Kom-On-In Beach
The story of a lakeshore gathering place on Trout Lake, from its early land records to the campground that occupies the site today.
A Place on the Shore
The documented story of Kom-On-In Beach begins with a land purchase on the southeast corner of Trout Lake.
On May 31, 1910, John Campbell Greenway purchased lots two and three of Section 16, Township 55 North, Range 24 West of the Fourth Principal Meridian from the State of Minnesota. He paid in full that day, and the transaction was recorded on June 10, 1910.
Greenway owned the property only briefly. On June 13, 1910, he sold it to the Lorain Iron Mining Company. Over the following decades, ownership of the land changed hands several times.
Who Was John Greenway?
John Campbell Greenway was born in Huntsville, Alabama, on July 6, 1872. After his family moved several times during his childhood, he completed an engineering degree at Yale in 1895.
He joined the Carnegie Steel Company in Pennsylvania and rose to mechanical department foreman before serving with Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War.
After the war, Greenway returned to steel and mining. He held executive positions with mine, steel and railroad companies. In 1906, he became general superintendent of Carnegie’s operations on Minnesota’s Mesabi Range.
Greenway played an important role in the development of Coleraine, Marble and Taconite. He supervised development of the Canisteo Mine and Trout Lake Washing Plant in Coleraine. In 1911, he went on to develop the New Cornelia copper mine and the town of Ajo, Arizona.
The Land Record
The recorded transfers show how the Trout Lake property moved through mining interests before becoming known as a community recreation site.
John Campbell Greenway purchases the southeast Trout Lake parcels from the State of Minnesota and pays in full.
Greenway’s purchase is entered into the land record.
Greenway sells the property to the Lorain Iron Mining Company.
The land is sold to the Adam Mining Company. Other ownership changes followed.
How the Beach Got Its Name
It is not known exactly when or how the name Kom-On-In Beach began. Photographs taken by Inga Nyman in 1926 and 1928 are titled “Canisteo District Employees picnic at Kom-On-In Beach on Trout Lake,” showing that the name was in use by that time.
A February 8, 1974, resolution adopted by the Bovey Village Council is another written record of the name. It describes a proposal for Coleraine to transfer its lease from United States Steel to the Village of Bovey.
“Whereas the Village Council of Coleraine proposes to transfer their lease from United States Steel, of the premises known as Kom-On-In-Beach to the Village of Bovey, and the Village of Bovey desires to assume the sponsorship of any government grant which may be obtained for facilities at Kom-On-Beach.” Bovey Village Council resolution, February 8, 1974
The resolution also directed the village clerk to notify United States Steel of the transfer and to notify the Greenway Lions Club that Bovey accepted sponsorship of the beach on Trout Lake.
Kom-On-In Beach Today
The property now operates as Trout Lake Campground. The public boat launch next to the campground is called Trout Lake Campground Public Water Access.
The lakeshore continues to welcome people to Trout Lake, carrying forward the site’s long history as a place to gather by the water.
More Resorts With a History
Explore the places and stories that shaped recreation around Itasca County’s lakes.
Return to the Resorts Map
Leave a Reply