I arrived in Grand Marais in 1930. I have always been proud to call Grand Marais my “hometown.” It was during the Depression and everyone here was poor, but we didn’t know it. It was a small community with an abundance of fish and wildlife and we essentially lived off the land. We were close-knit. Everyone looked after everyone.
People have tried to preserve this “quaint little village” image as the town grew. We didn’t build in a way that would subtract from the values of the surrounding property or block our neighbors’ views. One of our mayors, Clark McElevey, was adamant in preserving the village identity. When he bought the old Arrowhead Hotel, which was in disrepair, he removed the second story and built several storefronts and offices on the first floor. I can recall him explaining he did this to enable the people in the homes behind to enjoy better views of Lake Superior.
Others also acted with consideration for their neighbors, and to protect the village identity as a preferred destination for tourists from around the U.S. and world. When Bernard Skoog and Glenn Joynes built the Shoreline Hotel they chose a building with a low profile so as not to be intrusive. When Minnesota – Wisconsin Timber Co. put the strip of land up for sale leading to the Coast Guard House, leadership in Grand Marais acquired it for public use. When Gene Erickson retired from his Standard Oil Station, he arranged to make the site a village park. There are countless other examples of public-spirited actions that contribute to our village charm.
But things are changing. Currently under construction are boxlike rental units. These violate the landscape and obscure the view of property owners to the north, and reduce property values. To build higher than village code allows, fill was hauled in that boosts the structures in elevation. This is a high-density urban model of housing, not a village model.
If this is now the way our village will grow, our image as a “quaint little village” will disappear.
Gordon E. Lindquist
Grand Marais
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