sailor . mnsun . com James J . Hill Days • Thursday , August 31 , 2023 Page 5
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 & Pacific 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 officially incorporated . One of the first 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 finally 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 official stop in 1971 . It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and remains a beloved community landmark to this day .
Since 1975 , the community has gathered for three days each year to celebrate James J . Hill Days . Led by the Chamber of Commerce , the event features live music , a carnival , fireworks , 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 Wayzata Historical Society is excited to offer a few events throughout the weekend including a Guided Historical Walking Tour on Saturday and Sunday , from 11am-12pm . The fun doesn ’ t stop there ! Test your Wayzata knowledge at the Sandvold Stage when the Historical Society does trivia throughout the weekend !
James J . Hill
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