Ever wonder how Lake McCarrons got its name? According to a history of the area written by John McCarron, the McCarron family emigrated to the U.S. from Ireland, and John’s great-grandfather, Charles McCarron, moved from Ohio to what was then Minnesota Territory in 1850. Charles McCarron became the first homesteader around the lake — which was named after him!
John McCarron wrote that his great-grandfather homesteaded 160 acres of land between what is now Roselawn and County Road B, and Dale and Western. Part of the homestead included Villa Park, and the southern boundary of the land was the lake — where Charles built his log cabin. He also started a dairy, which became the family business. As recently as John’s childhood the area that is now Villa Park was all cow pasture.
The McCarron family lived in the area for generations. John McCarron wrote that the family delivered milk to others by wagon, and that cutting and hauling ice from the lake was a “grueling” job. John also remembered hearing a story about a team of horses that had broken through the ice on the lake and had to be rescued!
John went into the Navy during World War II, then returned to settle on the lake and start his own family. He wrote that his three sons spent the summers swimming, fishing, boating and water skiing, and the winters skating and playing hockey.
John McCarron died in 2008. His daughter-in-law, Margie, still lives on the lake. We thank her for sharing a bit of her family history with us!