The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-13
BIG PLANS FOR
PHELPS ISLAND
AN EXCLUSIVE LAKE COLONY TO
x BE ESTABLISHED.
The Whole Island Is to Be Treated by
Landscape Gardeners and the Tract
Will Provide Sites for Handsome
Lake Residences - Work Already
in Progress.

Phelps island, in upper Lake Min
netonka, without peer in it's pictur-
esque beauty in Minnesota, is to be
transformed into a beautiful park
for homes. Elaborate plans are de-
veloping for the landscaping Of the
house sites. In many respects these
plans of exploitation of the island are
unique.
Thorpe Brothers have acquired a
half interest in the property with, E.
c. Warner and G. F. Piper and will
have charge of It's development and
sale. They have already received
people Of Minneapolis and ST. Paul
for sites ranging from five to forty
acres each.
Frank H. Nutter, landscape artist
and civil engineer, has started crew
of men on the island getting data for
issued by Thorpe Brothers in connec-
ton with new map of Minnetonka.
Mr.. Nutter at the same time will offer
suggestions as to the division Of the
island, the laying out Of roads the
best use of the Typographical features
for the most striking landscape re-
suits. 1t is expected to make the
roads of macadam with a main ave-
nue. skirting the edge Of the island
| and leading at intervals to the sepa-
rate properties. ..M. .r~-.
The first step has been to make ap-
plication for registration of title. This
| viii affirm the ownership in the indi-
vidual purchasers following long con
tinued litigation and the settling Of
| title in the present holders of the big
| estate.
| An Exclusive Lake Colony.
plan will be formulated for lay
ing out streets and roads so that their
control will be vested in the colony
itself thru a trustee as is done ir
the famous Tuxedo Park near New
York. The streets will not. be dedl.
Gated to the public. This will pre-,
serve certain exclusion which j:
desired for the island and will pre-
vent the giving of public picnic priv
ileges by the county commission.
is expected to secure from the Grea
Northern road a separate station OF
it's lake line between Spring Park an:
Mound.
Phelps island has the most mag
n1t1cent elms and naples in Mime
sofa. The owners have been Offered
more by sawmill men for the hard
wood timber than the island cost
them. G. M. Loring has said that
would be like tearing out the heart
strings to denude this island of it
magnificent trees. The owners hav
taken the same attitude and will Gu
only such trees as stand in the wal
of improvements. The peculiar parl
beauties of the spot will be retaina
so far as possible.
J, The scheme is the most extensiv
ever attempted at the lake., Sprin
Park was begun under similar aus
pices and other sections have bee
populated thru the efforts of syndi
Gates and real estate firms. But TO
magnificence Of detail and for exter
|; of plan the Phelps island scheme ha
not been approached even in such eN
elusive north shore neighborhoods a
/ M1nnetonka Beach and Ferndale.,
A certain mystery lies about Phelp
island such las attaches ITO land nc
generally, explored. The itroublou
times thru which the title, to tn
property has passed have intensifie
= this feeling among the public as news
: paper readers are thoroly familia
with the name Phelps island an
steamboat eXcursionists are CONVEX
SAINT with it's location but few of the
set foot on it. 1t is occupied only {
one end by Mrs. J. H. Woolnough
Maple Heights Inn, and the residence
> OF George w. Beach and w. B. Chan
n berlain Of Minneapolis, H. B. Gates
ST. Paul and Emerson Hough, the al
thor. The only extended road
the train that leads to the farthe
| PoAl1L NiASl Z ollCC Sloou helps LOQS
the home of Darlington Phelps, tt
original owner of the property. =
IL Phelps island lies in the upper lal
between Sprink Park bay, Phelps BIZ
and Cooks bay. It is separated fro
D. the mainland by Black lake and
narrow channel crossed at the Spril
0 Park end by a bridge. At the low
end a bridge formerly led to the zir
norman property or Enchant
island, but steamers now pass tn
- between the pilings. The neare
railway station Is Spring Park half
A mile distant.
"A Big Tract Involved. "a
=, The island contains $50 acres
al rolling land covered with a den
al growth Of hardwood trees. 1t Ii
lis over five miles Of measured shore lii
e, is one and one-half miles at its gres
We est length and three-quarters of
va mile across it's greatest width, a
its highest points are from forty
sixty feet above the water level.
Darlington Phelps was long t
owner of the island and gave it t
name. Within eighteen months G.
y FOTIRTH WARMERS