Американские боги

           InJulyof1874,Shadowlearned,thecitycouncilwasconcernedaboutthenumberofitinerantforeignloggersarrivinginthetown.AnoperahousewastobebuiltonthecornerofThirdStreetandBroadway.ItwastobeexpectedthatthenuisancesattendanttothedammingofMillCreekwouldabateoncethemill-pondhadbecomealake.ThecouncilauthorizedthepaymentofseventydollarstoMr.SamuelSamuels,andofeighty-fivedollarstoMr.HeikkiSalminen,incompensationfortheirlandandfortheexpensesincurredinmovingtheirdomicilesoutoftheareatobeflooded.

           IthadneveroccurredtoShadowbeforethatthelakewasman-made.WhycallatownLakeside,whenthelakehadbegunasadammedmill-pond?Hereadon,todiscoverthataMr.Hinzelmann,originallyofHüdemuhleninBrunswick,wasinchargeofthelake-buildingproject,andthatthecitycouncilhadgrantedhimthesumof$370towardtheproject,anyshortfalltobemadeupbypublicsubscription.Shadowtoreoffastripofapapertowelandplaceditintothebookasabookmark.HecouldimagineHinzelmann’spleasureinseeingthereferencetohisgrandfather.Hewonderediftheoldmanknewthathisfamilyhadbeeninstrumentalinbuildingthelake.Shadowflippedforwardthroughthebook,scanningformorereferencestothelake-buildingproject.

           Theyhaddedicatedthelakeinaceremonyinthespringof1876,asaprecursortothetown’scentennialcelebrations.AvoteofthankstoMr.Hinzelmannwastakenbythecouncil.