For many, the holidays are a time to celebrate good cheer among friends and family. However, for some, it is a dreaded time. My good friend, the late Phil Hall, fell in the later category. It should be noted, his parents both passed away shortly before Christmas. Even Phil, died a few days prior to Christmas Day, 1996.
Then there was Malvena Gallatin’s story. In 1913, Malvena built the first summer home at Eagle Lake at the southeast corner. She dubbed her vacation get-away the Cedar Lodge. She would visit the lake frequently during the summers bringing with her, her only grandchild, Norma Virginia Harvey. But times changes everything and by the 1920s the Gallatin clans visit to the lake became less and less. In 1923, Burt and Alberta Christie became caretakers of the Cedar Lodge, though everyone referred to it as the Gallatin House. The Christies continued in this role until 1941, when the house was “moth-balled.” In 1944, Malvena’s only grandchild, Norma Virginia Harvey Wachhorst died. Deeply saddened by this loss, Malvena returned to Eagle Lake and spent a quite Christmas in the sparsely-furnished home.