The Time Capsule: Viking Lake named amid contest scandal

 After a couple of columns on Viking Lake, we’ll wrap it up with a trivia question:

Q.  Who deserves credit for the name ‘Viking Lake’?  (a) Carl Albert Johnson, Stanton farmer, (b) Jim Logan, Red Oak Express, (c) Bernie Wickstrom, Stanton Viking, (d) none of the above.

In 1955, with construction just underway, Bernie Wickstrom, editor of the Stanton newspaper, contacted the Conservation Commission to ask if they would agree to a lake-naming contest. Initially they said yes, then hedged. Wickstrom could have his contest, but in the end they’d use whatever name they wanted. Wickstrom protested—if that was the case there was no use having a contest. A compromise was reached; local judges would pick the top five, one of which the Commission agreed to select.  

This suited Wickstrom—he’d have a front-page story announcing the contest, another on the five finalists, and a third revealing the Commission’s selection.  

Nearly 170 entries were received, all judged by the Stanton Chamber of Commerce. Some submissions were from skeptics, those who didn’t think an artificial lake would hold water. “Mud-Puddle Lake” was a suggestion, as was “Lake Mud-Hole.” Several entered “Lutefisk Lake,” and someone submitted “Swede’s Swamp.”  The “Lake Flicka” entry was accompanied by a note explaining a young lady called Flicka (Swedish for girl) had been involved in a risqué misadventure in the brushy timber that would be under water. Wickstrom declined to reveal details, but it was said Flicka, although she contracted poison ivy, was richly deserving of recognition.  

Judges passed on “Lake Zickawanda,” submitted by someone who wrote that a girl named Wanda Zickafoose had often gone horse-back riding in an area included in the park.  She may also have gotten poison ivy.  

“Lake Stanvillmonty” was rejected, as was “Vill-Stan Lake” and “Loafer Lake.”

Thirty-five entries recognized the fact  there wouldn’t have been a state park in Montgomery County had it not been for Oscar Hultman, and the judges put “Hultman Lake” at the top of their list. They also liked “Lake Mahaska,” after the Iowa chief who was murdered not far away. “Halland Lake,” for the founder of the Swedish settlement made the cut, as did “Woodland Lake.”             

The fifth choice was a tough one. Four people entered “Viking Lake.” Wickstrom wrote the judges did not like it because “if we keep this up everything around here will be named Viking.” They needed a fifth, though, and returned to the rejects. Carl Albert Johnson had entered “Lake of the Vikings.” It included the unwanted word, but some thought there was a mystical quality, evoking images of a graceful ship gliding silently across a fog-shrouded lake. “Lake of the Vikings” was added, last on their list.  

Wistrom carried the story and the winner would be announced at the grand finale of the big event of the year—Baseball Day of 1956. The Chamber didn’t know it, but the Commission was about to throw them a nasty curve. 

Max Patkin, the ‘Clown Prince of Baseball,’ performed, as did Swedish folk dancers. Stanton edged Red Oak in a day game, the high school lost a close one and then, in the featured event played before 3,000 spectators, the home team beat the Kansas City Monarchs.  

Alan Swanson, president of the Chamber, reached the moment of truth. He had to tell the crowd the Conservation Commission had awarded first prize, and the $25 savings bond, to Carl Albert Johnson and the new park was named “Viking Lake.”  

Everyone who was paying attention, particularly the four who entered the chosen name, knew that was not Johnson’s entry.  Wickstrom was outraged, the Chamber embarrassed, and those who entered the chosen name had been cheated.  The Commission, 120 miles away, didn’t care.  

So the answer to the trivia question is (d).  Wickstrom, probably wanting the story over and forgotten, did not make public the names of those who should have gotten credit.  

A short time later he was asked to hold a contest to name the new school. He declined.       

Roy Marshall is a local historian and columnist for the Red Oak Express. He can be contacted at news@redoakexpress.com.