A former main street in Pentoga Village, now overgrown in grass and brush

April 6, 2017 - Wednesday

27 degrees/clear skies/breezy

Pentoga Road

Each time I walk to and around Pentoga Village, one and a half miles to our south, I discover something new about the town that no longer exists. In fact, it's a ghost town, abandoned. 

Tuesday began with a stroll from home to Pentoga Village and back.

The nicest house in town, but it's been vacant for some time.

Pentoga was developed around 1900 when a saw mill at Indian Lake, a mile and a half to our north, was moved three miles south to be closer to the rail line.

At one time, Pentoga had a post office, railroad depot, a school, church, store, and rooming house.

Today, Pentoga Village consists mostly of empty lots, a few empty houses, all but one derelict, and several recreational trailers that are used as occasional summer retreats. No one lives in Pentoga Village anymore.

Back home on Wednesday morning, I busied myself in the shop constructing the last bluebird feeder. Assembly was fast using the new air nailer Sargie gave me and it was soon time for the painter in my life to do her thing.

I slathered red and white on a few of the bigger areas, but Sargie did the majority of the work, especially painting the trim.

We took our usual ride while the paint was drying. 

You know it's spring when the wild Tom turkeys begin chasing the hens.

The Toms are beginning to do their mating dance. The hens play hard to get, but are constantly chirping so the males stay interested.

Back home, Sargie helped as I climbed the extension ladder and mounted the bluebird houses, one on each end, on the south side of the barn.

Trying to find a wood stud on the other side of the steel siding proved to be challenging. 

Both were hung under the eaves with care,

In hopes that some bluebirds would soon be there. 

Yeah, I know, but it was there for free.

Arrangements were made with Macrea and Mel to meet in Florence, Wisconsin, to have supper and make a Grady exchange. After a dinner filled with talking and laughing, Hambone was fastened in his carseat and Sargie was driving us back to Pentoga Road.

Grady discovered a puzzle I made for him, a dinosaur. With Grandma Sargie's help, he quickly caught on and by evening's end, was putting the pieces together by himself.

Check out that double cowlick on the back of his head. Even the barber and a beautician has a difficult time cutting his hair to make it look natural. I'd like to give him a PawPaw cut, but Grandma Sargie (and probably Grady's parents) wouldn't be overly pleased.

The little poop. When he finally caught on, we clapped and cheered. Giving us his most grown up look, he said, "Shhh, inside voices!"

It appears as though today could be a busy one. With the frost out of the ground, I'd like to begin running electricity and water underground out to the garden. Grady can give me a hand and it ought to keep both of us busy for several hours.

There's plenty of other Pawpaw/Grady chores that can be done today, but first, it's time for a cup of coffee.

After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...