Legend of Clear Lake
During the 1907 Waseca High School commencement exercises, Elizabeth Dunn, one of the graduates and class speakers, related the Legend of Clear Lake.
The legend as related by Elizabeth was that once upon a time, Waseca, an Indian youth residing on the west shore of this lake, won and carried off Winona, the daughter of Owatonna, a fierce Indian chief, Waseca’s enemy, living east of the lake. Owatonna came by boat and attempted to regain his daughter. In the struggle, Waseca accidentally killed his bride. Now in winter time an open space in the lake near the scene of the conflict emits a vapor which takes the form of the Indian maiden. When the wind blows from the east, her arms are extended to receive her lover; when the breeze carries the vapors east, her arms fall and she seems to plead with her father.
It was not clear to me from the June 7, 1907, Waseca Herald newspaper account of the graduation exercises whether the legend was something created by Elizabeth or whether it had deeper roots in Waseca history.