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harbor's garbage, toilet and parking facilities. By March 1975 it had been decided that no further licenses for boathouses would be issued after 1 July. In 1980, all phone lines to the island were shut down after Winona officials alleged that they had discovered wires slung from trees and running through water on the island. They also suggested that many of the boathouses had hazardous structural issues, such as loose flotation barrels and dangerous wiring. In August 1980 Boathouses were formally sanctioned by the Winona City
Council.
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165:, Latsch Island is named after local 20th century Winona businessman John A. Latsch, who bought much of the area surrounding Winona and donated it so that it could be used as part of the national parks system. During periods of high water levels sometimes the Island is split in two, and some local residents use the name "Wolf Spider Island" to refer to the breakaway eastern portion. It has been suggested the name was derived from the
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269:, that squatters also began to take up residence on the island. Following the sinking of a barge on the north side of the island, almost all river traffic travelling past Winona began to choose to pass via the south side of the island. In turn, the squatters began mooring houseboats on the now trafficless north side of the island, safe in the knowledge they would not be disturbed there.
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197:, who constructed a railway bridge spanning the island into Winona. The "swing" bridge was completed in May 1871 but it partially collapsed when the bridge tender failed to secure the swing span on the first day of operation. The bridge was repaired and remained in service until it was abandoned and the swing span removed in 1977.
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The self describer "river rat" is used by the community to refer to anyone on the
Mississippi River who partakes in their houseboat lifestyle. The river rats prefer to use the term "boathouse" rather than "houseboat" for a number of reasons; one reason is due to the legal restraints placed on the use
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In response, the frustrated Latsch
Islanders created the Winona Boathouses Association in 1981, a non-profit organisation to formally represent the needs of the Latsch Island residents. All licensed owners were automatically made members of the organisation and were given a vote in its decisions. The
227:. The concrete bridge was also due to be scrapped and destroyed, however, this was postponed until after the war. But in 1945 Winona asked the federal government to return control of the concrete bridge to the city, and their request was granted. The concrete bridge remains in operation to this day.
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The 1960s island community on Latsch Island has been described as a collection of "flower children, impoverished college students and other non-conformists", while some of the 1990s residents were referred to as being made up of "Third-generation boathouse people and 10th-generation boathouse cats".
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Although the law declares that there should be only 101 houseboats on the island, some estimates place the amount higher, as high as 120. The population of the island is not static, as harsh winters can often force many residents off the island for the season. Flooding is another issue that can and
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The community she settled into has a population as diverse as the designs of the structures. Everyone from gypsies and old hippies to a judge and state senator have had boathouses on Latsch Island. "We've got them all," said Tom Nelson, president of the Winona
Boathouse Association, "from the well
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took an interest in the community. However, in July 1974 the city of Winona passed an ordinance requiring that all boathouses be licensed. Tensions flared between residents of Winona and Latsch, with complaints being made that the Latsch
Islanders were taking unfair advantage of the municipal boat
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In 1998 Latsch island was officially made a part of the city of Winona. The number of houseboats on the island was strictly limited to 101, and a rule was put in place that houseboats could not be repaired beyond 50% of their original value. The intention of this law was to gradually displace the
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The 1980s saw increased regulations introduced over boathouses; Standards were set for buoyancy, roofing, external appearance, lavatories and preservation of adjacent property. However, simultaneously, the
Department of Natural Resources began to prohibit owners from expanding or renovating their
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and Winona city officials were all seeking to outlaw the building of houseboats along the
Mississippi in Minnesota. In response, an island council was created to represent the inhabitants of the island. The right to own and build houseboats in the area was brought to trial in this period, and the
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In 1981 the Island council, which informally worked as the democratic representation of the island, formalized itself by becoming the Winona
Boathouse Association, a non-profit organization that works with the city on legal protection for the islanders. It also works to provide
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of "houseboats" in the area. Another is the sentiment that because their residences are designed to be houses permanently docked at one location, the term "boathouse" is a better describer than "houseboat", which are usually designed to be boats first and residences second.
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houseboats on the island, however, the law against the repairing of the houseboats is routinely ignored. Residents pay an annual mooring fee to the city in exchange for their right to dock on the island. As of 2021, this fee was $ 350 per annum.
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community, Latsch Island has been home to residents from all walks of life. Former and current residents have included judges, professors, artists, and local politicians in addition to members of the Winona working class and homeless.
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or small generators. Houseboats are typically heated by wood-fueled stoves. Freshwater cannot be drawn from the river itself, and instead many residents choose to either collect rainwater or haul water to the island from Winona.
215:, Wisconsin similar in design and materials as the "Wagon Bridge" collapsed, resulting in the deaths of two motorists. Seeking to avoid a similar disaster in Winona, a new bridge was authorised in 1938 and in 1941 the
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149:("boathouse") community, who occupy the eastern coastline of the island. During periods of flooding or high water levels, the island sometimes becomes two islands, with the eastern section referred to as
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where they could not comply with one authority without violating the directive of the other. Being unable to make improvements to their homes meant that owners were now faced with possible eviction.
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By the 1930s Latsch Island, like many other islands near Winona, was simply being used unofficially as a place to dump waste and little more. It was roughly during this same era, the
169:, to sound frightening and intimating, with the intention of scaring non-residents away from the area. The name Wolf Spider Island has been in use since at least the early 2000s.
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created the steel and iron "Wagon Bridge" which spanned over the river and the island into Winona's main street. In 1917 the old wooden bridge was replaced by a concrete bridge.
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In line with its policy of discouraging occupation of the island, local authorities have placed no signs on the island denoting the presence of the houseboat settlement.
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between
Wisconsin and Winona. The iron and steel "Wagon Bridge" was torn down and scrapped, as its materials were in high demand due to the outbreak of
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It has been estimated that roughly 10% to 20% of the residents remain on the island all year long, regardless of climate conditions.
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Boathouses
Association was successfully able to prevent city officials from phasing the boathouse community out of existence.
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for waste removal, as well as a boat dock. The Boathouse Association is fully recognized by the local government of Winona.
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In spite of its proximity to Winona, which is connected to the island via a bridge, life on Latsch Island is described as "
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In 1887 a wooden bridge crossing the Mississippi over Latsch Island was created to join Winona to Wisconsin. In 1890
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was completed. It remains in operation to this day and is the main bridge between Latsch and the mainland, carrying
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369:" and secluded. There is no plumbing on the island, and those who possess electricity typically do so from
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Judge, Dennis Challeen, himself a member of the Latsch island council, ruled in favour of the residents.
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authorised Winona to construct a new bridge over the Mississippi; the result was that in 1892 the
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Full of river rats vagabonds, recluses, carpenters, retirees, professors and local politicians
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619:"Throwback Thursday: In 1870, Winona built a rail bridge over the Mississippi in just 4 days"
682:"WINONA BRIDGE: The city's first span, the High Wagon Bridge, cost $ 95K and opened in 1892"
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The houseboat settlement saw a resurgence of residents during the 1960s and 1970s, as the
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Swanson reported that on the downstream edge of Latsch Island - on Wolf Spider Island
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During the 1860s, the island (still not formally named) was used by the
920:"The Unique Community Hiding In Minnesota That Is Sure To Enchant You"
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743:"Easy living on the river? Not always, for this boathouse city"
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834:"A BIT ODD, A BIT WONDERFUL, COMMUNITY LETS LIFE FLOAT BY"
941:"In Winona, Minn., boathouse dwellers enjoy winter peace"
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Winona, as seen from the southern shore of Latsch Island
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has displaced portions of the population in the past.
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590:"THURSDAY THROWBACK: Debacle at Winona's swing bridge"
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886:"Finding Minnesota: Quirky, Scenic Latsch Island"
51:: John A. Latsch, local 20th century Businessman
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710:"Boathouses have sparked debate for years"
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803:"Living in a Community of Floating Homes"
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285:Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
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440:Windley-Daoust, Jerry (10 March 2021).
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680:Christenson, Jerome (23 August 2016).
139:. Latsch Island is best known for its
985:Landforms of Winona County, Minnesota
289:United States Army Corps of Engineers
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832:Fruhling, Larry (22 February 1998).
588:Christenson, Jerome (15 July 2001).
296:boathouses. This placed owners in a
918:Rathburn, Betsy (10 January 2017).
532:America’s OFF-GRID Boathouse Island
862:"The Boat People of Latsch Island"
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1000:Shanty towns in the United States
248:Latsch Island boathouse community
980:Islands of the Mississippi River
400:"Communities brace for flooding"
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741:McKinney, Matt (16 June 2019).
398:ROGERS, CHRIS (18 March 2019).
206:Chicago Bridge and Iron Company
16:Island of the Mississippi River
469:Mergen, Rachel (27 May 2020).
442:"They're at Home on the River"
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801:Balcom, Trudy R. (May 1995).
774:"Welcome to boathouse island"
772:Green, Loren (30 June 2016).
653:"John A. Latsch Wagon Bridge"
195:Winona and St. Peter Railroad
135:, and is part of the city of
903:employed to the unemployed."
569:(Motion picture Documentary)
211:In 1935, a bridge in nearby
131:is an island located on the
26:Nickname: Wolf Spider Island
1005:Squats in the United States
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995:River islands of Minnesota
708:Christenson, Erin (2001).
221:Minnesota State Highway 43
163:John A. Latsch State Park
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623:Winona Republican-Herald
563:Dave Ellsworth (2004).
257:Bike path to the Island
499:"Latsch Island Living"
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975:History of Minnesota
946:The Associated Press
161:Similarly to nearby
231:Boathouse Community
217:Main Channel Bridge
187:Main Channel Bridge
124:, seen here in 2006
120:Some Latsch Island
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860:whalen, jennifer.
807:Big River Magazine
625:. 11 November 1936
566:Time and the River
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151:Wolf Spider Island
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892:. 23 October 2012
718:Winona, Minnesota
714:Winona Daily News
686:Winona Daily News
651:Weeks III, John.
598:Winona, Minnesota
594:Winona Daily News
537:Winona, Minnesota
137:Winona, Minnesota
133:Mississippi River
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371:solar panels
367:off-the-grid
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404:Winona Post
167:Wolf Spider
70:Adjacent to
58:Wolf Spider
969:Categories
382:References
324:Government
122:Boathouses
953:4 October
925:4 October
896:4 October
890:CBS Local
867:4 October
845:4 October
812:4 October
783:4 October
752:4 October
723:5 October
658:5 October
629:5 October
603:5 October
573:4 October
543:4 October
504:4 October
480:4 October
447:4 October
409:4 October
344:Community
331:dumpsters
213:La Crosse
157:Etymology
147:houseboat
99:Minnesota
64:Geography
45:Etymology
359:bohemian
298:catch 22
265:and the
202:Congress
54:Nickname
49:Official
178:Bridges
173:History
287:, the
274:Hippie
109:Winona
95:State
955:2021
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898:2021
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847:2021
814:2021
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333:and
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