The Full-on Fiasco on Half Moon Lake (1964)

Mike Paulus |

Thank you, internet!  Above is just one of the many fantastic color photographs posted by John A. Anderson over on the You Know You are From Eau Claire When... Facebook group. He says:

"Camera pointed east, back toward Half Moon Beach area. Sunday, March 1st, 1964. … This was not supposed to happen at a HALF MOON LAKE Ice Fishing Contest. … it had turned abnormally warm the days prior. That day, it was well into the 50's. Four cars bubbled under water and I arrived later to see this. Location is closer to the Rod & Gun Club end of the lake. No injuries...except to the car owners' pride."

Yep, four cars went down that day. Here's another photo and some additional info from the good Mr. Anderson …

"Rod & Gun Club picnic area is a bit further off to the left, across the ice, in this Half Moon Lake photo, early March, 1964. Looks like a '58 Chrysler and a '56 Plymouth with fins pointed up...and also the top of what I remember, was a white, nearly new, '62 or '63 Cadillac. The Caddy roof shows nearly all submerged to the right of the blue Plymouth tail fin. No ID on the 4th car, totally under this pile. The cars got a little dented up in the process as they came together when going under."