lake city history

Why save the cottonwood tree?

Feb 14, 2024

I’ve been a “river rat” since my folks bought our home at 219 Park Street in 1942-43. The home was in the family until 1997 when my stepmother died, so I guess that means I have spent most of my life under that old cottonwood in Ohuta Park. I wish I could know all that this tree could tell us...

Peters to give two talks on local National Guard camp history

Sep 27, 2023

The Lake City Public Library invites the public to two book talks led by local author and resident Andru Peters. On Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 2 p.m., Peters will discuss his book “History of Camp Lakeview National Guard Training Camp 1881-1931,” specifically the role of steamers and their impact on...

Corrected: Slain local marshal featured on ‘Officer Down Memorial Podcast’

Aug 30, 2023

A new episode of the “Officer Down Memorial Podcast” tells the story of Bradley Rodgers, a Lake City marshal who was gunned down in Lake City on July 27, 1892. “Marshal Bradley Rogers loved serving the community of Lake City, and this community loved him,” the episode summary reads. [Editor’s note...

State’s first Black voter was Lake City resident

Feb 22, 2023

February is Black History Month, and Lake City resident Jim Albright recently submitted a timely news item about a Lake City resident who made history over a century and a half ago. According to the Minnesota Historical Society’s MNopedia website, on Feb. 23, 1869, 154 years ago today, John...

Peters’ new book chronicles National Guard encampment that helped shape early Lake City

Feb 8, 2023

What started with the intention of writing a 15-page white paper has grown into a 300-plus page book with many photos chronicling the 50-year history of Camp Lakeview, a National Guard Camp on the south side of Lake City that operated from 1881 to 1931. It’s called History of Camp Lakeview...

Woman’s Club celebrates Anna Underwood with tea party

Nov 23, 2022

Local historian Katie Himanga was the featured speaker at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Woman’s Club of Lake City. Her presentation was on Anna Underwood who played a pivotal role in Minnesota and Lake City history in the latter part of the 19th century through the early 20th century. Katie’s interest...

Remember Lake City’s tragedy

Oct 20, 2022

My brother Kevin and I had just returned home from some last minute Halloween shopping at the local dime store on Oct. 30, 1972. My older brother was to do the same after finishing his paper route which ran down South Prairie and up 6th Street beginning and ending at our house. Three brothers...

Frederick Johnson to speak about Central Point history on Oct. 9

Oct 5, 2022

Frederick Johnson, a Red Wing native and teacher in the St. Paul school system, has an abiding interest in the history of the Goodhue County area. On Oct. 9 at Hok-Si-La Park, he’ll share some of the research he’s done on the area of Central Point and Rest Island. He’ll also talk about the 1890...

Lake City Camp Fire reunion is Saturday at Hok-Si-La

Sep 14, 2022

Camp Fire Girls was chartered in 1946 in Lake City and was an active youth organization in Lake City until 2003. The organization provided an opportunity for girls age 5 to 18 years old to participate in clubs that provided training in outdoor skills, community service and leadership while building...

Stienes share history of city electrical power with Rotary Club

Aug 10, 2022

On Monday August 8, Bill and Sue Stiene were guest speakers at the Lake City Rotary Club meeting. They talked about the history of Lake City electrical power. Bill worked for the city utility company for 37 years starting in 1974 and retiring in 2010 as a Certified Lineman. He started out telling...