Volume 1, No. 2 - Westonka Historical Society

westonka historical society
AS AN EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY WE SHALL HOPE TO PROVIDE A CONTINUOUS HISTORY
OF THE LAKE AREA FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW AFTER US ...
VOL. 1 NO. 2
Streetcar Boats in the
w estonka Area
by Jeff Magnuson
Very soon, the fully restored streetcar
boat "Minnehaha" will once again cruise the
waters of Lake Minnetonka carrying passengers
between Excelsior and Wayzata. Much has been
written about the "Minnehaha" and its five
sister express boats launched in 1906 by the Twin
City Rapid Transit Company. What role did these
boats play in the history of our part of the lake?
Beginning in Main Dock Station in
Excelsior. (This building housed the "Dodg'em
r-,..-s" at Excelsior Amusement Park until 197 3).
.c streetcar line, which was double-track from
Minneapolis to Excelsior, continued west to Tonka
Bay to serve the Tonka Bay Hotel which was
owned by the streetcar company. Also, a
separate branch line ran from Hopkins to a
terminal in Deephaven near the Minnnetonka
Yacht Club.
In 1908, a loop track was constructed off
the Tonka Bay line direct to a new dock on the
Upper Lake at Wildhurst (Crescent Beach) to
provide faster service to Mound and other points
on the Upper Lake. (Remains of this right-ofway can still be seen west of County Rd 19
opposite the Tonka Bay City Hall).
Two Express boat routes operated from the
Wildhurst dock. The first, called ~the "WildhurstSpring Park Line" offered hourly service to the
end of Casco Point, Isle View (also on Casco),
Spring Park, and Woolnough (on Phelp's Island
where "Lake Winds" is now located). The total
mileage of this route was 3.38 miles. Actual running time was 21 minutes with layover time
taken at Woolnough. The second route was called
the "Wildhurst-Zumbra Heights-Mound Line."
This route offered service every two hours to
r-';ewood (east of Howard's Point, site of
. 5ewood Hotel), Shady Island, Woodside (near
Boulder Bridge),Zumbra Heights, Crane Island,
and Mound. The total mileage was 7 .61 miles.
Actual running time for this route was 42
minutes with a layover in Mound.
SPRING 1995
The landing in Mound was at the Chapman
Pavilion, just east of where the public landing is
today. Passengers could disembark here and head
for the Chapman Hotel, Bartlett's Hotel, the Buena
Vista or the Baptist Assembly Grounds in the nearby
Highlands. A separate direct run was operated
between Excelsior and Mound during the weekday
morning rush hour.
The express boat season ran from May 15th
through September 30th. Regular service on the
lake allowed many families to extend their summer
stay on the lake. A number of people were able to
commute to work or send their children to school in
the city. The fares for the express boats were 10
cents between any two points on a route and 20
cents for a round trip.
Service to Mound was altered after 1909. This
was due to the fact that Mound had commuter
passenger service via the Great Northern Railway
and the streetcar company found it difficult to
compete. By 1912, regular service was discontinued
to Mound.
In 1914, due to the development of a large
summer colony on Phelp's Island, another stop was
added to the "Wildhurst-Spring Park Line" at
Pembroke.
Express boat ridership declined steadily in the
early 1920's due to increasing use of automobiles
and the building of better roads in the Lake Minnetonka area. Several landings were eliminated and
routes were consolidated. In 1925, three of the
express boats, including the "Minnehaha," were
towed to deep water between Brackett's Point and
Big Island, filled with ballast, and sunk. Six weeks
into the 1926 season, the decision was made to end all
service and the remaining boats were sold or
scrapped.
We are very fortunate that the "Minnehaha"
was recovered in 1980 and is now undergoing
restoration by volunteers from the Minnesota
Transportation Museum. We will be able to get a
"feel" for what it was like to have lived on Lake
Minnetonka in the early years of this century.
Information for this article came from "The
Electric Railways of Minnesota" by Russell L. Olson.
An Indian Burial Mound
Preserved ...
Many people attended the February 18th, Westonka Historical
Society meeting with Phyllis E. Messenger from The Institute for
Minnesota Archaeology, where the topic of local Indian Mounds
was addressed. A slide presentation indicated a possible Indian
burial mound at the St. John's Lutheran Church site. Several
people attending the WHS meeting expressed concern because
clearing of brush at the St. John' s site was occurring. After the
meeting a representative of the WHS , board member, Jim Albrecht,
met with Pastor Eric Gustavson and expressed the concerns of the
group at the WHS meeting. As a result; Pastor Gustavson, Jim
Albrecht, Mark Dudzik the State Archaeologist, and the Minnesota
Indian Affairs Council have since met to resolve this issue.
The following is a letter from Pastor Eric Gustavson of St.
John's Lutheran Church sent to the Westonka Historical Society
on AprJ 19, 1995:
'
"The people of St. John's, while disappointed that we will not be
able to use a portion of our property to build a new sanctuary, are
glad that we learned about the existence of an Indian burial mound
before any further alteration of the site occurred. We have been
working with the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the State
Archaeologist to make sure that the mound is preserved. Upon
receiving written recommendations from the M.I.A.C. we will be
following their direction for the treatment of the site. By mutual
cooperation we have arrived at a friendly resolution to this issue."
Minnesota Archaeology
Week... Discover
Minnesota's Hidden
History
April 29-May 7, 1995
Why have an archaeology
week?
Minnesota's archaeological
properties are among the
state's most valuable resources.
They tell stories about us and
about our past. Public
education in archaeology is
crucial to the stewardship of
this cultural heritage. Looting
and vandalism, construction,
and other human activities are
destroying what remains of
that heritage at an alarming
rate. Archaeologists study the
past not simply for fun but to
share the human story with
others. Archaeology Week is
an opportunity for everyone to
learn more about Minnesota's
past. Living in Minnesota
means being part of its
multicultural heritage as well as
contributing to and preserving
its history. Understanding our
past will help us plan for a
common future.
Mi~nesota Archaeology
Week 1s brought toy ou- by-m--any
state organizations and
individuals. Some of the
organizations include: State
Historical Preservation Office,
University of Minnesota Interdisciplinary Archaeological
Studies Program, Heritage
Program-Superior National
Forest, Science Museum of
Minnesota, Bureau of Indian of
Affairs, Mississippi Headwaters
Board and many others.
Some of the events close to
our area include:
•Sunday, April 30, 9:30 am-5:00
1867 "37-Star
American Flag"
... donated to the
Westonka
Historical Society
Last year our
historical society
received an old 37-star
American flag from
Mrs. Roberta Nelson of
Island Park. Mrs.
Nelson worked for the
Mound Post Office for
several years and just
retired recently. She
said she found the old
flag in her mother's
attic. Since Nebraska
was the 37th State
admitted to the Union on
March 1, 1867 , this flag
was evidentlv made
after that date.
We are most grateful
to Mrs. Nelson for
donating this flag to the
Westonka Historical
Society.
Smelt 1995: Roman Furnace
Reconstruction-Location:
Historic Fort Snelling.
(Also, 5/ 1, 5/ 3, 5/ 6, 5/ 7
call Tom Sanders, 726-1171).
•Tuesday, May 2, 10-4:00 pm
Sibley House Open ExcavationsLocation Sibley House, 55 D St,
Mendota (on Hwy 13)-ongoing
excavation:---
-- -
-
--
(call Sibley House-452-1596).
• Saturday, May 6, 10-5:00 pm
Archaeology for Kids:
Simulated Dig-Location Fort
Snelling (also 5/ 7).
(call: Tom Sanders, 726-1171) .
This week includes
activities around the state for
you and your family to enjoy.
Contact the Institute for
Minnesota Archaeology at
627-0315 and ask for the
Calendar of Events for
Minnesota Archaeology
Week.
SPRING 1995
Shirley Hills Primary School...So why is it
called Shirley Hills?
What's h appen1ng
· 1......
•Chuck Hilbelink is currently drawing
plans
of the depot enclosing the west end
On Feb 21st in 1952 a special edition of "The Minnetonka
for
a
museum
and some additions for
Pilot" was published for a community celebration of the
renovating
the
depot. We thank Chuck for
school 's opening. Everyone was saying, "Shirley Hills Schoolvolunteering
his
time on this project.
what a good name for an elementary school." Today few people
•Outreach
program
for youth (see note for
know th e story about how the school was named.
.
next
gathering-potluck,
streetcar boat
Resea rch on the name "Shirley Hills" was being done for
talk,
field
trip)
.
the Shirley Hills School of Excellence Celebration (if you are
• Please call a board member if you are
interested in attending the celebration call Sue Cathers at
interested
in being a part of any of the
472 -4893 ).
following
committees:
Museum, Publicity,
Shirley Hills was named after "Shirley" Skarp Armstrong
New
Members,
Fundraising
(?, T-Shirts,
who now lives in California. The following are excerpts from a
Hats?) , Artifacts, Interviewing members
1986, Dec 16th, issue of The Laker. " ... a hilly area ( formerly
in our community about our past, Write
the old Held farm) was platted by her father, John Henry
articles for the newsletter.
Skarp, and named for her as a young child. The area where
•Folding Chairs needed at the depot-Do you
most of the houses were built was a very big hill. The hill was
have
any to donate? We sure could use
cut down and most of the dirt was put on property around the
some!!!
shore of Black Lake. This same Held farm also covered the old
•Some members have inquired about the
golf course, where the school now stands.
Office
offll1e State Archaeologist. The New
" ... Shirley writes, I lived on Black Lake with my parents
State
Archaeologist
can be contacted at
and two brothers and attended the white school house that is
(612)725-2411.
now the Spring Park City hall, and then Mound High School. "
• The Streetcar/ Steamboat Minnehaha
Shirley included with her letter brochures detailing the
benefit
will be Saturday, May 13, 1995 at
Shi rley Hills Area.
the
Lafayette
Club. For information and
Shirley will be back in the area for the "Mound High
reservations
call
4 70-1770-there is limited
Sc hool 60th reunion " early in July. We are hoping she will
seating.
(Sponsored
by The Minnesota
speak at a Westonka Historical Society gathering at that time.
Transportation Museum).
SPRING
1995
WESTONKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BOARD MEMBERS
Larry Beno-President
Sue Cathers -Vice President
Marge Stutsman-Treasurer
Lavonne Adams-Secretary
Lester Adams
Jim Albrecht
Jeff Magnuson
Michelle Magnuson
Jeanne StortzNewsletter Editor
472-7157
472-4893
472-5155
472-1885
472-1885
472-1571
472-3653
472-3653
472-4086
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
Annual Jr. or Sr...........................$4.00
Annual Individual ........................6.00
Annual Family ...............................8.50
Annual Contributing .................25.00
Individual Life.......................... 100.00
Patron Membership ................ .250.00+
Name .................................................. .
Address .............................................. .
City ..................................................... .
State .................... Zip .......................... .
Phone .................................................. .
........ .! will donate time
.........! will donate artifacts
Video Production: Bernie Lister
Westonka Historical Society
3740 Enchanted Lane
Mound, MN 55364
Minnesota Archaeolo
Discover It! April 29 - May 7, 1995
Purposes and Goals of the Westonka Historical Society
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Document, preserve, and classify early Historical Records.
Provide children and adults with History of the Area accessible to them.
Make tapes and recordings to preserve and interpret material unique to our Lake History.
Gather artifacts and reproductions for exhibiting the Story of the Area.
Involve our children with a living program of historicnl significance to make History "come alive" to them .
SPRING
1995