those days as the old fishermen of Sesekinika and we had many fresh fish dinners thanks to their efforts and knowledge of fishing and my mother and aunt's good cooking. My dad and Andy taught Bill McKelvie how to troll for the big fish in the lake.

The McKelveys now own the Little cottage (Jamie Little was Gail's father). We have had many good times with them and the Schonfeldts. There have been lots of practical jokes over the years like the time they painted our outhouse and dock with polka dots . We got even later by putting their lawn furniture on the roof of their cottage!

I recently gave the cottage to my son Tim and his wife Monica. They have spent almost every summer there since they were married in 1985 and, in fact, chose the cottage as their place to honeymoon.

We have over the years enjoyed many good times at the lake and the many great people that have cottages around the lake. The fourth generation of Schlozs is now enjoying the lake and it will always be deep in our hearts.