<![CDATA[Walking Lake Pepin - The Walk Talk]]>

<![CDATA[Walking Lake Pepin - The Walk Talk]]>Thu, 16 Jul 2026 01:03:24 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[WLP took a walk to view Lake City Historic Homes]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2026 19:00:13 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/wlp-took-a-walk-to-view-lake-city-historic-homesLast week, Wednesday July 8, the rain subsided so the Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) group could walk the planned route along Garden and Oak streets exploring the many historic homes built in this neighborhood.
Jim Schreck, who lived during his youth on Garden Street, shared his early memories. He told the group that his block was home to 40+ children during the post war baby boom. The street was reserved for kids playing in the street and cars learned to take other streets to accommodate this. Capture the Flag and other games were regular evening activities at Patton Park during those years
Anne Tabat, LC Historical Society board member, led the walk along Garden to Oak Street She referred to historical society notes on these homes as to the year built, notable residents and the various architectural styles: Queen Anne, Italianate, Foursquare and Greek Revival.
She encouraged us to think of the families who lived here in the past in terms of shared experiences with the families of today. Many of these large homes were owned by merchants who had businesses in easy walking distance to Washington Street or doctors whose practices like Dr Patton where in their homes. In some cases the office signs of these doctors are still on the door.
Changing economic and life circumstances had an effect not only on the residents but on the homes. When prominent state senator Patrick Rahilly bought the Harvey Williamson home it was expanded and embellished to represent the Greek Revivial style and was designed to accommodate the guests and entertainments one would expect of a state level leader.
In other cases, homes were divided into two buildings as fuel costs rose in the early 20th century. Others were remodeled to include separate living quarters that could be rented to young couples or others looking for affordable living near downtown.
Later these homes would be occupied by large families or their elderly neighbors who had a constant supply of young labor to mow lawns and help with household chores. Jim Schrek can tell you more about that too!
Since we missed being rained on, Anne invited us to her historic home (formerly a barn to the Edward Wise home next door) for cookies and lemonade to celebrate. We were then able to appreciate the advantages of front porches that have delighted generations of Lake City residents and serve to connect friends and neighbors in a friendly, welcoming way.
Wednesday, July 15, the WLP group is scheduled to travel to Red Wing Memorial Park to walk and enjoy the bluff view vistas of Red Wing and the Mississippi River.
Wednesday, July 22, the WLP group walkers will meet at the scenic parking lot off Hwy 61 by the Marina breakwater at 6:30 for a walk along the break water and then out to Marina Point. Watch the WLP Facebook page for updates due to weather.
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]]><![CDATA[Old Frontenac; Always a Pleasant Stroll]]>Tue, 07 Jul 2026 23:54:25 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/old-frontenac-always-a-pleasant-strollA light rain shower greeted the Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) group in Old Frontenac on Wednesday night July 1. The walkers stood under the elevated van hatch to stay dry as Jim Schreck gave the group some new information about the woman who helped settle Old Frontenac.
One of the more interesting facts concerns the mixed-race sisters of the Santee Dakota Mdewakanton tribe, Jane Wells and Mary Elizabeth Faribault.
Each sister received ownership of land from the Half Breed Tract which was established by the 1830 Treaty of Prairie du Chien which set aside 320,00 acres of land west of Lake Pepin. Each sister and their children received 400 acres of the half breed tract.
Jane married James Wells an early settler who established the first trading post in 1837. The Wells family moves to Faribault, selling their home and trading post in 1854 to Evert Westervelt
Evert Westervelt, a partner of Israel Garrard, who were the leaders in developing the Frontenac area, builds the Locust Lodge in 1861 on the Wells property.
Current renovation to the Locust Lodge was noted as the WLP group walked by. Also under renovation is the Dakota Cottage that was owned and occupied by Lewis Garrard from 1862-1870. It was gratifying to see these historic homes being restored.
The group walked along Garrard Avenue taking in the splendor the original homes that were built here in the late 18th century; St. Hubert Lodge and the Winona Cottage built by Israel Garrard. Both homes are in great shape and still speak to the era they were built in.
Wednesday July 8 the WLP group walk explored the historic sites of Center and Oak Streets with Anne Tabot as their guide.
On July 15 the WLP group will carpool to Red Wing and visit Memorial Park that offers a bluff view of Red Wing, Mn and the Mississippi River Valley. The WLP walkers will meet at 6:30 at the Ohuta Beach Parking lot to carpool to Red Wing. All are welcome. Updates regarding weather can be found on the Walking Lake Pepin Facebook page.
Photo: Decotah Cottage

]]><![CDATA[Walking the historic Jewel Nursery site never disappoints.]]>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:44:29 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/walking-the-historic-jewel-nursery-site-never-disappointsThe Jewel Nursery property is a traditional yearly site for the Walking Lake Pepin group walk. Wednesday, June 24, the weather was perfect and the walk along Clubhouse Drive was a scenic route to savor the beautiful landscape that was the historic Jewel Nursery.
Jim Schreck, who worked at the nursery in the 1960’s, led the group on the walk sharing the story of the founding of the nursery by Dr. Phineas Jewell with just 10 acres in 1868 to its most successful years covering 1,500 acres in 1923 under the leadership of J. M. Underwood.
Jim was able to share details about how the new varieties of apples were grafted, how tree seedlings were planted and harvested and ornamental scrubs were trimmed. Jim had a hand in doing all these jobs at the nursery.
At the end of the 1.5 mile walk the WLP group agreed, a walk in the “Jewel” never disappoints.
Wednesday, July 1, the WLP group schedule takes them to Old Frontenac to find out what’s new in this vintage community. What’s new will be shared in next week’s Graphic.
July 8, WLP will be back in Lake City for a historic walk on Center and Oak Streets led by Anne Tabat. Meet up for the walk on Wednesday, July 8 is at 6:30 at St. Mary’s parking lot.
Watch the WLP Facebook for updates due to weather conditions.

]]><![CDATA[Sand Point Trail: A Walk in Nature]]>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 02:28:30 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/sand-point-trail-walk-delightfulIn spite of a brief shower and some severe weather predictions before the Walking Lake Pepin (WLP) weekly group walk, six walkers made the hike on the Sand Point Trail on June 17. There were a few puddles on the trail, but not enough to stop the group from making it to the sandy beach of Lake Pepin to enjoy the beauty of the lake at the end of the trail.
The trail was lush and green from recent rains. The canopy of trees and the thick trail side greenery surrounded the group with a kind of peace that only nature can offer.
A regular walking routine is known to have many benefits for health and wellness. Heart health, improved lung function and a reduction in obesity and diabetes are some of the proven benefits of walking and all kinds of physical activity.
Recent studies have also proven that time in nature has added health benefits. Studies suggest that time in nature lowers cortisol levels, which relieves stress, resulting in improved mental health. Time in nature has also demonstrated improvement in memory, cognitive flexibility and attention.
A 2025 Pew Research Center report revealed that 9 of 10 U.S. adults say they are online every day. Fifteen percent of those 65 and older report they are on the internet constantly while 18 to 29 year olds (62%) are reporting being online constantly.
https://growingfamily.co.uk/exploring-nature/nature-walking-games/
Finding green space to walk in, whether at a city park, a local campground, a state park trail or along a river bank will reduce stress, improve your thinking skills and most likely bring some added happiness to the day.
All community residents are invited to join the weekly WLP group walk on Wednesday evening July 1 at 6:30 pm. The group will take a walk in Old Frontenac and share some of the history of this special place where time has stood still.
Walkers will meet at 6:30 pm on Wells Street, which is off Garrard Ave (Goodhue County 2). Updates and changes to the walk schedule due to weather can be found on the Walking Lake Pepin Facebook page.

]]><![CDATA[Hok-si-la Park Group Walk, first of the WLP season]]>Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:12:26 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/hok-si-la-park-group-walk-first-of-the-wlp-seasonLast night" Mother Nature" blessed WLP with a steamy but storm free night for WLP's first group walk of the season. 13 walkers showed up to hear Ann Nibbe give a well-researched and informative presentation about the history of Hok-si-la Park. Its history includes everything from a temperance colony, an upscale resort, fish and fox farms, Boy Scout camp and in the end thankfully landing in the hands of the Lake City community for all of us to enjoy.
The group walked the downstream loop at the park stopping off at the Frank and Yavonne Memorial Bench to pay respects and remember Frank's life message,
"The sun is shining, the birds are singing, it's a great day to be alive!" Frank you are missed.
The walk continued with a search for the eagle's nest on the far side of the loop. In spite of the leaves, we were able to see the nest though no eagles were in it to greet us.
It was a fun night gathering with "walking" friends and being able to walk at the true "Jewel" of Lake City, Hok-si-la Park.
Next Wednesday we hope to walk the Sandy Point Trail if the mosquitoes aren't too bad. Meet up 6:30 at the wayside rest on Hwy 61 and Goodhue County 2, (the road to the Villa Maria)
All are welcome. Bring a friend.
Watch here on Facebook for updates.

]]><![CDATA[2026 WLP "FREEDOM to WALK"]]>Mon, 01 Jun 2026 02:24:37 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/2026-wlp-freedom-to-walkThe 2026 theme for WLP is “FREEDOM to WALK”. As the United States looks forward to celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, WLP will join in the celebration.
As citizens we have many freedoms that we may often take for granted. ‘FREEDOM to WALK” may not be a freedom that comes to mind. It does however remind us that we have a country where there are many opportunities to walk and environments to walk in.
Whether in a neighborhood, a sandy beach or a local, state or national park, there exists space where we can tie our shoes and take a walk. We can walk in solitude for mental health, with friends to build community, to maintain health and improve fitness or just for the sheer enjoyment of nature.
The WLP “FREEDOM to WALK” community fitness challenge begins Sunday June 7 and all community members are invited to sign up to participate.
The challenge encourages participants to establish or renew a regular walking/exercise program to improve health and fitness. Participants can choose to walk/exercise 150 minutes or more a week or complete 150 miles of walking in the 10 week period and log their results.
To register for the challenge, stop in at Treats and Treasures on Washington Street or Anytime Fitness on 7th Street. Online registration also available at walkinglakepepin.com.
Details for the challenge can be found at the website; walkinglakepepin.com and on the Walking Lake Pepin Facebook page.
Participants and all community members are invited to weekly group walks in and around Lake City on Wednesdays at 6:30PM. The first WLP group walk will be at Hok-si-la Park on Wednesday June 10, meet up at 6:30 at the park office.

]]><![CDATA[2026 Walking Lake Pepin Challenge starts June 7]]>Sat, 23 May 2026 15:21:31 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/2026-walking-lake-pepin-challenge-starts-june-7 at this The 19th annual “Walking Lake Pepin” (WLP) event, Lake City’s summer community walking/fitness challenge, is scheduled to happen again this summer. The 10-week event will begin on Sunday June 7th and continue thru Saturday August 15th.

The goal of “Walking Lake Pepin” is for participants to establish or renew a regular walking program or other exercise routine, to improve their health and fitness.
This year’s WLP theme is “Freedom to Walk” celebrating the USA 250th Anniversary of Independence.

Participants can register and make a commitment to walk 150 minutes a week or more or 150 miles over the 10 week event.

A log sheet will be available at time of registration to record minutes or miles walked. The log sheet can be turned in at the end of the 10 weeks to be eligible for a drawing for Lake City Chamber Bucks.

Weekly group walks will be scheduled on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm to explore a variety of walking locations in and around Lake City. The first group walk will be at Hok-si-la Park. Meet up on Wednesday at 6:30 at the Park office.

Sign up this year will begin Thursday May 21th. Participants can register and pick up walking log sheets at Treats and Treasures on Washington St and Anytime Fitness on 7th Street. Online registration also available at walkinglakepepin.com.
Continue to read updates at this website, in the Lake City Graphic or online at the Walking Lake Pepin Facebook page.

]]><![CDATA[WLP 2025 Season Finale at Bremer Orchard]]>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 00:30:17 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/wlp-2025-season-finale-at-bremer-orchardWalking Lake Pepin (walkinglakepepin.org) concluded it’s 2025 season of walking challenges and group walks on Wednesday August 20.
The finale event was held at the orchard farm of Chuck and Judy Bremer atop a bluff in rural Lake City.
The evening started with Chuck sharing the 5-generation history of the farm and orchard. The original 200 acre farm was a typical dairy operation. Apples were first planted on the farm in 1983. In the 1990’s Chuck decided to transition to growing apples instead of milking cows.
The farm now has 40 acres of apple trees that produce 12,000 bushels of apples per year. Most of the harvested apples are sold to regional apple distributors who bring them to the retail market.
Many of the popular varieties, such as Honey Crisp and First Kiss, which were developed by the University of Minnesota, are grown in the orchard. Chuck explained that it can take as long as 30 years to develop a new apple variety.
After sharing the orchard history, Chuck led the walkers along a mowed bluff side trail that ended at a site outlooking Camp Lakeview National Guard training camp and a southern down-river view of Lake Pepin. It was a beautiful vista that reminded the walkers how special Lake Pepin and the surrounding bluffs are.
Following the bluff side walk the group met on the farm house patio for fellowship and prize drawings.
Forty-three people signed up for the WLP Challenge in June. Participants were encouraged to keep track of the minutes or miles they walked during the 10 weeks of the event.
For those who turned in their walking log sheets a drawing was held for a $20 Lake City Chamber Bucks prize. Julie Diepenbrock logged in 3,755 minutes of walking and was the winner of the drawing for LC Chamber Bucks.
Drawings continues for door prizes for those that attended the weekly group walks and everyone went home with a prize.
The Walking Lake Pepin organizers would like to thank Treats and Treasures and Anytime Fitness for providing sign up locations. Also, Jim and Ann Schreck for continued monetary support, Tom Dwelle and Jim Schreck for sharing local history during the walks and Denny Robertson for guiding the walkers on the Tree Trail in Patton Park. Special thanks to Tim and Jenny Schlagenhaft and Chuck and Judy Bremer for sharing their bluff top trails for this season’s group walks.
Walking Lake Pepin will be back in 2026. All community members are encouraged to participate. Until next year, “Walk More-Stress Less”.

]]><![CDATA[Another walk through the historic Jewell Nursery]]>Mon, 18 Aug 2025 03:52:57 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/another-walk-through-the-historic-jewell-nurseryThe WLP walkers met up at Underwood Park to take a walk in the historic Jewel Nursery site. This is a walk WLP has taken almost every year in different locations of the nursery property.
Jim Schreck, who worked at the Jewel Nursery during the late 1950s and early 1960s has spoken to the WLP group about his experience working there as a laborer several times. This year after doing some extra research he shared the history of the business side of the nursery.
The Jewel Nursery was started by Phineas Jewell with just 10 acres of land that grew to 1500 acres by 1923.
After Jewell's death in 1878, J.M. Underwood led the nursery to be the largest landscape nursery in the nation and he a leading horticulturist in Minnesota.
Some of the most amazing facts about this enterprise was the volume of trees, shrubs, fruits and vegetables that grew there; 1,870,000 deciduous windbreak stock, 91,000 flowering scrubs, 42,000 ornamental evergreens and 310,00 apple trees were recorded in 1923.
The nursery employed 200 workers and had a bunkhouse and dining hall for 125 seasonal workers. The payroll in 1897 was $25,000 which is nearly a million dollars today.
The nursery was sold to Wm Lindmeier in 1944 and manager by his sister Agness until 1996 when it was sold to developers of the Mississippi Jewel.
Thanks to Jim Schreck for sharing the incredible success of the Jewel Nursery

]]><![CDATA[Patton Park Tree Trail led by creator Denny Robertson]]>Sun, 10 Aug 2025 01:21:30 GMThttps://www.walkinglakepepin.com/the-walk-talk/patton-park-tree-trail-led-by-creator-denny-robertsonWednesday August 6, Denny Robertson led the WLP group walk on the Lake City Tree Trail which he developed.
The group met up at Ohuta Park and was introduced to the Cottonwood tree the grows rapidly along rivers and streams and can survive for a hundred or more years.
The Cottonwood is a heritage tree that was important to early river boats for fuel and for early settlers for shade and streambank stability. Cottonwoods along the river are also prime nesting trees for Eagles.
The group then walked to the LC Public Library to observe another heritage tree on the boulevard, the Ginkgo. This tree was planted at the time of the library renovation and represents one of the oldest species on the planet dating back 170 million years. Native to East Asia it is a hardy tree having survived the atomic bombs in Japan in WWll.
Heading to Patton Park the group learned that the park was created and planted with the support the LC Women's Club and the Jewel Nursery.
Native trees such as white pine, burr oak, sugar maple, ash and spruce were pointed out. Nonnatives, European Larch and Douglas Fir, were also identified.
It was a pleasant evening to stroll through Patton Park and learn about the trees that make Patton Park a spectacular place to visit.
Tree Trail brochures are available at the LC Chamber Office and the LC Public Library.

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