Pittsburgh couple makes exploratory stop and plan to return

By Robert Williams

Editor

Eric and Sandy Frazee, an energetic and affable couple from Pittsburgh, recently completed a trip around the midwest that was all planned to end in their namesake town here in Becker County.  ¶  “We took all kinds of pictures,” Sandy said.  ¶  This vacation was one of many trips the couple has taken to get away from work. Other trips included Nova Scotia to see the hometown of Pittsburgh hockey legend Sidney Crosby to Hot Springs, Arkansas, a vacation and business destination of Al Capone during Prohibition.  ¶  “Being in business 24/7,” said Sandy. “Because we had our own business we worked holidays…Thanksgivings, Christmas.”  ¶  “Seven days a week,” said Eric. “It’s the only way you can get away from the phone,” Eric said.  ¶  The Frazees created and owned the Frazee Plumbing Company in Pittsburgh. They retired four years ago and wild hair trips are now tops on their yearly schedule.

“This is what we do; we look for an excuse to go somewhere,” said Eric. “This came up; let’s do it!”

The Frazees landed in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Aug. 19 and got a quick introduction to a change in accents.

“As soon as we landed we heard ‘You Betcha,’ said Eric. “Do we have an accent? Everyone says we have an accent.”

The Frazees definitely have a Western Pennsylvania English tint to their speech and use words like ‘yinz.’

“Oh yeah, we’re bad,” Sandy said. “We have our own dialect. Yinz, instead of y’all. What are yinz up to today? Djeetchet? Did you eat yet? We like shortcuts. There was an article on Pittsburgh because everybody likes to make fun, but it said our dialect is pretty unique.”

From Minneapolis, the Frazees rented an SUV bearing Florida license plates and headed to South Dakota to see Sturgis and Mount Rushmore then on to Wyoming to visit Devils Tower National Monument and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.

“We were heading to North Dakota from South Dakota and there was that girl who was like, ‘Why are you going there? There’s nothing there!’” Sandy laughed.

Stopping in North Dakota checked off the final box on the Frazee’s bucket list of visiting every state.

“That was our last state to visit,” said Eric. “Every one of them except North Dakota and I didn’t go to Devil’s Tower or Sturgis the last time we saw Rushmore so I had to come out here to see those two, but North Dakota and Frazee were at the top of the list. We did all the sightseeing and we saved the best for last and this is our last stop.”

“He couldn’t wait for this,” Sandy said.

Sandy got a surprise entering Becker County as her maiden name is Beckert. It was one of many moniker tangents run into during their stay.

The idea to come to Minnesota and Frazee specifically started six months ago. 

“I looked it up; Googled it and this is the only place named Frazee,” Eric said. “I read up on that Randolph dude (R.L. Frazee) and man, what a guy he was.”

Eric wants to do some genealogical research to see if he’s related to R.L. Frazee. R.L. hailed from the Frazee’s area having been born in nearby Ohio.

“I hope so. Let’s look it up; might be a pot of gold for me. They did a lot back in those days with the saw mill. I read all about him; he died at 64. I’m 63. I wonder if that’s the same tree, you know what I mean?,” Eric said amidst Sandy’s laughter. 

Part of their visit was figuring they would run into other people with the same last name, but that didn’t happen.

“There ain’t that many Frazees in Pittsburgh; I’m the last,” said Eric. “That’s it. There’s only three in the book and my brother moved back to Florida. My dad and most of my brothers didn’t have kids.”

The biggest thing that stood out to the Frazees in Frazee was the lack of people actually named Frazee.

“Just the history of the Frazee name. I was expecting to see some Frazees floating around but there’s nothing and they don’t even know anybody,” said Eric. “If I ran for mayor I might get it!”

Eric used the lack of fellow Frazees to his own benefit, amusement and bemusement. 

“I asked everyone around if you know any Frazees and they said, ‘no.’ I said, ‘Well, now you do!’” Eric said. “It’s pretty exciting.”

Sandy and Eric, both 62-years-old, grew up together, lived in the same neighborhood and attended the same Catholic grade school.

“I didn’t like him until 10th grade,” said Sandy. “He was bad.”

“I was trying to catch her,” Eric laughed. 

The couple had two daughters early in life Ericka, 41, and Jodie, 42, and four grandchildren.

“We had two girls before we were 21,” said Sandy.

The couple began their 43rd wedding anniversary in Frazee on Wednesday, before driving to Minneapolis to fly home.

“What a perfect place to stay and spend our anniversary; in our own town,” said Eric.

What they found in “their” town was a big helping of “Minnesota Nice.”

“Everyone is so nice,” said Sandy. “We hit every nice person here.”

Their visit began by meeting Sherry Brakefield and Aleisa Jopp at the post office.

“Aleisa was in the post office and we were looking for post cards; that’s where it all began,” said Sandy. “She was closed but she said ‘follow me, you can get them at my restaurant.’”

The couple then spent a few hours visiting downtown stops looking for souvenirs.

“We’re trying to boost the town up a little bit and boost the economy up here,” said Eric. “We’re buying shirts, postcards, stamps.”

“We’re going to lunch at the Gobbler and stopping at the little floral shop,” Sandy said.

After a few hours of interacting with the Frazee public, the Frazee began to feel at home.

“How can you not know everyone?” said Sandy. “We spent all day here…”

“We know everyone,” Eric laughed.

The couple met up with Frazee Police Officer Bret Anderson and a state trooper who were chatting in town.

“He and the sheriff were talking to each other and I didn’t want to sneak up them and I said, ‘Heyyy, do you mind if I take a picture?’”

A few hours later they ran into Officer Anderson again.

“It’s like we know him!” said Eric. “I said, ‘Hey Bret!’ He said, ‘Hey Eric!’”

The Frazees toured the town checking out the sights, including Wannigan Park and Thomas Dambo’s Jacob Everear the Troll.

“Your school property is beautiful,” said Sandy. “And the covered bridge is nice. Now we have to bring our granddaughters here to see the trolls.”

The Frazees were also here during the grand opening weeks of two new stores Mama’s Pizzeria N Scoops and Home Sweet Bakehouse.

“I like that it’s revitalizing and that’s happening around us too,” Sandy said. “It happens. The old people unfortunately die off and we’re probably the next generation. Things gotta change to keep things afloat and attract people. I’ll be anxious to come back and see how revitalized it gets. Once one thing starts…at home, it’s happened.”

The Frazees definitely plan to return to the town of their namesake.

“Friendly people, real friendly and small,” said Eric. “We’ll be back.”