White Bear Lake in Ramsey County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Original Townsite Plat of White Bear Lake
Photographed By McGhiever, August 10, 2015
1. The Original Townsite Plat of White Bear Lake marker
The summer of 1971 marked the centennial anniversary of the original townsite plat of White Bear Lake. During the 1860's officials of the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad purchased the land which was to become the nucleus of the village of White Bear Lake. Gates A. Johnson, a company surveyor platted a townsite at this location in July of 1871 under the direction of Frank Clark, president of the line, and Jacob Stewart, its agent.Thereafter this plat governed the form and growth of what is now the central portion of the city. The basic plan, which divided most residential blocks into plots measuring 75 by 150 feet, provided spacious lots for summer cottages and permanent abodes. The owners of blocks 46 and 62 reserved them for resort hotels.
This plat designated street and avenue names and allowed for roadways 60 feet wide. Two exceptions were Stewart Avenue, which measured 90 feet wide, and Clark Avenue, which was 150 feet wide. Track routes for the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad and the Stillwater and St. Paul Railroad were laid out as well.
With commendable vision, the city planners preserved the lands along
this page online
Erected 1971 by White Bear Lake Area Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.
Location. 45° 5.101′ N, 93° 0.621′ W. Marker is in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, in Ramsey County. Marker is on U.S. 61 south of 4th Street, on the right when traveling south. On the north end of the White Bear Lake Depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4751 Highway 61 N, Saint Paul MN 55110, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fillebrown House (approx. 0.4 miles away); From Rails to Trails (approx. 5.4 miles away); Building Railroads (approx. 5.4 miles away); Gervais Grist Mill (approx. 5˝ miles away); Ramsey County Cemetery (approx. 5.8 miles away); Building the "Skally" (approx. 6.2 miles away); A History of Change (approx. 6.2 miles away); Gladstone Savanna's Natural History (approx. 6.3 miles away).
Photographed By McGhiever, August 10, 2015
2. White Bear Lake Depot, with marker just visible on far right
Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 3, 2019, by McGhiever of St Paul, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 244 times since then and 67 times this year. Last updated on June 5, 2019, by McGhiever of St Paul, Minnesota. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 3, 2019, by McGhiever of St Paul, Minnesota. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
