Oak Point has many areas of historic significance. One is the location of the Northwest Company Trading Post which stood on 15 acres of Lot 1, Section 19 of T143N-R30W. The Northwest Company was the oldest and largest trading post and fortress on Leech Lake. In 1805 Lt. Zebulon Pike was commissioned to travel up the Mississippi to discover the source of this river which was believed to be Leech Lake. He was also ordered to take possession of this country for the United States of America. Pike was to advise the local traders that they must pay duty on goods brought into this country and to stop flying the British Flag. In February of 1806 Pike found the fort and ordered the British Flag to be shot down. For many years it was believed that this fort was located on Ottertail Point but was later corrected to Squaw Point, (now Oak Point) by historians. The area is called Star Point by the locals after the Star family that owns land nearby . Of personal interest, our residence is located on Lot 4, of the same Section 19. (see map attached) Oak Point Estates is located approximately 1 mile from this site.
It wasn't until 1832 when Henry Schoolcraft with an Indian guide identified Lake Itasca as the true source of the Mississippi. Schoolcraft visited the Northwest Company on Oak Point which was still operating under the US Flag before he went on to Lake Itasca. The explorer Zebulon Pike, went on to other expeditions was promoted to Brigadier General and was killed in the War of 1812 at the age of 36.
Our nice weather continued on from last weekend. Daytime temperatures were above normal. We even had a few nights that it didn't freeze. The forecast for the coming week continues with the warmer weather.
The MN DNR reported that the opening weekend deer harvest was down about 5% from last season. This was calculated from the number of deer registered at the registration stations. In my conversation with neighbors they reported slower action on Oak Point. One party said they only shot one deer, another reported two for two and another unofficial report from a party on my road had four deer taken. The hunters in this zone still have one more weekend to go this season.
It wasn't until 1832 when Henry Schoolcraft with an Indian guide identified Lake Itasca as the true source of the Mississippi. Schoolcraft visited the Northwest Company on Oak Point which was still operating under the US Flag before he went on to Lake Itasca. The explorer Zebulon Pike, went on to other expeditions was promoted to Brigadier General and was killed in the War of 1812 at the age of 36.
Our nice weather continued on from last weekend. Daytime temperatures were above normal. We even had a few nights that it didn't freeze. The forecast for the coming week continues with the warmer weather.
The MN DNR reported that the opening weekend deer harvest was down about 5% from last season. This was calculated from the number of deer registered at the registration stations. In my conversation with neighbors they reported slower action on Oak Point. One party said they only shot one deer, another reported two for two and another unofficial report from a party on my road had four deer taken. The hunters in this zone still have one more weekend to go this season.
Hi Jim,
ReplyDeleteJust curious is there any physical evidence of this fort/trading post at the location mentioned on oak point. I only ask because I actually explored ottertail point with some friends years ago and we came across what I believe to be the ruins of some sort of structure with many old items, however I dont think they would have dated back to early 1800's.
I have been considering going back to take a better look.
Thanks
Joe
Wow. As far as physical evidence of the settlement, isn't any of that likely to be under the water or very near shore as the lake level be somewhat higher now after the Federal Dam was built in the late 1890's
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