By the Waters of Minnetonka

by Eric Dregni

Lake Minnetonka is renowned for its natural beauty as well as the prominent people it has attracted to its shores as a historic site of grand hotels, steamboats, and wealthy visitors from around the world, and as the home of the legendary Excelsior Amusement Park. But did you know that early European settlers to the region faced conditions so dire that they named an outlet of the lake “Purgatory Creek”? Or that a ginseng boom brought slaves to Wayzata to harvest the plant’s roots? Many know that Frank Lloyd Wright designed famous homes around the lake, but few are aware he was also arrested there for living with his mistress and sent to the Hennepin County jail for “white slavery.” By the Waters of Minnetonka uncovers remarkable and hidden facts about the lake and those who have lived on its shores, from the region’s original Dakota inhabitants to the present. Nineteenth-century plantation owners made Minnetonka into a summer vacation playground for the wealthy, and Prohibition-era battles led teetotalers to hoax Minneapolis newspapers about bloody clashes between preachers and saloon owners. Eric Dregni, who grew up in Minnetonka, sheds light on intriguing, if at times unsettling, aspects of the lake’s history, challenging myths and revisiting elements of the past that have been forgotten or glossed over. He also relates—and sometimes pokes fun at—the opulent, glamorous, and sometimes raucous moments that have made Lake Minnetonka an icon of splendid resort living in Minnesota.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2014

About the author

Eric Dregni has written nine books including Midwest Marvels, The Scooter Bible, Ads that Put America on Wheels, and Grazie a Dio non Sono Bolognese. As a 2004 Fulbright Fellow to the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Eric researched Scandinavian culture and roots for a forthcoming book. His time is divided between Italy, Norway, and Minneapolis where he is the curator for El Dorado Conquistador Museum and guitarist for the mock-rock trio Vinnie & the Stardüsters.

Reviews

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I must state that I received this book free in a drawing, and put it in my stack of books and did not read it in a timely manor. That being said....This is a great book. I am from Pa and have never traveled to Minnesota, but I loved this telling of the history of Lake Minnetonka.
The history of the area is so interesting and the details of the rail lines and buildings of the time are so good. This is a great read for anyone who wants to take a trip without leaving the comfort of their front porch. Thanks so much for having this giveaway listed on Goodreads.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this nonfiction book. I was born in Minnesota and could relate to the people and places that the book covered. The photos were a great surprise throughout the book. The author's style of writing was very enjoyable. I've never learned so much history from a book that was so easy and entertaining to read. So glad I won it and would recommend it. Readers of any age would enjoy this book.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC provided for review through Goodreads*

Wonderful insight to the history, the social and cultural background to life around Lake Minnetonka. Spanning the life and times of the Indian tribes, the first settlers to the lavish hotels and everyday life alongside the celebrities that came to call Lake Minnetonka home. With vintage photographs and postcards bringing the place to life, this book is a worthy read for locals and anyone interested in local Midwest Americana.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned a few interesting things, but if I wasn't already from (near-ish) the area, I probably wouldn't have read it.