The Lake Campbell Sportsmen will host the 11^th Annual History Night and Ice Cream Social at 7 p.m. Aug. 5 at their clubhouse.  The topic will be the history of the Don and Donna Klapprodt family, a “pioneering family” on Lake Campbell’s Sunset Road.

In the 1940s and 1950s, Lake Campbell was known for recreation at Dance Land, Hagensick’s (Eastside) Resort, and the 9-hole Brookings Country Club.  A few lakeside cabins and farmsteads were on the shoreline of this 1,000-acre lake 7 miles south of Brookings. 

In the 1960s, a new wave of development began as dirt roads began to creep along the shoreline.  Seasonal cabins, usually trailers, arrived to house the new wave of  “pioneers” of Lake Campbell.

One of those early roads was today’s Sunset Road, and one of the pioneer families was Don and Donna Klapprodt, who moved a trailer beside the lake in 1968.  Ten years later, they built a year-round log home.  Their three children — Shylla, Kevin and Deb — grew up beside Lake Campbell. 

Later, Don and Donna were hosting grandkids and great-grandkids.  Today, the Klapprodt’s home place is a retirement haven for daughter Deb and her husband Mark. 

As Deb opened the family scrapbook for Sportsmen’s Club President Chuck Berry, she said: “Our Fourth of July gatherings are a memorable family tradition.”  Berry’s History Night presentation will be about a pioneering family living the lake life — fishing, boating, snowmobiling, gardening and family gatherings.  

Berry will also briefly review the history of Sunset Road, which was carved out of local farmsteads.  One unusual bit of history is the fact that half of the first lots were owned by The Brookings Broadcasting Co., founders of KBRK Radio in 1955. 

Residents got mail addressed to Rural Route 4, which was on mail boxes at the end of the un-named dirt lane.  In 1993, the county changed to mailing addresses to a house number and road name.  The change was a statewide movement to aid emergency services.

Linda Donley, a long-time resident of Sunset Road, said, “Paving the road was a wonderful thing — no more dust and mud.”  She added, “when we put in street lights, it was really 'uptown.'"

Among the first pioneers were Al and Sandy Glover.  Sandy remembers a flood that blocked the road to town when one of her kids was sick.  She had to take a 4-wheeler to the high ground at the Country Club where their car was parked. 

Today, there are 17 residences on Sunset Road. Residents have a formal road association.  They meet once a year to discuss dues, which are mostly for road maintenance and keeping the street lights on, and to plan pontoon parties and parades.  Also in the budget are funds for charities, like the Harvest Table. 

The Sportsmen’s clubhouse is on the southeast shore of Lake Campbell.  They will be serving refreshments at History Night.  Past topics have been

• Stories of other pioneering families
• History of the landscape and natural resources of Lake Campbell
• History of snowmobile races, regattas and the Country Club

The Sportsmen’s Club was founded in 1957 to promote conservation of natural resources, care of the lake, and safety and youth involvement in out-of-doors activities.  For more information, contact Berry at 605-690-1252.