I lived in BJ all of my life. My sisters and I are the 5th generation of Blaisdells in BJ/Trout Lake. My two great-grandchildren Jack and Marli are 8th generation.
My great-great-grandparents, Augusta (Smoke) and Jack (John) Blaisdell moved to BJ/Trout Lake in 1888 from Pardeeville. As a teenager I thought it quite amusing: “Party-ville.”
As a little girl my first boat ride was on Trout Lake. Most likely, Uncle Enoch, who with Aunt Myrtle owned and operated the Trout Lake Pavilion, drove the boat. Uncle Enoch rented boats, as well as having a grocery store, ice cream parlor, post office, and dance hall.
The boat ride was amazing and fun for a little five year old. The breeze blew my hair against my face. I watched as the waves came up even with the back of the boat. Mom held tightly to my little three year old brother, Jack, and had an arm around me. Perhaps mom would have enjoyed the boat ride better if she wasn’t concerned with the safety of her kids.
Aunt Myrtle would give us kids a “snowball cupcake.” A chocolate cupcake with cream filling, marshmallow frosting, pink or white, covered with coconut. They were huge. Over the years they seem to have gotten smaller but maybe because I am bigger!
I loved visits to Uncle Enoch and Aunt Myrtle’s, they were great people! Uncle Enoch Blaisdell was the youngest of four sons born to Augusta and Jack Blaisdell.