Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name. That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers. This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option. Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939.
One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents. "We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done." Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work. In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick. The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841824","attributes":{"alt":"Kevin Braget's auto shop in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]] But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life. Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school, But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking. "I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security." She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841825","attributes":{"alt":"The county museum is in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"289","title":"","width":"480"}}]] Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote. Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price. But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era. Many of those people never came back. And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small. "I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people." [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841823","attributes":{"alt":"Still life scene in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name. That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers. This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option. Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841828","attributes":{"alt":"A original list of train fares is posted on the wall of the historic train depot at the Lake Bronson Museum in Lake Bronson, MN,","class":"media-image","height":"480","title":"","width":"320"}}]] One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents. "We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done." Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work. In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick. The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area.
But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life. Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school, But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking. "I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security." She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841825","attributes":{"alt":"The county museum is in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"289","title":"","width":"480"}}]] Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote. Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price. But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era. Many of those people never came back. And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small. "I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people." [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841823","attributes":{"alt":"Still life scene in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name. That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers. This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option. Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841828","attributes":{"alt":"A original list of train fares is posted on the wall of the historic train depot at the Lake Bronson Museum in Lake Bronson, MN,","class":"media-image","height":"480","title":"","width":"320"}}]] One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents. "We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done." Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work. In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick. The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841824","attributes":{"alt":"Kevin Braget's auto shop in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]] But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life. Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school, But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking. "I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security." She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor.
Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote. Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price. But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era. Many of those people never came back. And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small. "I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people." [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841823","attributes":{"alt":"Still life scene in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name. That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers. This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option. Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841828","attributes":{"alt":"A original list of train fares is posted on the wall of the historic train depot at the Lake Bronson Museum in Lake Bronson, MN,","class":"media-image","height":"480","title":"","width":"320"}}]] One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents. "We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done." Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work. In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick. The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841824","attributes":{"alt":"Kevin Braget's auto shop in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]] But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life. Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school, But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking. "I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security." She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841825","attributes":{"alt":"The county museum is in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"289","title":"","width":"480"}}]] Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote. Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price. But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era. Many of those people never came back. And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small. "I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people."
Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name.That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers.This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option.Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939.
One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents."We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done."Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work.In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick.The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841824","attributes":{"alt":"Kevin Braget's auto shop in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life.Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school,But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking."I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security."She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841825","attributes":{"alt":"The county museum is in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"289","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote.Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price.But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era.Many of those people never came back.And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small."I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people."[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841823","attributes":{"alt":"Still life scene in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name.That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers.This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option.Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841828","attributes":{"alt":"A original list of train fares is posted on the wall of the historic train depot at the Lake Bronson Museum in Lake Bronson, MN,","class":"media-image","height":"480","title":"","width":"320"}}]]One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents."We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done."Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work.In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick.The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area.
But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life.Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school,But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking."I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security."She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841825","attributes":{"alt":"The county museum is in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"289","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote.Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price.But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era.Many of those people never came back.And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small."I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people."[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841823","attributes":{"alt":"Still life scene in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name.That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers.This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option.Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841828","attributes":{"alt":"A original list of train fares is posted on the wall of the historic train depot at the Lake Bronson Museum in Lake Bronson, MN,","class":"media-image","height":"480","title":"","width":"320"}}]]One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents."We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done."Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work.In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick.The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841824","attributes":{"alt":"Kevin Braget's auto shop in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life.Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school,But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking."I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security."She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor.
Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote.Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price.But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era.Many of those people never came back.And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small."I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people."[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841823","attributes":{"alt":"Still life scene in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Until 1937, the town of Lake Bronson, Minn. had no "lake" in its name.That year, the Works Progress Administration enacted a project to build a dam for Kittson County. The dam was completed with a large man-made lake formed from waters from the Two Rivers.This was central to the new state park-but naming the lake was a struggle. "Floyd Olson" was proposed; Lake Bronson was the more popular option.Petitions were sent around. Floyd Olson ultimately lost. And the residents of Bronson, a village originally incorporated in 1905, elected to switch its name in 1939.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841828","attributes":{"alt":"A original list of train fares is posted on the wall of the historic train depot at the Lake Bronson Museum in Lake Bronson, MN,","class":"media-image","height":"480","title":"","width":"320"}}]]One of the highlights of Lake Bronson is Lake Bronson State Park. Tourists to northwestern Minnesota have come to enjoy the scenic attraction for decades, even in the winter. Fishing, swimming, canoeing, and waterskiing are all popular pastimes. The town itself is smaller. As of 2011, it had 230 residents."We're mostly a bedroom community," said Arnita Braget, general manager of the town's Farmers' Union Oil Company Cenex gas station. "A lot of people live here, but we all travel to get other things done."Many Lake Bronson residents commute to Thief River Falls, Roseau or Pembina for work.In town, the Cenex gas station by the side of the highway is one of the big employers. The other major employer is the fertilizer plant. Otherwise, there's a grocery store, an auto repair shop, a post office, a community center, a fire department and a bar and lounge called Maverick.The Lake Bronson School stands as a brick building in one of the side streets. Originally the town's K-12 school, it has since consolidated with the Karlstad School district. The Kittson County Sheriff's Office takes care of law enforcement across the entire county-Hallock is the county seat with the largest population of police, but two deputy sheriffs monitor the area.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841824","attributes":{"alt":"Kevin Braget's auto shop in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"320","title":"","width":"480"}}]]But Lake Bronson is normally peaceful, resident Cindy Adams says. She would know-she's been a Kittson County resident for most of her life.Adams was born in Hallock, then moved to Lake Bronson in second grade. She was one of the young adults who left home to see California as soon as she graduated high school,But after five years, Adams came back, when California proved to be less quiet than her liking."I wanted more peace," Adams said. "I wanted a sense of security."She's been back since 1986, and has since sat worked as city clerk, museum director, and sat on the city council, where there are four members and the mayor.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_large","fid":"1841825","attributes":{"alt":"The county museum is in Lake Bronson, MN, on June 24, 2015. (Grand Forks herald/ Joshua Komer)","class":"media-image","height":"289","title":"","width":"480"}}]]Adams is currently director of the Kittson County Historical Museum, which also highlights the pioneer history of Lake Bronson's neighboring small towns, Hallock, Halma, Karlstad, Kennedy, Humboldt, Donaldson, Noyes, St. Vincent, Lancaster and Northcote.Adams says people who come to Lake Bronson for a more permanent trip are usually attracted to the cheap housing. If you're willing to pay extra for postage for the mail, Lake Bronson is a good place for anyone looking for somewhere nice to live for a lower price.But the small town is still declining, as many of the born-and-raised Kittson County longtimers left town to find jobs in the cities around the World War II era.Many of those people never came back.And after the last class of high school seniors graduated in 1968, after posterity decided the small town life wasn't for them, and after businesses boarded up their windows over the decades, Lake Bronson remains small."I used to live on this street with old people," Adams recalled. "Now we are the old people."
