Another park development of the past year which is peculiarly
gratifying to the State Historical Society pertains to the new state
park at Trempealeau. For many years the Society has been actively
interested in this locality because of the richness of its historical
associations. In particular, in recent years a series of historical
articles pertaining to the locality written by Dr. Eben D. Pierce,
member and curator of the Society, has been published in the volumes
of _Proceedings_. Largely through these activities the interest of Mr.
Latsch, a leading business man of Winona, was awakened to the
desirability of securing historic Trempealeau Mountain and the
adjoining river frontage as a permanent park preserve. To this end he
purchased some 800 acres of land including the mountain and the
adjoining river bluffs, and offered the whole as a gift to the State
Historical Society. Because the Society lacks the facilities for
administering such a trust, on the Superintendent’s recommendation the
gift was diverted to the conservation commission, which is admirably
qualified to administer it. At the time of writing these lines (July,
1917) it only remains to complete certain legal details when the
formal transfer of the property to the state will be made. Thus the
famous peak, noted by Pike and Schoolcraft and many another early
explorer, together with the site of ancient Fort Perrot, one of the
earliest establishments of civilized man in the upper Mississippi
Valley, is added to our already splendid system of state parks. Aside
from the historical associations of the place, the river scenery at
this point is rarely impressive and beautiful; while Trempealeau
Mountain itself is said to be peculiarly rich in botanical specimens.
But by what authority, it may be asked, have we headed this editorial
“Perrot State Park.” Pressed for an answer, we must admit that the
title expresses a hope merely, rather than a consummation already
realized. One of the motives, we understand, responsible for the
interest Mr. Latsch has shown in the matter was a feeling of
veneration for his boyhood home and for his Swiss father who settled
in Latsch Valley some two generations ago. Under the circumstances it
would not be strange if the donor, following the example long since
set by a notable giver of libraries to the American public, should
impose as a condition of his gift to the state the requirement that
the park be named in honor of his father. We understand, instead, that
Mr. Latsch himself desires the park to be named in honor of Nicolas
Perrot, the famous French explorer, who passed the winter of 1685-86 a
short distance down the river from Trempealeau Mountain and within the
confines of the new state park. The fine modesty and sense of
historical appreciation displayed by Mr. Latsch in thus desiring to
honor the intrepid explorer require no words of commendation at our
hands. We may express the hope, however, that when a future state
legislature shall come to the task of bestowing a legal name on the
park, it will possess a like degree of judgment concerning the
historical fitness of things. Perhaps Mr. Latsch might insure this in
advance by making the gift of the land to the state dependent upon its
acceptance of the name of Perrot for the park.