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WANTED! Do you have photos, historical accounts or other items pertaining to the Gemmell area? Would you like to share this historical information with the world? LakesnWoods.com would like to publish your Gemmell photos (current or historical) or historical accounts on this website. Original materials can be returned and your privacy will be respected. |
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Gemmell was one of the largest logging communities in Minnesota in the early 1900's and evidence of this history is visible still in the logging shacks which sit among the swamps and bogs in the Gemmell area. Explore Kyro's Domain, the man who built his own railroad. Today, Gemmell is home to one of the largest bogs in the world. Snowmobilers can experience the Big Rock, a miniature mountain left by the glaciers millions of years ago. Enjoy great fishing and recreation on Clear, Dark and Little Dawson Lakes. |
Unincorporated
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Gemmell was first known as Stoner. The name was later
changed to Gemmell in honor of W. H. Gemmell. He was the first road
master of the Minnesota and International Railway. In November 1906 the
Joseph Reinarz family moved to Gemmell, Minnesota from Neilsville,
Wyoming. They then proceeded to buy the Stoner Hotel, which was the
first hotel built in Gemmell, from a Miss Aadberg. His son Hubert
Reinarz later owned one of the largest cedar mills in Gemmell. Other
large cedar mills in Gemmell included the National Pole Company, Page
and Hill, American Cedar, Northern Cedar, Larson Bros., Oscar Fortenson,
Martin Bros., and E. A. Johnson. There were also many other small cedar
mills. Frank Miller built the first cedar mill in Gemmell which he later
sold to Leon Hoyt. The National Pole Company's was thought to be the
largest of them all.
Many people, like the Reinarzes, moved to Gemmell when the Minnesota and
National Railway built tracks through Gemmell in 1905. They moved
because of the promise of jobs that came with a growing city. Gemmell's
main industry was cedar. It also had 17 hotels, an ice cream parlor, two
schools, four or more restaurants, one gas station, one church, more
than ten sawmills, and a number of other businesses. At its highest peak
Gemmell had a population of 2,000 people and was known as the Cedar
Capitol of America.
Then the town burned down because of a forest fire. Nobody ever found
out who started it. All the mills burned down as well as many other
business and homes. After the fire almost everybody left. Every night
another group of people left on the train. The businesses that did not
shut down burned down because of the decreasing population.
Now in the year 1998 Gemmell has only one business and a population of
about 40 people. Now the once proud and prosperous town of Gemmell is a
ghost town compared to what it was 90 years ago. It is not even a pale
shadow of its former glory.
By Jamie Salmonson
Unincorporated
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Gemmell Post Office opened in 1905 and closed in 1974. The first postmaster was A. Juleson. The Post Office is now a house for rent.
The nearest Post Office is in Mizpah, about 5 miles away.
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Courtesy Google Maps -
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Topographic Map: [click map to enlarge, zoom in or zoom out]
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