In this area, we will occasionally post pictures and other items of historical interest.  We welcome contributions, and will acknowledge the contributor(s).  Unless we specify a proprietary issue, you may assume that the items we post are public property and may be shared with others.  This is strictly a fun site .... enjoy !!

This is the earliest brochure we have for Echo Chalet.  The "Chalet-lees" were finished in the summer of 1947, so we assume this dates from the late 1940's.  At that time, bread was about 20 cents / loaf, and a Saturday double feature was 15 cents. The Chaletlee rates have increased 12 to 15-fold over the past 53 years - not bad by comparison.  We still think they're a bargain at $82 (one bedroom two guests) to $126 (2 bedroom -four guests) / night.   Come see our new, deluxe unit (Chaletlee #11) this summer.  This double unit has been combined into one "Suite" and will rent for $195 / night (full kitchen, king-size bed, hide-a-bed, living room, new bathroom with large shower). 

NEXT ITEM:

Dr. Carroll Cross, one of my ex-instructors / colleagues at U.C.D. Medical School, sent me this 1941 issue of  RUNT (a Fallen Leaf community publication from that era).

Here is the inside credit, including a tribute to the RUNT:

Here is the advertisement for that "world-famous resort" in the same issue of RUNT:

Historical note:  Curt Rocca was the Chalet's first manager, and was called into military service about the time this advertisement appeared.  He had a Navy commission from U.C. Berkeley, and the Chalet was  operated by Blanche Rocca throughout the war years.  Upon his safe return from WWII, Curt elected to pursue another career, and the Chalet was sold to Haven W. Jorgensen ("Jorgy").

Echo Chalet owner / operators: (approximate dates)

Rocca Family 1939 - 1946

H.W. Jorgensen 1946 - 1969

Roy Johnson Family 1969 - 1973

H.W. Jorgensen 1973 - 1974

Bruce and Mary Lou Brown 1974 - 1981

Medshallah Corporation 1981 - 1984 

 Note: It is my (Tom's) understanding that the origin of "Medshallah" rests with the misinterpretation of a contraction of  Medical Chalet into "MedChalet".  The physician-owners, under a time constraint to incorporate,  telephoned  instructions to their attorney, and the intended Corporate name got lost in translation.  

Tom and Kathleen Fashinell 1984 (fall) - present 

JUST FOR FUN: PICTURES FROM THE PAST - or SENIORS AT ECHO LAKE 

Jim, Bob, and Tom Fashinell at Echo Lake 1953

1956:  Beverly Kent, ... ... Bruce Crater, Tom F. and Tom Phair 

Sid Ames on the left, Tom Fashinell on the right. Who's in the middle? Rigging "H-Bomb" circa 1959-60

Sid in "H-Bomb" - No life jacket??

Dan Reid on the bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace" to a shore side audience. Kathleen portside stern, with Tyler partially visible behind the bagpipes.

"Old Blues" at Echo 2003. Chuck Holloway, Vince (Buzz) Butler, Tom Fashinell (the auto-dating on the camera is off by 8-1/2 years)

Durein and Hueter antique Thompson wooden boats - rebuilt and maintained with loving care.

Summer of 2004: The breakwater boom came free this winter, and, unfortunately, broke into two sections. After extensive maneuvering the ends were pulled from the lake and subsequently cut into three sections of almost-equal length.  Axelson's welding did us a huge favor, and left ongoing projects to come up to Echo and repair the damage.  The underwater anchorS (about 3,000 pounds/each) have been successfully moved, and the three-piece boom has been floated into position. Over the years, the original boom had slowly dragged the anchors to the point wherein the harbor entrance was quite narrow.  Hopefully the articulated boom will be less likely to move the anchors - time will tell. 

Due to adverse weather conditions we were unable to reposition the boom immediately upon its completion. Look at some of the following pictures and you will understand why we could not hold the boats in place over the anchors, and what such storms do to the harbor area.

Waves breaking over the Chalet Pier

Reflecting Waves in  the Finger Piers

Waves breaking over the rock wall

Wave action in the central harbor. It is this kind of boat movement that results in broken lines, and damage to the boats and docks.  The heavier the boat, the more likely the piers will be damaged.  Lighter boats, especially those with low profiles, tend to ride under the dock edge and damage themselves.

More wave action - look at the boats in the background (tipped at all angles), and the waves breaking over the rental pier.

BREAK-WATER BOOM:  Repair work and manipulation::

Boom on Ramp 5-17-04

Welding end-plates (note broken section)

Tom Mitchell, the expert welder (from Axelson's).

Our crew cutting chain, launching sections and rigging them on 5-27-04. 

Moving Section on "rollers"

Launching all three sections

Oops! Man is that water COLD!

Three-piece boom, awaiting re-attachment

Moby rigged with two 4x6's on edge, with chains wrapped around each side. The come-a-longs were then attached to the chains and the first weight was lifted off the lake bottom. It could not be released in ideal position due to depth of the water and length of the fully-extended come-a-longs. New equipment has been obtained, and further attempts will be made when weather permits.

Jim getting ready to dive and place chains on weights.

Jim and Tom discussing the situation

Moby with weight lifted ( but not re-positioned )

ANGORA RIDGE FIRE - RELATED PICTURES

Where there was smoke ...

(Picture courtesy of Betty Drury, view across lower Echo to Flagpole Peak)

There was ...

(Northwesterly view from the overlook at the base of Dumbo looking towards Flagpole Peak)

The fire as it appeared from Tahoe's North Shore:

Lower Echo the morning of 6-26-07 

Lower Echo the morning of - 6-30-07

05/22/2008

   [ Home ] [ Up ]

Last modified: May 22, 2008            Webmaster: Tom Fashinell

This facility is operated in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, age, handicap, religion, or national origin.