Steaming Across Lake of the Isles
Miss Robbinsdale, The 1954 Aqua Queen
Peter's GrillSteaming Across Lake of the Isles
Lake of the Isles covers 102 acres, with 2.86 miles of shoreline. The deepest part of the lake is just over 50 feet. Originally a large wetland, the city spent 12 years dredging it out to create the lake. The access to Lake Calhoun was created in 1911. A week long celebration followed the [...]
The Depot at Crystal Bay Then and Now
The township of Crystal Bay was incorporated into the city Orono in 1955. The little neighborhood still has its own post office with and its own ZIP code 55323. The new 13.5-mile Dakota trail offers a spectacular view of Lake Minnetonka and follows the route of the former Dakota Rail Corridor through St. Bonifacius, Minnetrista, [...]
Katie in the Cattails
Name: Katie Age: 97 Neighborhood: Bryn Mawr Swimming Hole: Cedar Lake Quote: Cattails, cattails, In Dutch my father says to stay out of the lisdodde! My mother calls them der Schilfkolben but she’ll never find us hiding in them.
Rice and Amelia
Nokomis was originally named Lake Amelia in honor of Captain George Gooding’s daughter, Amelia, in 1819. Its current name wasn’t adopted until 1910, Nokomis was Hiawatha’s grandmother. Before the lake was dredged it was only 5 feet deep. In 1925 Rice lake was renamed Hiawatha and 1929 Over 1.2 million cubic yards were dredged out [...]
Cocktail Piano and the 1965 Flood in Otsego
This footage was taken in 1965 by the late William Klemz. Uploaded complements of his son Brian Klemz. At that time William worked for UPA which was the first nuclear power plant in America which was located a stone throw from this footage. The video shows the construction of the dike that kept the Mississippi [...]
Shelly Slips into Shingle Creek
Name: She1ly Age: 122 Neighborhood: Camden Swimming Hole: Shingle Creek Quote: Why don’t elephants go skinny dipping? They can’t get their trunks off. In 1852 the first shingle mill in Hennepin County was built near the mouth of Shingle creek, giving the creek and the neighborhood its name. Workers from the nearby lumbermills began to [...]
Good Old Wita Tomna
Here’s a wonderful 1920 postcard view of Lake of the Isles. The lake is known for its two wooded islands, its long north arm, and the stately houses of the Kenwood and Lowry Hill. Next to Minnehaha Falls, Lake of the Isles has to be one of the most romantic destinations in the city. The [...]
The Missing Island
Here’s a map of planned park improvements around Lake Nokomis including boat landing, bathing beach, bathhouse, and paths. When the land was purchased in 1907, the lake was very shallow and probably only 15 feet deep in the deepest spot. Much of it was actually marshland,slough and drainage area for the neighborhood. It was deepened [...]
Steaming around Minnetonka in 1909
Three-decked steamer St. Paul steams across Lake Minnetonka with its flags flying, and its side-wheels working, carrying many passengers, color added, dated and postmarked 1909.
Golden Valley, Garbage and the Laurel Ponds
An environmentally friendly documentary based on work done during the summer 2010 to help the animals living in, on and around a group of ponds in Golden Valley. I’ve spent enough time stomping through swamps west of the cities to tell you they all look like this and they’re getting worse.
Swamp of the Day
Pale green haze of new growth begins to obscure the bony structure of the swamp. Too sweet for me. I search for my fallen tree, for its upturned blackened roots the pit-strong mass, weighty, bulky, thrusting into the air, reflecting its silent strength in the water. A description of the merry month of May from [...]
Join the Saint Paul Vocal Forum Thursday May 12th at the 17th Annual Great River Gathering
Join the Saint Paul Vocal Forum for a Special Appearance The 17th Annual Great River Gathering Celebrating Saint Paul on the Mississippi Thursday, May 12, 2011 Saint Paul RiverCentre ~ Grand Ballroom Tickets: $65.00 per person or $650.00 per table of ten Buy tickets here or call 651.293.6860 to RSVP today! Don’t Miss [...]
