The Bar Harbor Story
Chapter One - Big Bar Harbor
When Erv Anderson began construction of big Bar Harbor everyone thought he
was crazy. It was 1937 and he selected a site off the beaten path on a
channel leading toward Lake Margaret. The facility was huge with part of
the building suspended over the water. A lighthouse greeted boaters and
provided a charming dining location once inside.
Construction was completed in May 1938. Within a very short time Bar
Harbor fame had spread far and wide. At that time however, it wasn't over
the food. Big Bar Harbor originally didn't even have a kitchen.
Early
revenues were generated totally from liquor sales and gambling. Yes, we
said gambling! In the 1930's almost all of our favorite old nightspots
were actually casinos. Technically, gambling was illegal, however,
Minnesota had no laws for enforcement.
When Bar Harbor first opened its
doors, you were greeted by the sounds of slot machines and card dealers.
Erv himself met his beloved Audrey when she was employed at Bar Harbor as a
"Chuk-a-luk" dealer.
All this was to change in 1946. Minnesota Governor Luther Youngdahl was
shocked by the gambling activity occurring at places like Bar Harbor, Breezy
Point and Deauville (currently Zorbaz on Gull). In 1946 Governor Youngdahl
enacted legislation banning gambling in Minnesota and the merry sounds of the
slot machines faded away. A popular rumor relates that the
"feds" stormed Bar Harbor and threw the slot machines into the
lake. Although a lot of things probably got thrown into the lake from Bar
Harbor's dockage, slot machines were not among them.
Gambling was actually
very similar to today's casinos. Slot machines were leased from
manufacturers and profits were shared. Another romantic rumor relates that
gangsters shared the take from the machines. This is also untrue, however
some of them did frequent Bar Harbor and Erv's brothers often took them on
hunting and fishing trips.
Although the loss of gambling was a setback, Erv Anderson was anything but a
quitter. He added a kitchen to Bar Harbor and enlarged the dance
floor. He brought in big bands like Woody Herman & Duke Ellington and
soon Bar Harbor was the "Central Minnesota Fun Spot".
Bar Harbor
was also a popular setting for other events including beauty pageants, wrestling
matches and a dressed up Minnesota centennial party.
Guess
who??
The fun was soon to end. August 8, 1968 big Bar Harbor was burned to
the ground. This was the first weekend of big races for the new Brainerd
International Raceway.
Thieves broke into bar Harbor looking for
cash. Disappointed that the receipts had been removed at closing time they
torched the building. It didn't take long for the 30 year old wood
structure to burn completely to the ground. It was the end of an era, but
not the end of the story.
