Help Build the Bridge to Dress Island

   (Hanson or Monkey Island - known by many names)

Build the Bridge Fundraiser: Brat n Burger Feed

    Knights of Columbus Hall    Saturday, June 26th    4:30-7:00pm

                                    1002 S. Broadway,  Albert Lea Mn

Come and enjoy  a meal of:  

            Nick's Brat  or  Burger (1/3 pnd. )

            Mrs Gerry's Salads - Choice of Two

                    Steakhouse PotatoSalad,   Coleslaw,   or Baked Beans

                        Lemonade or Ice Water

Tickets:  $8.00    Available from K of C, Sportsmens Club, Lakes Foundation, or City Council Members.

Also at: Celebrations Party and Gifts, K & K Bakery, Mary-Go-Round Shoppe, Dave Klatt State Farm Ins., or At The Door

Proceeds to Bridge Project - Replacing the Bridge, Light, Table, & Benches

Donations for this fund are greatly appreciated!

By Mail:  Checks to: Bridge Project   c/o   Fountain Lake Sportsmens Club, PO BOX 524, Albert Lea, Mn 56007

                                                                                                                                                                            Contributions tax deductible to a 501c3 organization

  Or in person,  the day of the event.                   If needed - we will come to you!      Call 507.391.1345

Sponsored By:  Albert Lea   Knights of Columbus,  Fountain Lake Sportsmens Club, and Lakes Foundation, and A.L. City Council.

Contributions By:  Generous Citizens,  Alamco Wood Products,  Church Offset Printing, Pro Trucking and Crane,

Our Thanks to Mn DNR,  Albert Lea City Council, Chamber of Commerce, Park and Rec. Dept.  and the community for their assistance.

History:  From the Albert Lea Tribune's Ed Shannon, we Learned: The myth about this particular island is based on it being created from a mass of vegetation floating around in the lake. However, this myth is actually based on a fact.  (Published Friday, October 24, 2003)

According to research notes in the files of the Freeborn County Historical Society Library,  in the early 1890s several thick peat bogs of water plants and debris floated from what's now Edgewater Bay through the Hatch Bridge channel (before the fill from each side was put in for the original bridge) and came into the main part of the lake. When the two bogs became stuck on shallow places near the lake's bank or shore, someone decided plenty of dirt and rocks would make them more solid and island-like. The addition of soil could be done just about anytime, but the best time might have been during the winter. After all, the lake ice provided solid access to the former bogs. Thus, teams of horses pulling wagons of fill could go to the islands to dump their loads. Then, when the ice and snow melted, the fill settled down on the matted vegetation. In time the two islands were created,  and now known as Hanson (or Hansen) Island and Dress Island (and unofficially as Monkey Island).   The other island  is Katherine Island. A series of drug store reminders was published in the Sept. 30, 1935, issue. It confirmed a local legend with, “There were two floating bogs in Fountain Lake in the early 1890s. One of those is now a beautiful flowered island and the other is now a public playground.”

The dedication  for a new footbridge took place on July 1, 1976, linking the north side of Lakeview Boulevard between Abbott Street and Blackmer Avenue with a small island in Fountain Lake. This island had been known as Hansen, named for a former owner. Then it became known as Dress Island, named for a nearby resident named George Dress who donated this particular place to the city for use as a park. The dedication ceremony took place on July 1, 1976, when Mayor Paul Larimore cut the ribbon on this bridge which was mostly paid for by Council 1590 of the Knights of Columbus.

City looks to fix its infrastructure: City Manager Victoria Simonsen said. “If they’re not maintained, they’re going to cost more money later.”  She said many factors are considered to determine which time is the right time to undergo a project. A major component is input from the citizens.  “We try to base them on what the public tells us,” she said. Undertakings that aren’t infrastructure - the replacement of footbridges at Dress Island and Shoff Park- were placed on the list by public request. (Albert Lea Tribune Published Friday, January 19, 2007 By Nathan Cooper, staff writer)

Bridge is declared unsafe and Removed April 17th  Albert Lea Tribune Published Monday, April 17, 2010 By Sarah Stultz

The Albert Lea Park and Recreation Department and Albert Lea Police Department report that the small bridge to Hanson (Dress) Island near Lakeview Boulevard and Botsford Avenue has been closed because of reported unsafe conditions.  It was removed April 17th.  The walkway has been blocked off.                                                                                                          Photos by Sarah Stultz, Courtesy of The Albert Lea Tribune.

May 5, 2010 -  Area Organizations work  to raise the funds with the help of community organizations and City Council members to rebuild the Bridge access and Island fixtures.  A fundraiser Event of Food and Fun is scheduled for the Evening of June 26th at the KC Hall on South Broadway in Albert Lea.  Proceeds go to the Bridge Fund.

For More Info Contact:         K of C  Grand Knight, Doug Whelan.   507.391.1345      or      email:    bridge@almn.us