(Spirit Lake)– An organization spearheading a project to rennovate the shelter house at Mini Wakan State Park has turned up some interesting research into the group that originally built the structure.
The building was constructed in 1934 by members of the Civilian Conservation Corps established by President Roosevelt through the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression.
Joe Ulman of the Spirit Lake Protective Association says according to their research, company 778 arrived in Spencer June 1st, 1933 to work on projects within a 50 mile radius of Spencer. The workers were housed in tents at the Clay County Fairgrounds until late October, 1933 when the company was moved to permanent barracks in Milford. What’s surprising, Ulman says, is the fact those workers were from towns throughout northwest Iowa.
The project at Mini Wakan included construction of a 2,400 square foot shelter house which the SLPO is working to restore; a stone bridge, stone benches, trails and a parking area. Remnants of the bridge are still visible today on the west edge of the park.
Ulman says they want to hear from anyone who had a family member that was a member of the corps that worked at Mini Wakan to contact him. He says they’re putting together a publication that documents some of the history of the park. Ulman can be reached at 336-2211.
