History of Clark Lake

In 1908, Col. Freeman Thorp built “The Castle” overlooking Clark Lake but also with a view of Lake Hubert from the back side.

Clark Lake boasts fascinating history

By Dick Carlson Nisswa lake named for colonel’s son

Clark Lake in Nisswa and the area surrounding it are heavily endowed with history.

The name “Nisswa” loosely comes from the Ojibwe word for “three” - “Nisswae.”

It was so called because there were three lakes at that location known at the time as Lower, Middle and Upper Fish Trap lakes.

Today, we know them as Roy, Nisswa and Clark lakes.

This was a route the Indians heavily followed going from Gull Lake to Lake Hubert.

Important to the development of Clark Lake was Col. Freeman Thorp. At an early age, he began to show real artistic talent, even though he’d never had any formal lessons in the art of painting.

He did a sketch and a painting of President Abraham Lincoln, and his painting of Lincoln hangs in the main corridor of the second floor of the Senate wing in the nation’s Capitol Building. Lincoln’s son said it was the best likeness of his father he had ever seen.

Thorp later married and went to Washington, D.C., and while there, he painted the presidents plus numerous other dignitaries.

Urged by his family to settle down, he bought a beautiful Victorian brick mansion and he and his wife had three daughters and a son - Clark.

In 1893, a young Clark became ill and had the second known operation for appendicitis. Later, because of the administration of the anesthetic, he developed pulmonary tuberculosis.

The family was told the only hope for Clark was the northern Minnesota air.

In March 1895, Thorp and his son-inlaw, Will Rowland, arrived at Lake Hubert. His wife and daughters arrived in time for the blueberry season.

Clark came in late August, and the land by the current Camp Lincoln was

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