Mae Norenberg: Mail Route

From 1939 to 1947, Otto Norenberg (1910-1997) and his business partner Simon “Si” Neises (1887-1987) had the contract to deliver U.S. mail along the Lake Route in/around Cass Lake, Minnesota. The 3 routes were:

1. around the main part of Cass Lake,
2. the west part of Cass Lake, into Lake Andrusia and to the west end of Big Wolf Lake,
3. around Pike Bay (land route)

Composite Map showing the lakes in the Lake Route¹W.W. Hixson & Co.. Plat book of the state of Minnesota.. 1916. University of Minnesota Libraries, John R. Borchert Map Library., umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll231:3111 Accessed 08 Nov 2023.
Portions of southeastern Beltrami County, northeastern Hubbard County and northwestern Cass County

Mary “Mae” Lydick Norenberg

Otto’s wife, Mary “Mae” (Lydick) Norenberg (1910-2003) not only assisted with her husband’s business, she piloted the mail boats. To our modern minds, we don’t think anything unusual about a woman operating a watercraft. However, in order to assist with the mail route Mae needed to be a licensed pilot on the upper Mississippi chain of lakes.

License

The State of Minnesota licensed pilots through the Department of Labor, Division of Boiler Inspection. At the Minnesota Historical Society, I found a copy of the 1939 statutes pertaining to “Inspections of Steam Boilers, Pressure Vessels and Boats and Licensing of Steam Engineers and Power Boat Pilots.” Section 5474 reads:

Each boiler inspector shall examine all applicants residing in his district for second-class and special engineer’s licenses, and shall certify the result of such examination to the said chief of the Division of Boiler Inspection, whereupon such chief of the Division of Boiler Inspection shall issue such license as the certification of the district boiler inspector shall show the applicant to the entitled to receive.

June 1943 Pilot’s License for M. M. [Mary Mae] Norenberg²Karrie Norenberg Blees owns the original Pilot’s Licenses, November 2023.
Issue 1: This was the first time that a license was issued

June 1944 Pilot’s License for M. M. [Mary Mae] Norenberg
Issue 2

Mae’s piloting is distinguished in a 1945 newspaper clip³Northland Times (Bemidji MN). July 20, 1945, page 11, column 4.

Mrs. Mae Norenberg bears the distinction of being the only woman contractor carrying the mails on the lakes of this launch inspection district. This is according to the report of the launch inspector who visited Cass Lake on an inspection tour during the past week.

Again, in 1947, Mae’s piloting skills were touted.⁴Northland Times (Bemidji MN). June 6, 1947. page 8, col 2.

Boat pilots on Cass and adjoining lakes were recently given examinations by the boat examiner. The test was a rigid one. Mrs. Otto Norenberg passed the examination with flying colors, much to the satisfaction of the examiner. who said she was the only licensed woman pilot in this section of the state. Moreover, he pronounced her as being entirely competent. Mrs. Norenberg handled the mail deliveries by launch for several years while her husband was in the armed forces. 

Mae (Lydick) Norenberg piloting the KenRob, date unknown.

What to research Next?

How did the family assist with the Lake Route?
What happened during WWII?

Edited: January 5, 2023 to add the 1947 newspaper clipping.

SOURCES

• 1
  W.W. Hixson & Co.. Plat book of the state of Minnesota.. 1916. University of Minnesota Libraries, John R. Borchert Map Library., umedia.lib.umn.edu/item/p16022coll231:3111 Accessed 08 Nov 2023.
• 2
  Karrie Norenberg Blees owns the original Pilot’s Licenses, November 2023.
• 3
  Northland Times (Bemidji MN). July 20, 1945, page 11, column 4.
• 4
  Northland Times (Bemidji MN). June 6, 1947. page 8, col 2.