sailor. com James J. Hill Days • Thursday, August 28, 2025 Page 9
James J. Hill and his connection to Wayzata’ s past
James J. Hill Days is an annual celebration of Wayzata’ s history and an opportunity to recognize the relationship between our community and James J. Hill, the railroad magnate often referred to as the“ Empire Builder.” We are proud to be a thriving Lake Minnetonka community and are excited to celebrate the journey it took to get here!
The village of Wayzata was thrilled at the arrival of the railroad in the summer of 1867, when the Saint Cloud # 7 steam locomotive pulled two passenger cars into town on the new Saint Paul & Pacifi c Railroad line. However, the excitement wore off as more and more trains obstructed views of Lake Minnetonka and produced noise, foul smells, and dangerous cinders. James J. Hill became one of the railroad’ s key investors in 1879 and eventually renamed it the Great Northern Railway.
James J. Hill’ s involvement in Wayzata escalated in 1883, when the
community offi cially incorporated. One of the fi rst orders of business for the new village council was to have the railroad tracks moved away from Lake Street and rerouted north of town. As chairman of the railway, James J. Hill initially ignored the council’ s order. When the council took the case to court, Hill demolished the train station at the foot of Broadway Avenue and built a new one nearly a mile east of town. Hill moved the tracks as well, but rather than rerouting them north of town, he moved them closer to the lake.
The“ feud” between Wayzata and James J. Hill fi nally ended in 1906, when Mr. Hill commissioned the construction of a new depot near the foot of Barry Avenue. Designed in the fashionable English Tudor Revival style, it was said to be the“ handsomest” depot on the entire line stretching between the Twin Cities and Seattle. The depot was donated to the City of Wayzata after it closed as an offi cial stop in 1971. It was added to the National
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Register of Historic Places in 1981 and remains a beloved community landmark to this day.
Since 1974, the community has gathered for three days each year to celebrate James J. Hill Days. Led by the Wayzata West Metro Chamber, the event features a craft beer festival, live music, a carnival, a parade, and more! We are grateful for the support of the businesses and residents who call Wayzata home and have celebrated with us all these years. The Lake Minnetonka Historical Society is excited to off er Guided Historical Walking Tours of Wayzata at 10 am on Saturday, September 6, and Sunday, September 7. Tours will last approximately 90 minutes, and the capacity is 20 participants. Find more information at jamesjhilldays. com.
Our members, sponsors, and volunteers make this event possible. End the summer with us and partake in some fun entertainment. We are ready to spend the weekend with you – let’ s make it a great one, together!
James J. Hill
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