Big Island Through The Eyes of Darel Leipold
Posted by Steve Frazier
Our program on July 20th was presented by our own Darel Leipold, and was about the history of Big Island.
The island was used by the local tribes exclusively up until 1850, although William Snelling, son of the commandant of Fort Snelling and a friend had visited the island in 1822. The first major home built on the island was built by Mr. Searles on the west end of the island, and he also dredged the channel that divides the island into two parts. Parts of the foundation of his home can still be seen on the island.
In the early 1900's, the streetcar company, Twin City Lines, bought land on the island and constructed an amusement park. The park opened in 1906, and was accessible by streetcar boat (owned by Twin City Lines) and by streetcar (owned by Twin City Lines) fom both of the Twin Cities. It was a very expensive park to maintain, and the company closed it down in 1911. Not much was done with the property, although in 1917, all of the steel in the closed park was removed and sold for use in the war effort (World War I).
In 1920, the island was opened as a veteran's camp, and it continued to serve that function until recently. Usage by veterans dropped, and the owners sold the property to the city of Orono. The site is now open as a day park for guests on Lake Minnetonka, hosted by the city of Orono. Future plans include better dockage, and arranging the area in a better configuration. The area that boaters have been using for their film shows and other party activities is on the other side of the island.
The island was used by the local tribes exclusively up until 1850, although William Snelling, son of the commandant of Fort Snelling and a friend had visited the island in 1822. The first major home built on the island was built by Mr. Searles on the west end of the island, and he also dredged the channel that divides the island into two parts. Parts of the foundation of his home can still be seen on the island.
In the early 1900's, the streetcar company, Twin City Lines, bought land on the island and constructed an amusement park. The park opened in 1906, and was accessible by streetcar boat (owned by Twin City Lines) and by streetcar (owned by Twin City Lines) fom both of the Twin Cities. It was a very expensive park to maintain, and the company closed it down in 1911. Not much was done with the property, although in 1917, all of the steel in the closed park was removed and sold for use in the war effort (World War I).
In 1920, the island was opened as a veteran's camp, and it continued to serve that function until recently. Usage by veterans dropped, and the owners sold the property to the city of Orono. The site is now open as a day park for guests on Lake Minnetonka, hosted by the city of Orono. Future plans include better dockage, and arranging the area in a better configuration. The area that boaters have been using for their film shows and other party activities is on the other side of the island.