What’s in a name? In the case of Long Lake, Minnesota, the answer is quite literal. The city, you see, takes its name from the very body of water gracing its eastern edge: Long Lake. Now, before you dismiss it as just another town with a simple name, let me assure you, Long Lake holds a story or two. Picture this: the year is 1855. Spring is in the air, and a group of Nova Scotian settlers arrive, eager to plant their roots. They walk up to the shores, take one look at this expansive lake, and decide to settle down just north of it, in what is now Orono. However, the true pioneers of Long Lake arrived in May of that same year: the Flemings and the Knettles, hailing from Pennsylvania. They established “Cumberland Town,” complete with a sawmill, a general store, and even a humble schoolhouse. This bustling hub became a haven for travelers between 1855 and 1860. Why, the Knettle house, with its welcoming doors, even hosted the very first public religious service in the community! But Long Lake’s story isn’t just about settlers and shops. This quaint town played a fascinating role in the intricate dance between early settlers, the Dakota, and the Chippewa. A relationship that, surprisingly enough, led to the creation of the Union Cemetery. Imagine, if you will, a hilltop overlooking the town, known then as Teepee Hill. In the late 1850s, it served as a temporary home for the Chippewa. Word reached the Dakota, and their presence in the area – though peaceful – unnerved the settlers. To ensure their safety, and perhaps subtly deter any future encampments, a cemetery was established on Teepee Hill. The year was 1861, and thus, Union Cemetery was born, out of a unique chapter in Long Lake’s early history.
The Afrocentric Spectrum Mural
What whispers do the walls of a city hold? The Afrocentric Spectrum Mural, here on University Avenue, speaks volumes about