Column: Recalling Bert Skinner and the creation of Edgewater Park There are four major peninsulas based on Fountain Lake. One is Ballard’s Point, or what could better be called the Park Avenue Peninsula. Another is the Oakwood area. The third is now part of Bancroft Bay City Park. (If there’s any doubt about this, just check the city map.) And the fourth somewhat stubby peninsula is part of the south portion of Edgewater Park. This particular peninsula had potential as a lakeside residential addition about a century ago. After all, the Park Avenue and Oakwood neighborhoods were already being developed. In fact, two men named George L. Carrington and Arthur Ransom had formed the Albert Lea Realty Co. and purchased 70 acres of what was then called the old Rasmusson farm. They had plans to develop a city addition to be called Edgewater. On the tree-covered knoll were two rural homes owned by Louis Kroessin and someone with the last name of Jensen (or Jenson). Kroessin was a German immigrant who had a harness shop in Albert Lea. He raised pigeons (squabs) and even pheasants on his small acreage. These birds were sold to restaurants for menu entrees. There were, however, two problems with the proposition of converting this property into a potential residential addition. First, it was a little too far beyond the city limits. At that time the Oakwood area was the very edge of the city on the northwest side. What’s now Shoreland Heights was then mostly farmland and the original site of the Albert Lea Country Club. The second reason was based on access. A swamp somewhat isolated the knoll for part of the year. By 1914 the Albert Lea Realty Co. gave up on their attempts to sell building lots on the knoll and adjoining property and the title for 70 acres was taken over by a Fairmont bank. Bert thought the knoll and adjoining land, including the swamp or wetland, had potential to become a city park. Thus, he purchased the 70 acres for $11,000 in 1914 or 1915. Yet, some local folks, including the city council, didn’t visualize the land and wetland portion (15 to 20 acres) as being park potential. Skinner was then the head of the city’s park board. Despite this fact, it took another 10 years before the city council decided to take part of Bert’s land, plus the Kroessin and Jensen (or Jenson) properties for a new park. The other part of Skinner’s acreage became what’s now the present site of the Albert Lea Country Club. Bert could have kept the property as an investment for the future, solved the wetlands problem (which was later done with sump pumps and soil fill), and really made money. Instead, he took pride in not making a cent of profit from his thoughtful purchase. The former two-story Kroessin home near the crest of the knoll was really revised. The lumber from the upper part, plus wood timbers from a small barn was used to construct the first pavilion and the framework for the original bandstand. The lower part of the house was remodeled into what’s still the Edgewater Cottage. The Tribune’s Albert Lea Tommy columnist (in reality, Burt May, the editor) had these comments in the July 27, 1935, issue: &uot;The man who had a vision of the possibilities of the place and made this park a reality was none other than Bert Skinner of Skinner, Chamberlain & Co. Through his efforts and unselfishness the land was purchased and developed. … (He) is the man to whom all Albert Lea – and all those who enjoy Edgewater Park and the Country Club grounds – are indebted for these two great assets to this community. They are two delightful places that will stand as monuments to commemorate the acts of Mr. Skinner long after he has passed on to the next world. … When you go out to one of these places to spend (a day or) an evening of enjoyment, just remember it is because of the far-sightedness and the consideration of Bert, that Albert Lea can boast of these two splendid places.&uot; There will be more information about the somewhat unusual history of North Edgewater Park in the Lifestyles Section on Sunday, Feb. 2. Tribune feature writer Ed Shannon’s column appears Fridays in the Tribune.
Posted on: Mon, 23 Sep 2013 19:27:53 +0000
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