Hovland in Cook County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Old Dog Trail
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 21, 2024
1. The Old Dog Trail Marker
In 1856 post offices were established at Grand Marais and Grand Portage on a mail route connecting Duluth, Minnesota, and Fort Williams, Canada.
Since there were no roads, mail was carried in summer by boat on Lake Superior. In winter, dog teams and sleds were used by the mail carriers to tote the heavy packets through the wilderness over what was known as The Old Dog Trail, which ran along the North Shore of the lake for more than 150 miles.
The mail was transported in those days by private carriers who contracted with the government for the job. Sam Zimmerman, a German, and the Beargrease brothers, who were Chippewa Indians, were among the earliest postmen on the trail. The trip they made took several days and necessitated a change of dogs en route.
In 1895 the trail was cleared for hauling logs, and horses could then be used along part of it. Later, further stretches were improved, and in 1920 it became Trunk Highway No. 1. Parts of the trail are followed by present-day Highway No. 61 (North Shore Drive), which is now a part of the Great Circle route. Traces of the pioneer mail route are still visible.
Erected 1965 by Cook County Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals
this page online
Location. 47° 50.342′ N, 89° 58.201′ W. Marker is in Hovland, Minnesota, in Cook County. It is on Chicago Bay Road 0.1 miles east of Voyageur Highway (State Highway 61), on the right when traveling east. The marker is located beside the Hovland Dock, overlooking Chicago Bay and Lake Superior. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4734 Chicago Bay Road, Hovland MN 55606, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region, in the Iron Range, and in the North Shore. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, in the Great North Woods, on Lake Superiors North Shore, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, Ruperts Land, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Judge C.R. Magney State Park (approx. 4 miles away); Colvill (approx. 9.1 miles away).
Also see . . . North Shore Mail: Historic Routes and Legendary Carriers (by Elle Andra-Warner).
Excerpt: Locals bid to get the contracts for those mail delivery routes on the North Shore and had to provide their own transportation for those deliveries. Travelling the North Shore mail(Submitted on August 17, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)routes was no easy task. Winter mail carriers travelled by dogsleds or snowshoes over rough trails, frozen rivers, ice-covered Lake Superior, and through blizzards, and freezing cold temperatures. In summer, using rowboats, canoes, and hiking exposed them to sudden storms, large waves, winds, and hot weather.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 21, 20242. The Old Dog Trail MarkerLooking south from Chicago Bay Road; Hovland Dock, Chicago Bay and Lake Superior are in the background.The North Shores most famous mail carrier is the legendary John Beargrease from Beaver Bay. Beginning in 1879 and for the next 20 years, Beargrease and his brothers carried mail once or twice a week year-round from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, and sometimes to Grand Portage. Their load was up to 700 pounds of personal mail, packages, newspapers, and weather reports. In summer, they trekked along rugged shoreline trails, sailed, or used rowboats. In winter, they could cover 30-40 miles a day with their four-dog teams.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 270 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
