Then & Now: A History of Rice County, Faribault & Communities

Early day Dudley's and Kelly's Lake scene.
families decided to take advantage of the scenic lake's
facilities. They organized the French Lake Club,
bought a house, and agreed each family would use the
house for two weeks of the summer. Donald Grant,
prominent railroad contractor, built Scottish Heights,
a summer home, just before the French Lake Club was
organized. The huge house was built on four acres of
land overlooking the south shore. The house was sold in
1928 and burned shortly after that.
CIRCLE LAKE
Circle Lake, with its 98 acre island, is one of the
county's largest and one which can best illustrate the
effects of the times.
A long-time Circle Lake-Millersburg area resident
recalls hearing about the Dundas Archibald Mill which
had flowage rights on the lake. Located in Dundas on
the Cannon River, the mill could regulate its power by
adjusting the dam at Wolf Creek on Circle Lake
because of the connection with the river.
Today, the old timer said, two of the biggest
problems are the changing level of the water and
keeping fish in the lake.
''There are just a few planks in the dam now,'' he
said.
The island was at one time dense with maple trees,
but these were cut down by the island's owner at the
time, W. W. Grant. The island has also been a golf
course. Owned by Sherman and Coss, a realty
company from Minneapolis, it was part of a mainland
resort which had cabins, resorts and a pavilion.
In its prime time during the '20s, the resort hosted
many knickered golfers driving their high-wheeled
vehicles from all parts of the midwest.
During the depression, the resort quieted to
nothing but unpainted buildings with squeaking doors
and sagging roofs.
Today Circle Lake is still quiet mainly because of
the water level which seems to constantly change.
''Seeing a boat is an occasion now,'' said one man
who is building a permanent home near the lake.
KELLY DUDLEY
Kelly and Dudley Lakes, just off highway 21 -
named for Patrick Kelly, who settled here in 1863 and
Robert Dudley, in 1855 - are actually two small twin
lakes but are considered one. Miss Rose Shields stated
that the lakes at one time were separated and a
pontoon bridge was built enabling people to cross from
one to another. An island in the middle of one of the
lakes is now connected to the mainland and is being
divided into lots and sold. James Clarkin, veteran of
the Mexican War with General Shields, settled on a
farm north of Kelly in 1857.
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