It all began on March 14, 1972 when twenty-one people sat down with the purpose of forming an organization which would preserve Lakeside's history. Thus was born the Lakeside Historical Society.
  The names of the twenty-one are: Charles Anderson, William Anderson, Doug Barghols, Dane Carender, Lucy Carender, Fay Clevenger, Grace Fankhanel, Ray Getz, John Griffin, I. W. Jermack, Erman Kouns, Janice Kendall, Norma Lepker, Jerry Lester, Al Meyer, Maureen Nicolson, Ray Provo, Regis Rosner, Sam Sloan, Marcella Williams, and Mary Duncan Williams.
  The first to serve as president was Sam Sloan. The group met once a month; the first meeting being held at Lakeview Elementary School since its then principal, Gene Claussen, had provided much of the enthusiasm to get the group up and running. Later meetings were held in the library of the Lakeside Junior High School (now called Lakeside Middle School), at the firehouse, the Lakeside Library, the Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church Gardens (on Channel Road), and almost anywhere a room for the meetings could be provided at no charge. The dues in those years were $5.00 for a family and $2.00 for a single member. Eighteen people have served as President since then and many of those are still working and serving.
  The second year the organization almost fell apart because no meetings were called. Only due to the perseverance of the members did the Society continue.
  In 1979, three "Heritage" quilts were begun as a way to raise funds. Two of them hang on the walls of the Olde Community Church on the corner of Maine Avenue and Parkside Street. The third one is in the Heritage Room at the Lakeside Community Center. Olga Puhn traced each pattern onto the material. Marguerite Sherman put together the whole top of the quilt and Olga's daughter, Judy Hooper, machine quilted, drew and sewed the designs along the borders surrounding the quilt. Just about every machine quilted quilt we've done since then has been quilted by Judy on her magic machine. The names of the donors on each block were embroidered by George and Rosa Ribley, who fortunately had the necessary machinery. With all that cooperation the quilts turned out to be commendable artwork.
  Those quilts were the beginning of our almost constant ongoing efforts to raise necessary funds. Over the years we have served dinners we cooked in the patched together kitchen. We have held craft sales, bake sales, sold Memorial Bricks, and have received many donations from like-minded Lakesiders, and former Lakesiders. Each year

we hold a Christmas Home Tour (Chairman is Donna Swink) and a Hometown Reunion Dinner (this year the name has been changed to Lakeside Heritage Day). We buy new items for resale in our store located behind the Olde Church. Since the church was restored, we have rented the building out for weddings and meetings to raise funds to keep it all going.
  Not too long after our beginning, the County removed the boathouse from the lake in hopes that the lake could be sufficiently sealed so that the precious water would stop leaking out. It was then discovered that after 84 years, the boathouse was in dire need of repair. Al Meyer, Jerry Lester and Ralph Anderson took this project in hand. The labor was free. The business people of Lakeside provided the materials needed at greatly reduced rates, or sometimes free altogether.
  In 1980 it was decided to create little memorial plaques honoring those our members held near and dear who had died. The first Memorial Board, built to hold the small plaques, was made by Les Kephart. The custom still carries on and the memorial fund created is still being used for projects, such as helping to purchase our Olde Church. Lucy Mae Carender was the first one at the helm of this project. She was followed by Clarabell Cray. For quite some time now, Edna Kouns has been in charge. We have hopes of building the fund to the point that the interest generated would assist in running the Society month-to-month.
  One of our first Christmas parties was hosted by Genevieve and David Layton at their home which the town calls "The Castle." It is located on Castle Court (formerly Orange Street). From all accounts, it was well received.
  We have always provided every third grade class in Lakeside's elementary schools with a yearly presentation of a slide program on early Lakeside. Year after year, Olga Puhn, who always dresses in clothes reminiscent of the 1890's and early 1900's, has presented this program. We have also made presentations of this program of Lakeside's history to various organizations in Lakeside, when asked.
  We then concentrated on establishing a museum in Lindo Lake County Park. The building was put together from two metal sea containers, each measuring 8' x 20' x 8' tall, obtained by Ralph Anderson in San Pedro. He had them brought to Lakeside on Anderson Drilling Company trucks and they were unloaded here in the park by forklift (Over the past few years, though, the door has become balky and requires the muscles of a male member of the