Sherburne County Heritage Center Interpretive Plan Final Report 2005

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Exhibit Station: 3 Topic: Clitty Lake Overlook --Impact of Marshes, Lakes, and Swamps Story: Clitty Lake is named for the Clitty family members that owned land around the lake. It is similar to many of the shallow lakes, marshes, and bogs that dot Sherburne County and the steams that drain the land. As the last glacier retreated, chunks of rotting ice were quickly covered with sand and debris that insulated the ice. It may have taken hundreds of years for the ice chunks to melt. When these huge ice cubes finally melted, they left depressions on the surface of the land that filled with water. Over time, they began filling in again with rotting vegetation and erosion. The deeper depressions remain as lakes, while the shallower ones, now partially filled -in are marshes, swamps, and bogs. All of these wetlands have been important resources for area residents. Whenever possible, early settlers chose land that included lakes and wetlands. Most of the first homes and fences in the county were made from tamarack logs, cut from the plentiful tamarack bogs in the county. Even downtown Elk River had a large tamarack bog near the present Railroad Drive. Marshes, lakes, and bogs were partially responsible for the plentiful game prized by both American Indians and early settlers who lived or hunted in the area. Before electricity, local residents cut ice in the winter on the lakes and stored it for summer use. The natural landscape later helped Sherburne County become a resort destination in the early 20'h century. Those same lakes, woods, and abundant wildlife are now helping to turn the area into one of the fastest growing residential areas in the state, and the county's abundant water resources have recently allowed area farmers to irrigate their land, and dramatically increase their crop yields. Preserving the area's water quality, abundant wildlife, and natural beauty are today's challenges. Near Lake Fremont —That's What They Said! "A few rods south [of our neighbor A. G. Loughee's house] lies a large hay marsh, long and narrow covering many acres with excellent hay. West of the house lies a little lake of 40-50 acres surrounded by oak groves. I tell you it is very beautiful.... The spot we have selected for our building is on a rise of land in an oak grove, while East and South lies a hay meadow of/2 mile or more, with a lake in the middle. This marsh we cross on a beaver dam, hard and solid as land can be made, with a clear stream cutting across in the middle. There are two dams at our place, a few rods apart, which make a beautiful road...." (Maria H. Knapp, Livonia, Sherburne County, Minnesota, to her sister-in-law Elisa Knapp in Dummerston, Vermont, June 20, 1870) "The fencing is of tamarack, beautiful and strong & easily made and the swamps are scattered over the country. We have some on our claim." (Maria H. Knapp, Baldwin, Sherburne County Historical Society Heritage Center Interpretive Plan, April 21, 2005, page 20