History Mystery

With the help of Wrenshall writer Annie Dugan and relatives, we have a host of information and photos on the subject of last week's History Mystery, Tim and Nellie Pappelis and their restaurant on Minnesota Highway 23 east of town, Evergreen Hites.

David Bellert owns part of the former restaurant site and wanted to know more about the history there. Joan Koski Johnson, a Pappelis granddaughter, told Dugan that Evergreen Hites was in operation from 1951 to 1963 and that her grandfather built it himself. There was an apartment above where they lived while he continued to add on.

"It was a constant work in progress I guess," Dugan relayed. "Apparently he did all the wiring himself as well, which might have played into the fire."

The building burned down and that was it, granddaughter Sheila Petrovich said. She and Joan are sisters and their mother was Thanie Petrich, who worked at the restaurant when things got busy. The other Pappelis siblings, Theo and Maria Maxim, worked more regularly at the family business, Sheila said.

Tim died in 1979. Nellie died in 1988. Theo died in 2008, Maria in 2004 and Thanie in 2016.

Sheila recalls her grandmother Nellie doing all of the cooking and specializing in lake trout. Tim was Greek, but there wasn't much on the menu in that style, she said.

There was a popular ice cream counter there as well, Dugan said. "Joan still has the dishes and does an annual ice cream party with her grandkids every year."

Jim Sheetz, another local history buff and owner of the Historic Scott House, said he remembers the Evergreen. His mom used to describe it as a pretty hopping place. Sheetz said his mother learned how to cook twice-baked potatoes with salad dressing there, a recipe he uses today.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. We will post all of the photos on the Pine Knot News webpage.

Do you have a History Mystery you'd like to share with readers? Email us at [email protected].