Celebrating the rich history of the folks who settled on the lake after iron ore was discovered Tower-Soudan Historical Society

The Tower-Soudan Historical Society is sponsoring a community event that engages both permanent and seasonal residents in learning about the lake’s history in a fun way! The Lake Vermilion Community Bash will be held on Saturday, July 19th on Lake Vermilion at Gruben’s Marina at 3-5 p.m. The event is free and open to everyone.

Long-time summer residents include multi-generation families returning each summer to their cherished Lake Vermilion cabins. The legacy of summer cabin ownership over 5 and 6 generations fosters a deep connection to the lake and a strong sense of family tradition. TSHS is actively preserving and sharing the history of the Tower-Soudan-Lake Vermilion area, including stories about people who spend their summers on the lake’s islands and roadless shorelines.

“It’s clear that Lake Vermilion has a special history for many families. The Historical Society is focused on being inclusive of area history that tells the story of the development of the Tower and Soudan area, including the heritage of the Lake Vermilion community, which is an important part of our history,” stated Nancy Larson, TSHS Board President.

“Mary St. Onge, a summer Pine Island resident for the last 75 years, and new member to the TSHS board of directors, has initiated new history programming to reach out to Lake Vermilion summer residents and engage them with the area’s rich history.”

In the late 1800’s, the area around Tower began to emerge as a tourist destination. Roads were not plentiful in the area; rail travel was the best and most reliable mode of transportation at that time. As years went by, tourism was promoted. Word had spread about Lake Vermilion and the other beautiful lakes in the area, where the fish and game were plentiful and the air was healthy. Tourism to the area was given an extra push by extensive promotion by the Duluth and Iron Range Railroad, beginning in 1908.

Tower bolstered this service with a thriving city harbor adjoining the train depot, where passengers could disembark and then utilize steamboat services to get to Lake Vermilion’s busy lakeside resorts, many of which were only accessible by water. “There were no roads when my family first came up in 1917, just the railroad that brought folks to the Tower train depot,” recalls

Carol Ferguson, whose family was originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. “Then they walked over to the city harbor to board a steam-powered boat that took them to one of the many islands where they spent their summer.”

Mary’s Rosenberger St. Onge’s family was one such family, described in a book she wrote “The Forever Days” remembering the many summers of her childhood on Pine Island. After Mary presented her book at a TSHS book-reading event last summer in Coach Car 81, it resonated

with dozens of families—many from Iowa and Nebraska—who bought land, built cabins and brought their families generation after generation.

A legacy that spans generations continues to flourish with the Kurtz family of Des Moines who have more than a century of summer memories on Pine Island. It all began in 1923 when great-grandmother Alice Kurtz had a cabin built on the island, unknowingly laying the foundation for a beloved family tradition that now spans five generations. “It was more than a summer home—it created a gathering place that has tied our family together,” remembers Julie Mitchell Baxley of her descendants. “She had the cabin built back in 1923, and over the years, her children and grandchildren all shared it. There were many cousins!” When highways replaced railroads, the dads would drive our moms and the cousins up, get things going and then go back to work at home. They would visit us a few times in the summer. Our moms were the ones in charge.”

As the family grew, so did their presence on the island. Descendants of Alice Kurtz eventually purchased nearby property and built additional cabins, though the original remained central to the family’s history. Known affectionately as “The Homestead,” Alice’s cabin still stands as a symbol of enduring family connection. “We wanted to be near each other but there was not enough room in our original cabins for everyone,” explained Brian and Jan McGarvey. They themselves branched off from the original 1930’s McGarvey Pine Island cabin to a nearby lot on Birch Point.

The island life leads to an interesting lifestyle. “I have never seen such excellent boating skills!” observes Louise Gately, who has spent time with friends from Pine Island. “These people are dependent on their boats to get to mainland so they become pretty proficient at navigation and docking.  They need to know how to run the boat!”  There also is a three-mile walking path along the shore and leads back into the forest which provides connection for the island community. A similar community of families also exists at no-road access Grassy Point.

Folks living on the islands enjoy unusual amenities. Mail has been delivered for decades to island families by the mailboat that comes out of Aronsons. “We depend on that mail boat.” says Carol Ferguson, “It’s a necessity! We are lucky to have one of the three remaining mail boat service operations in the U.S.”

Gruben’s at Arrowhead Point was a necessity as well. In the old days kids would finagle a way to get there so they could be with friends and while away the afternoon.  Sitting on the front porch in the old cedar log swing attached to the ceiling with rusted chains they’d eat Baby Ruth candy bars and lemon drops kept in a class encased cabinet so the summer kids wouldn’t steal candy when no one was looking.

All of this nostalgia and more will be celebrated on July 19th at Gruben’s Marina. There will be a wonderful food truck—Emma’s Kitchen—well-known for its delicious appetizers; Gruben’s Marina will host a wine-tasting; an original framed painting by Julie Baxley will be auctioned as part of a lake-focused silent auction offering fun lake activities; and Charlemagne’s 52 Club raffle tickets will be available for purchase. There will also be Lake Vermilion Trivia with winners taking home prizes. There will be an opportunity to become a TSHS member with a $15 membership, which supports TSHS’ operations.

Well-stated by event organizer, Mary St. Onge…”We have the good fortune of enjoying this magnificent lake and it will live on long after us.  Let’s keep telling its story.  Come and help preserve our heritage while enjoying a wonderful afternoon with your neighbors and meet new friends.  We look forward to seeing you there!”