My Dad, Harry Barcus, was a longtime friend of the Frings Family. They lived on the North West corner of Hansen Lake; just a mile away. They became friends, then hunting and trapping buddies. There were four of them: Casper, Joe, Ceclia and Johnny. Casper and Joe became good friends with my Dad and his brothers, my Uncle Lester and Uncle Ray. The four of them began to hunt and trap together and frequently played cards into the night. They had two games: Pinochle and Contract Bridge. As time passed, Casper Frings bought Morehouse Landing and approximately 80 acres, less water, on Gunn Lake. His brother, Joe, bought some shoreline and acreage on the northeast corner of Wabana Lake. I mention this because as years passed, these men became older. I had worked with Joe Frings’ sawmill while going to high school and developed a fancy for his property on Wabana Lake. At this time, I was working and living in the Twin Cities. I offered Joe a special deal for his property on Wabana: If he would sell it to me, he and his sister, Ceclia, could live there as long as they wanted to. This proposal fired off a brainstorm in Joe’s head and he entered into this deal with his cousin instead. Joe now recommended I talk to Casper about buying his property on Gunn Lake.

The suggestion opened another door. Casper worked for the Oliver Mining Company. He was a very good mechanic and had the responsibility of maintaining the huge conveyor belts used to move ore out of the mine where he worked. One evening, Casper was requested to go in the large machinery and while working in there, someone threw the switch and started up the conveyor belt. Needless to say, Casper was almost killed. He was in the hospital for over a year and when he got out he was handicapped and couldn’t live alone anymore. He took up residence with Joe and Ceclia. Now the Gunn Lake property on Morehouse Landing was essentially idle. I talked with Casper and he agreed to sell it to me and my wife Marlys.