Meet Chuck Acker
I’ve known Chuck since I was probably 15 years old.
Please don’t do the math. Suffice it to say… a long, long time.
My twin brother Bob and I would walk with our cousin Allyson to the farm — no flashlights, no shoes, and sometimes no shoes or sense — and Chuck would walk up to the farm too, usually with his brother David, friends, cousin Kurt, and others. We’d all hang out and eat green apples at the farm… the kind that gave us bellyaches.
Some nights, we were lucky enough to go to their homestead, where Chuck’s family already had a campfire going, made us hot chocolate, and shared stories. They were always great stories. And had I only known back then that I’d someday be writing a newsletter, I would have been taking notes.
Chuck treasures growing up at the lake, and his family has been here since the beginning of time. I had the pleasure of seeing so many remarkable photos of his relatives from the early 1900s — shoveling three feet of snow, building fires in 0-degree weather, and cooking fish they had just caught from the lake. Their faces alone showed exactly why they called those “the good days.”
My early memories of Jack and Chuck include taking care of our dam — a chore they gladly accepted from the previous owner, Joel Hill of the Duck Harbor Chemical and Lumber Company. Joel and Jack go way back. Jack’s family even lived right beside the dam. Joel deeply respected Jack’s roots at Duck Harbor, especially how Jack always offered a helping hand — never at a cost. It truly was a labor of love. They took particular care watching for weather forecasts that predicted unusual amounts of rain, which meant removing the appropriate number of slash boards at the dam, sometimes 2–3 days before the rain arrived — all to protect homes from flooding and to safeguard Duck Harbor Road from washing out behind the dam.
The Ackers have always felt a responsibility to the lake — and I find that so admirable.
Chuck also reminded me how much things have changed. During the summer — especially long holiday weekends — people drive too fast on our roads. Others tear around on four-wheelers without regard for people, animals, or peace. So let’s all slow down. Let’s all be good stewards. Let’s protect the lake, respect others’ property, avoid polluting the roadway, and pitch in when we see trash. After all, why leave it for someone else to pick up?
Rowboats used to be enough. One of the photos attached shows Chuck’s brother John, circa 1970, skiing on the lake when a 40-horsepower boat was plenty. Let’s make sure we all follow the rules of the lake — and, just as importantly, respect every property owner’s lakefront by not anchoring directly in front of their homes. That’s just common courtesy.
Years ago, we all knew our neighbors. And if we didn’t, we introduced ourselves — or at least waved while passing by. But with accelerated development at the lake, there has been a noticeable shift in our culture, especially among longtime homesteaders. So let’s make sure we meet our neighbors. Let’s wave. Let’s remember we’re in this together. I love my new saying… We are “Duck Harbor Strong.”
Thank you, Chuck, for sharing the past with me. We should never forget the past — or rush so far into the future that we lose the lessons learned along the way. The historians of our lake — especially the Ackers and the Schnackenbergs — are the families whose farms laid the foundations here. It says a lot that they’re still standing. Gosh, I miss seeing your dad working in his vegetable garden by the side of the road.
You’ve reminded me of our shared responsibility to care for Duck Harbor. My hope is that this story inspires others too.
There’s another story about the legacy of our dams here at Duck Harbor… but we’ll save that for another day.
