The Lake Country Mountaineers was started after the Perham, MN Chamber of Commerce approached Dale Wright in the mid 1970's and asked him to come up with something for more attraction to the towns Pioneer Days. Dale then approached Jerry Greenwood and asked him to demonstrate a black powder shoot. The demonstrations continued each year after and then expanded when the exhibition became organized black powder shoots held every June and August.
In 1980 the men decided to start a club, at the first meeting the club was given the name Lake country Mountaineers Inc. The club's first five members were: Dale Wright, Jerry Greenwood, Bill Rose, Alfred Dewey, and Jerry Lucking. A lease from the city for some land adjacent to the Pioneer Grounds was given to the newly created club and organizing for the first Rendezvous began. The August shoot date was chosen for the event to take place, and the June shoot was eliminated. The first rendezvous only had a few people in attendance.
The second year Dale remembers their first "Tipi". Consisting of poles, truck tarps, and a log chain to wrap around the top to hold on the tarps. That year they also had Trophies and ribbons for the shoot.
The third year the club had a real tipi brought by Cam Stale brought down from Staples, MN. Dale remembers the members standing around it thinking " This is pretty great!"
The current clubhouse (a log barn) was moved into place in 1983. Work is continuing to maintain this historic structure.
The original emblem of the club was made by Dale Wright. It was a picture of a Mountain with a lake behind it and a mountain man standing in front. Years later the Emblem became the Otter when it was picked off the Ottertail Power Co.
