NOTES
Lake City History:
Lake City was settled in 1853 by Jacob and Philip Boody. Because of its position on Lake Pepin, provisions were transported by steamers, and it is said that as many as 9 steamboats had been seen on Lake Pepin at one time. By 1865 the town was platted and many businesses were thriving. Lake City was best known as a grain port and had a reputation for treating grain producers so fairly that they would bypass closer and more convenient markets to take their grain to Lake City.
Because Lake City had sustained several damaging fires, a fire department was created in 1875. At 2 a.m. on April 22, 1882, the great fire of Lake City was discovered. This fire would burn 6 blocks of the community's best businesses and cause more than $370,000.00 before it would be brought under control.
Upon finding that the clams in Lake Pepin often contained pearls, a large claming industry developed. At first the shells were thought to be worthless and were discarded, but it was soon discovered that they could be used to make buttons, sleeve links, barrettes and other similar items, while the meat could be sold to farmers for use as hog and chicken feed. Pearl buyers would visit the clamers daily to purchase pearls which they would later resell on the East Coat or abroad. A pearl from Lake Pepin has sold for as much as $3,500.00.
One of the darkest days in Lake City history was July 13, 1890. On that day the citizens of Lake City were called upon to help rescue and recover the people who had been on the excursion ship Sea Wing, which had overturned and sunk during a storm on Lake Pepin. Ninety-eight people lost their lives in that distaster with 116 being rescued. Should you visit Lake City in the summer you will likely see many sailboats skimming across Lake Pepin, while a visit in the summer through early winter may bring you sights of bald eagles fishing in the lake.
