Shady Oaks Gets Update for 2020
Beloved cottage of Dr. Loehr gets a facelift
By Lake Access Contributing Author(s)
Dr. Loehr moved to Long Lake in the spring of 1979. Known for being an avid sportsman, he found pure enjoyment with the fishing and hunting that the area had to offer. His family had fallen in love a few years earlier with the south chain of lakes while keeping their speed boat at a friends dock at Coldwater Lake.
Moving into the cottage in the spring of 1979 was a big adjustment as the property was roughly 900 square feet with 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. Over the years Dr. Loehr added on a breezeway with laundry and a one and a half car garage. He renovated the kitchen from top to bottom and in 1991 added 400 square feet of living room space with cathedral ceilings finished in knotty pine. For over 40 years his home housed children, grandchildren and great grand children as they enjoyed the long days of summer and savored the beauty that existed. The family spent time back and forth between Long Lake and Coldwater Lake enjoying the
company of Dr. Loehr and Jon and Ruby Harpst.
In January of 2018 Dr. Loehr passed away at the age of 85, leaving his home to his four children. Being a place that was so special to many, his daughter Lisa and her husband Kurt Miller decided to take on a new renovation of the cottage with the blessing of her brothers and sister. Keeping the original floor plan, the Miller family added new windows in the bedrooms, put in hard surface flooring, and remodeled the entire house including the kitchen and main entryway. It was important to the family that elements of the home that Dr. Loehr (also known as “Poppie”) once lived in were kept throughout the cottage. You’ll still find photos of Dr. Loehr and his extended family, along with old fishing and hunting memorabilia to honor his memory and the love he had for the area.
The Miller family worked with Grabowski Construction and Designer Ivanne Spooner to achieve the modern lakeside cottage. They were able to keep the natural knotty pine ceiling by picking out flooring that brought out its natural color. The contractors added beautiful character with their custom cabinetry and trim and refurbished a butcher block kitchen countertop that was a staple in the kitchen. Opening up the space and increasing views to the lake improved upon the natural beauty of the space that has always existed. The Loehr, Miller, Cramer and Harpst families look forward to utilizing this special property for years and years to come.
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