Native hunters once stalked moose and caribou in its rugged forest land. Mineral prospectors and commercial fishermen came next. From railroad workers to resort operators, the history of Lake County, Minnesota, is about people who developed enterprises valued by the whole nation. Ambitious German and Swiss immigrants set up the first settlement called Beaver Bay. The county is birthplace to coporate giant 3M, home to one of the busiest ports in the nation -- gateway to Lake Superior's scenic north shore. These stories are the personal accounts of those who fulfilled their lives in Lake County -- living By Water and Rail.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This Book Really Sticks With You,
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This review is from: By Water and Rail: A History of Lake County, Minnesota (Paperback)
This book is filled with stories and photos illustrating the history of Lake County, Minnesota. As a cabin owner in the deep woods of Northern Minnesota (in Lake County), I found it fascinating to learn about the lives of those who took on the challenging elements of this beautiful and trying land. I learned about the history of the railroad, logging and mining industries. But, more than anything, as I now drive through this same territory going to my own cabin, I wonder, "how did they do that?" The people who came to this area had to be tough. The photos alone depict the challenges and hardships of snow, hard work and the determination necessary to scratch out an existence.
I think the challenge in a historical book such as this, is is trying to tell the various stories of so many people, places and industries simultaneously and have them hang together. At times, the stories can seem to be repeated as the thread of one person or an industry or town history crosses into the next. However, I found this helped me get a broader perspective. The greatest part of the book is some of the small stories that still stick with me. Did you know that there was a town Finland, Minnesota before there was a country Finland? (Finland, the country, was still part of Russia until the early 1900's, independent in 1917) On the way to our cabin we pass Lax Lake in Lake County. After reading the book I now know that it was settled by the Axel Waxlax family. Often in the car we still say, "Who would name their kid Axel Waxlax?" "I wonder if he was ever divorced? Would she then be the Ex Axel Waxlax?" "I wonder if he invented ExLax?" Overall, reading, "By Water and Rail", has provided me a depth of feeling, a depth of time, that I sense each time I wander these woods that were home to Native Americans and explored and settled by some amazing and resilient people.
5.0 out of 5 stars
By Water and Rail History of Lake County MN,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: By Water and Rail: A History of Lake County, Minnesota (Paperback)
The book was as I expected. Getting the book was a different story. The first book was sent May 7th. It sat in Brooklyn Park MN, 150 miles from my home, for 14 days. I called Amazon and they said they were sorry and would send out another one as soon as possible for next day delievery. Fine with me. They told me they would also send a return mailing authorization to print out and sent one of the books back. Great. The second book was sent out on May 27th. I got it on the 31st. So much for next day. In the mean time the first one I ordered came. Now the surprise, I printed the UPS return label and found out it will cost me another $5 to send it back. So I will be sending a email to Amazon to get this figured out.
Book is great, the service isn't so great.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Roger Duncan,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: By Water and Rail: A History of Lake County, Minnesota (Hardcover)
Hugh Bishop has done a wonderful job of putting this book together. Having lived , schooled and worked in Lake County from about 1947-1964 this book provided nostalgia as well as a deeper understanding of Lake County's and Northern Minnesota's roots. There are many names of early 1900s pioneers in this book whom I personally knew as well as many others. My own grandparents, mother and uncles homesteaded at Lake Mittowan, 3 miles North of Isabella (as the crow flies)and carved out a living off the land. I can appreciate from family accounts how the early settlers lived and survived the elements. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever lived in Lake county.
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