Barnes & Noble to Host Book Signing for Ham Lake

BLAINE, Minn. - Sept. 8, 2015 - PRLog -- Barnes & Noble to Host Book Signing for Ham Lake

Author, Melvin Aanerud, will be available to sign copies of book

Ham Lake is a six-mile-by-six-mile township as prescribed in the Northwest Territories Act of 1787. The township received its unique name because one of the area’s major lakes looks exactly like a slice of ham, with an island as the ham bone. In 1856, a town named Glen Carey, Scottish for “Beautiful Valley,” was formed southwest of the lake. Seven or eight homes were built, but a prairie fire burned them out. In 1866, Mads Gilbertson, a native of Norway, was the first permanent settler; other Scandinavians followed. Early settlers found the soil well suited for farming and developed churches, schools, and commercial centers. Farmers raised pigs, turkeys, cattle, and horses, along with corn, wheat, potatoes, and other vegetables and fruit. Ham Lake became the sod-producing capital of Minnesota. Eventually, the town subdivided those farms and grew housing developments – the most profitable crop yet.

Highlights of Ham Lake include:

James Elwell, who at one time owned more than half of Ham Lake and built his own road to connect his farms to Lexington Avenue, is featured in the book.

Though small, Ham Lake has been the home of two state representatives and four state senators.

The first permanent settlers arrived during the civil war, and many of their relatives are still in the community.

Join the author for a signing:

Where:

Barnes & Noble

710 County Highway 10 NE

Blaine, MN 55434

When:  Saturday, September 19th, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online (http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/9781467122894/South-River).

The combination of Arcadia Publishing & The History Press creates the largest and most comprehensive publisher of local and regional content in the USA. By empowering local history and culture enthusiasts to write local stories for local audiences, we create exceptional books that are relevant on a local and personal level, enrich lives, and bring readers closer - to their community, their neighbors, and their past. Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com and www.historypress.net.