The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-27
LARGE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS
ARE CAUSING STEADY GROWTH
New Enterprises Hove Appreciated the Facilities Offered
at, WinoDa-Excelent, Shipping Accommodations
The County of Winona County and a
Word to It's History

Among the many gems which adorn
Minnesota's diadem of beautiful towns
and cities, Winona, Gateway City, of
the state, is among the most beautiful
and prosperous.
Nestled, like a jewel in it's case, be-
tween the towering bluffs of Wisconsin,
across the Mississippi, and the gently
rising hills which lie back of the city,
Winona-erstwhile yclept 'FWapasha,"
in the language of the Dacotahs. and
Prairie aux Allie (Wing prairie) in
the Canadian vernacular of the early
explorers-offe a restful picture Of
peace and beauty to the visitor not
easily forgotten. and the subtle charm
of semi-mystery which hangs over the
sad romance of Wee no-nah, the beau
teous Indian maiden from whom the
city takes its name. seems more potent
when one has visited the scene of
Lovers Leap" than ever before.
The legend connected with the fate
of Wee nah is a sad one. 1t is
related that she loved and was beloved
by a young warrior, but when her low
er sought to buy her as a wife, ac-
cording to the customs of their race,
the father of the girl refused to lis
ten. He had himself picked out a hus-
band for his Wee-no-nah, and would
have none other for son-in-law Rath-
er than submit to the forced marriage,
Wee-no-nah, Selling a favorable mo-
ment, when none were near to pre-
vent leaped from the immense rock
now pointed out as Lovers Leap"
bn 30 o,,S
ringing from her lips, sank into the
raging waters of the Mississip.
In contrast to the turbulent rushing
of the Fathers of Waters on his way
to the ocean is the quiet repose of Lake
Winona, which lies to the south of the
city at the foot of the densely wooded
hills, aboyeS which old Sugar Loaf
raises his lofty head full 600 feet. The
view from the hilltop drive is sur
passingly fine
In the city proper boulevarded streets,
fianked on either side by beautiful
shade trees and well kept lawns, have
rendered possible the making of a
city beautiful" and this surely has
been done to very large extent.
What, some fifty years ago, was a
d
grove of verdure, for scarce is there a
home in the city which is not sur
rounded with shade trees and a lawn
embellished by flowers, while the mu-
nicipal authorities have seen to it that
the parks and public grounds are well
provided with the same beauty makers.
The Park System.
The park system of the city is noted
the country over, and represents an
outlay of $106,O00 In each of the four
wards Of the city is little parlz-300
feet square-laid out with neatly grav-
eled walks, broad lawns and well kept
flower beds. In addition to these is the
levee, or Water Front park" This
strip O. nature" embraces some seven
and one-half9 aeres of ground, and is an
attractive piece of landscape garden
ing, laid right at the waters edge. In
the Central park there has recently
been installed beautiful fountain sur
mounted by a cleverly conceived
bronze statue of the Indian maiden
"Wee-no- NAH The fountain was a
gilt to the city from Mr.. w. ]. Landon,
and bears the inscription in addition to
the title, I'm Memory of Ida Cone Lam
DON. 1t was erected by Mr.. Landon
as memorial to his wife.
Quite recently a large plat of ground
overlooking Lake Winona has been
purchased by the park board, who nlan
the laying out of an extensive park
and drive.
First Settlers.
While the first habitation on the site
or what is now Winona was erected
by the Rev. R. D. Stevens in 1896. #
was not until 1881 that any direct at