TOWER-The Tower-Soudan Historical Society is excited to announce their popular “History Talks on Main Street” series, featuring a captivating story about the cherished summers spent on Pine Island in Lake Vermilion. As an integral part of the Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion community’s history, the stories of the individuals who spent their summers on the lake’s islands are essential to understanding the area’s heritage.
Mary Rosenberger St. Onge, author of the memoir “The Forever Days—A Memoir About Healing and a Lifetime of Summers at the Lake”, will be the presenter. She will discuss her book, engage in a Q&A session, and have book copies available for sale and to sign.
The History Talk will take place on Thursday, July 27 at 4 p.m. inside the Coach Car 81, located at the Tower Train Depot. To support the valuable work carried out by the Tower-Soudan Historical Society and facilitate the filming of the presentation, there will be an admission fee of $5.
Minnesota owes much of its early tourism development and access to Lake Vermilion’s unique resort identity to the convenient transport provided by the railway and the Tower Train Depot Passenger Station. Prior to the advent of the railroad, exploration of the lake’s 1,200-plus miles of shoreline was primarily accomplished by boat, dating back to the era of the Native Americans. The building of the railroad for Minnesota’s first iron ore mine in Soudan in 1884 brought the miners and lumberjacks, and later their families, to Tower. In the early 1900s, the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad began to promote travel and tourism to the area.
Upon arrival at the Tower train depot, visitors embarked on a journey across Lake Vermilion. They boarded steamboats at the Tower Harbor, which transported them directly to numerous resort islands dotting the lake’s pristine waters. Establishments such as the Vermilion Boat and Outing Company, known for its cabins and boat services on Gold Island and Isle of Pines, played a pivotal role in the area’s popularity. The esteemed “Hotel Idlewild” emerged as a prominent attraction in the mid-teens.
Lake Vermilion’s allure extended beyond Minnesota, drawing tourists from the upper Midwest. Including Iowa, Nebraska and Chicago. The area was celebrated for its abundant outdoor activities, including boating, fishing and hunting, while also offering respite from late summer allergies and other health benefits. It was unabashedly hailed as a wilderness utopia, prompting the construction of additional resorts and private properties along the lake’s shores.
Mary Rosenberger St. Onge, a member of one of the families who acquired property on Pine Island during its early years, vividly recounts her experience in her memoir. Arriving in the 1950s, Mary shares the tale of her family’s arrival at Gruben’s, where they would stockpile supplies before making their way to the secluded east end of Pine Island. At that time, the island lacked basic amenities such as electricity, phones, and running water. With her father returning to work in Iowa, Mary and her brothers were granted the freedom to roam and engage in playful adventures with children from neighboring families who also spent their summers on the island. Mary’s narrative is a delightful journey through the carefree joys of childhood, while also shedding light on the challenges her family encountered. Notably, she shares a touching account of her relationship with her son as he transitions into adulthood, showcasing the unifying power of trust and communal bonds.
Nancy Larson, President of the Tower-Soudan Historical Society, emphasizes that “The Forever Days” is not solely intended for summer residents but for all those who have cherished moments on Lake Vermilion.