About Whitefish Chain of Lakes

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1. Arrowhead Lake 2. Bertha Lake 3. Big Trout Lake 4. Clamshell Lake 5. Cross Lake 6. Daggett Lake 7. Hen Lake	8. Island Lake 9. Loon Lake 10. Lower Hay Lake 11. Lower Whitefish Lake 12. Pine 13. Rush Lake 14. Upper Whitefish Lake

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Lakestyle Article Written by: Barb Umberger

History - Whitefish Chain of Lakes: The Attraction Continues

Crosslake Historical Society / Northern Trackers Railroad Club

While there may not be a textbook definition for "chain of lakes," Minnesotans are certain they have lots of them. When people talk about a chain of lakes, they typically are referring to a group of lakes that are connected and allow navigation lake to lake by boat. Chains of lakes can be found in the Twin Cities metro area as well as regional Minnesota and Wisconsin. Regardless of the definition, few would disagree that one large chain of lakes is the Whitefish Chain. The lakes in the Whitefish Chain have become quite a tourist draw and an area becoming more developed all the time – with both businesses, cabins and expensive lake homes. But it wasn’t always that way.

The history of the Whitefish Chain starts during the Ice Age which created the lakes and rivers in the Whitefish area. It is believed that the Paleoindians were the first human inhabitants of the area – between 12,500 and 9,000 years ago. The Whitefish lakes were used as waterways by Native Americans and fur traders. The fur trade started in the 1600s; skins of North American fur-bearing animals brought high prices in European cities.

When the upper Mississippi was surveyed in 1836, a reservoir system was discussed, in part, to lessen chances of flooding downstream. It also was planned to help logging operations; by elevating the water level, it was easier to propel logs down the lakes and into the Pine River.

A dam was built in Crosslake in 1885 and 1886. The dam changed the topography of the area, including finishing the connections between the lakes in what is now called the Whitefish Chain. Today, it maintains the water level for recreation. The dam project brought a large number of people to the Crosslake area, as did logging operations. At one point, an area logging camp had 1,400 men. Today, Crosslake’s population of year-round residents is about 1,400.

Most of the logging in the region occurred between 1890 and 1920. In the early 1900s, as logging operations moved farther north, some of the loggers stayed in the Crosslake area. Timber buyers from the Twin Cities also saw potential in the region, including potential for a fishing destination. Homesteaders started moving to the region and tourism started in the early 1900s, as well.

Deanna and Don Engen bought their first cabin near Crosslake in 1959 – a time not that long ago, but an era when there wasn’t even a place to buy milk after 5:00. They moved there full time in 1970. Today, she is the curator of the Crosslake Area Historical Society and Don is its president. They have seen many residents and ma-and-pa resort owners divide their land and sell during the past 20 years. Sometimes, old cabins are taken down and in their place much larger homes are built. "It’s heart-breaking to see the old buildings go, but people want their own corner of heaven or some special place," Engen said. "Things are changing a lot, but it remains so beautiful here."