Lots of folks boated in for the Lake Vermilion Bash set up lakeside behind Gruben’s Marina on July 19.
The event boasted wine tasting, trivia games, a silent auction, a raffle, historical exhibits, and a food truck offering culinary treats ranging from egg rolls to empanadas.  
The Tower Soudan Historical Society hosted the bash as a nod to Lake Vermilion history and the work the Tower Soudan Historical Society has done to preserve that legacy.
“There are so many lake people that are unfamiliar with the Tower Soudan Historical Society, and it’s time they come to support,” Mary St. Onge, the Lake Vermilion contact on the board of directors, said, “because we all love this lake so much, we want to keep telling its story.”
Its story is made up of longtime islanders like St. Onge, who on her 76th summer shared her childhood recollections of her mother and siblings communing with nature after being dropped off at their cabin by their father, who was unable to stay with them the entire season because of his duty as a sheriff for Woodbury County in Iowa.
“This is my paradise; it’s so many people’s paradise. It’s where you can get away and enjoy nature,” St. Onge said. “It felt like stepping back in time.”
Pine Island is many generations deep for many of its inhabitants. St. Onge has known just about everyone who has owned a cabin on the island over the years. 
“It’s such a tight-knit community because we have to rely on each other – we’re on an island!” St. Onge said.
The historical society’s mission statement says it is “dedicated to community enrichment through education, preservation, and celebration of the rich history and the heritage of the Tower-Soudan and Lake Vermilion community through people, artifacts and stories.” 
That mission has guided them in multiple preservation projects, including the refurbishing of the Old Fire Hall.
The project, among others, is spearheaded by Nancy Larson, president of the society.
The society’s mission is also what led them to host an outreach event for seasonal residents of Lake Vermilion.
“They’re a big part of our history. We wanted to bring more awareness of the history of the lake and of Tower and Soudan, so we thought, ‘Let’s come to them and have a great outdoor event,’” Larson said.
The society hoped the event would not only bring awareness to the history of the place, but also to the preservation projects the society is behind. 
There are multiple fundraisers hosted by the historical society to aid in these preservation efforts. Charlemagne’s Attic Sale, a periodic rummage sale, Charlemagne’s 52 Raffle, as well as donation and membership opportunities.
More details can be found on their website.
“This funding has been used for community support for when I write grants. It shows tremendous community support,” Larson said.
History Talks On Main Street are listening tours where you can learn more about the area’s history.
Upcoming talks include a discussion on Pike River Dam on Aug. 9 from 10-11 a.m. and the Burgess Family Story on Aug.29 from 2-3 p.m. 
The annual meeting, to be held on Sept. 9, will host Aaron J. Brown, columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune.
Larson’s own history is tied to the area. Her family moved to Tower in the 1950s and owned the Tower Bakery.
Though she moved away, Larson has since returned to “semi-retirement.” Larson’s work background as the head of development for St. Louis County gave her the skillset in planning and development to launch her own company, Community Coaching Inc.
“I saw a need for small communities to have someone help them with strategic thinking and planning for projects, so I left the county and started my own business,” Larson said.  
Gruben’s Marina has a long history tied to Lake Vermilion, dating back to 1919, when the Gruben family first established the business.
Though it’s been a while since the Gruben family owned the marina, Richard Gruben, who lives out of state, happened to be in town and at the event.
“We saw they were having a festival Saturday, so we decided to come up,” Gruben said.
Gruben’s cousin, Wendy Jacobson, recalled the history of their family, hailing from Norway and settling the area. The marina passed within the family until they sold it to Chessica Reichert and Fred Brett in the winter of 2021, passing the baton of history and bringing new members into the tight-knit Lake Vermilion community.
“It’s interesting to see the progression and the evolution of the acreage of the marina,” Gruben said.
As many locals and summer regulars know, the Lake Vermilion and Tower-Soudan area have a rich history that spans back generations. The community goal is to continue honoring that history.
As the Lake Vermilion Bash flyer advertising the event reads, “We have the good fortune of enjoying this magnificent lake, and it will live on long after us. Let’s keep telling its story.”