The last article, dealing with the “mountain” and the lake of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, ended with the “mountain” having been turned into a county park and the lake having been drained to create more land for farming. However, there is more to the story, so here is additional information from the untitled booklet in my possession having no authorial or publisher information.
Discovering the Mountain’s History
“Interest in the mountain was stirred when Stephen Franz, son of Sam Franz, who was farming near the area, sent some of his Indian findings to the University of Minnesota. In 1976, Joe P. Hudak and a number of student archeologists from the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul came to the mountain and found signs of an Indian culture that they believed had been living there hundreds of years ago. They found the remains of a dwelling that they believe dated back to 100 B.C., probably the oldest dwelling ever found in the state.
“The archeologists peeled back a 15-inch layer of topsoil located near the south end of the island to make the find. It is supposed that this was a winter dwelling of the Fox Lake Indians, since the pottery and stone tools found here relate to other findings of the Fox Lake Indian culture. Near the center of the dwelling near the pole were concentrations of pieces of a pottery vessel. Around the area where the cooking fire was believed to have been located, excavators recovered a substantial quantity of stone chips, indicating someone worked there fashioning projectile points and stone knives. The house was a round dwelling 20 feet in diameter.
“These Indians used large projectile points as thrusting sticks and spears. What they found were many logs held up by rocks, and around these logs were buffalo hides. They found circles of rock where the logs were placed, bits of charcoal where their fire had been, and bones, tools, and spear points. What the archeologists found included the site of a refuse pit of bison and fish bones, a fire hearth, ceramic vessels (pottery), an ax, projectile points, and a rock sofa.
“The findings have been placed in the Science Museum of Minnesota, in an exhibit area in an open display box showing how the dwelling may have been. A replica of the Indian dwelling and some of the artifacts found at the mountain are located at Heritage House (in Mountain Lake).
Replacing the Drained Lake
“Mountain Lake received its name from the lake which was drained in 1905. It was continually felt that a town with such a name as Mountain Lake must surely have a lake. Dreams of actually making a lake began as early as 1935, but the project did not materialize until 1937. The lake became a reality as a New Deal (WPA) Works Progress Administration project with the Federal Government sharing the cost with the state and local governments.
“In 1947, WPA workers began the earthen dam, which reached up nine feet from its base, and constructed the outlet dam and road. People tell that much of the dirt was moved by wheelbarrows. After the dam was finished it was just a matter of how much it would rain and how much water the springs in the area would donate to the cause. Work was completed in 1938 and the road put into use. A mammoth 4th of July fireworks display celebrated the completion of the project. The lake has continued to be a center of activity all these years since its completion.
“A general clean-up program was begun by a new organization, Area Sportsmen’s Club, in 1985 at the lake north of town. What was once a popular beach had been overgrown with weeds and cattails since the city deserted the beach after the school constructed an indoor pool.
“With donated physical and mechanical labor the cattails have been cleaned out. An aeration program was started in 1983. It pumps the water to the top of baffles and allows it to trickle back into the lake and carry oxygen with it into the lake body.”
Thank you Jim! I really appreciate all the information you provide! It’s very interesting in answers questions I’ve had since I was little