Lila and Claudine’s sits right across Mahtomedi Avenue from the site of the Old Wildwood Amusement Park, begun by the Minneapolis & St. Paul Suburban Railroad Company in 1892. For many years, thousands of people paid 10 cents to take the train from the Twin Cities to Mahtomedi to spend the day riding the roller coaster, Ferris wheel and swimming in White Bear Lake.
In 1927, it was the first park ever to feature the Tilt-a-Whirl. The building that Lila and Claudine’s is in today was built in 1926 to store the various vehicles that were used to bring vacationers out to the park. Then, in 1932, the golden era of the Wildwood Amusement Park came to an end and the park closed.
Although the actual Landmark no longer exists, the Amusement Park was important in shaping the Mahtomedi community. Fiber and conversation is paramount at Lila and Claudine’s and woven into conversations is the history of the Mahtomedi/White Bear Lake community. It becomes a springboard for stories and opportunities to get to know other fiber maniacs while knitting at Lila and Claudine’s.
2014 marks the 4th year we have participated in the Shop Hop. We can’t wait to see all of you this year! We will have the usuals; patterns, yarn, prizes and trinkets, but we also promise the unsuspected….
Hooray!
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