Huot, Minnesota facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Huot
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Old Crossing Treaty Monument, Huot, Minnesota
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 Huot, Minnesota
Location in Minnesota
Huot, Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Minnesota |
| County | Red Lake |
| Elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 218 |
| GNIS feature ID | 654761 |
Huot is a small, unincorporated community in Louisville Township, Red Lake County, Minnesota, United States. The name "Huot" reminds us of the rich history of French-Canadian and Métis people in the area. This includes the famous Red River Trails and the early settlements in the Pembina Valley region.
Contents
History of Huot
The Old Crossing Site
The place where Huot is located was first called the "Old Crossing." In the 1840s and 1850s, this was a special spot. It was a ford, or shallow place to cross, the Red Lake River. People used this crossing for Red River ox cart trains. These carts traveled from Pembina and Fort Garry to St. Paul, Minnesota.
Crossing the river could be hard and even dangerous. After crossing, the cart trains usually camped nearby for the night. This made the Old Crossing a regular stopping place on a route known as the "Woods Trail."
Early Settlement Ideas
In the 1850s, a man named Joe Rolette was a big supporter of trade. He wanted to connect British Assiniboia (now part of Canada) with St. Paul. Rolette set up a trading house at the Old Crossing. He also had a plan to build a city there, which he wanted to name "Douglas."
Rolette's friends in the Minnesota state government even named Douglas the county seat of Polk County in 1858. However, this idea was quickly dropped. The Ojibwe people, who had lived in the area for a long time, did not allow a ferry or a town to be built on their land.
The Treaties of Old Crossing
The Old Crossing soon became the place where important agreements were made. These were called the Treaties of Old Crossing. Through these treaties, the Ojibwe people agreed to give up most of northwestern Minnesota to the United States.
The first treaty was supposed to happen at Old Crossing in September 1862. But then, the Dakota War of 1862 broke out. Many Ojibwe chiefs and their families were camped nearby when fighting spread to the Red River Valley. The Ojibwe stayed calm, even though people in nearby white settlements were scared. The United States treaty negotiators left for safety.
The treaty talks were put off until the next year. This was after the Sioux people were no longer fighting. Finally, the Treaty of Old Crossing (1863) and the Treaty of Old Crossing (1864) were signed at the Old Crossing site.
Founding of Huot
After the land was opened for new settlers in the early 1870s, a Métis man named Pierre Bottineau encouraged French-Canadian settlers to move to the Red Lake River area. A large French-Canadian farming community grew nearby. This area later became Red Lake County.
One of these settlers was Louis Huot, who arrived from Quebec in 1876. In 1877, he started a ferry service at the Old Crossing. The village that grew up around this ferry, and the surrounding Louisville Township, were both named after Louis Huot.
As more farmers settled in the area, the village grew. It had a Catholic church, a school, a general store, and a creamery. The creamery later became the town hall. There was also a post office and several houses. Around 1900, a bridge was built across the river, replacing the ferry.
Decline of Huot
After a short time of growth, the town of Huot began to shrink. The Northern Pacific Railroad did not build tracks through Huot. Instead, much of the business and trade moved to the town of Dorothy, about 5 miles (8 km) north.
The church building, St. Aloysius, was moved to Dorothy in 1919. The cemetery, however, stayed in its original spot and is still used today. The post office, which was inside the Huot store, closed in 1936. The old creamery building burned down in 1940, and town meetings moved to the school house.
In 1966, the bridge collapsed. Later that year, the school house was burned down by vandals. The Huot Store stayed open for a few more years. By 2008, Huot was barely recognizable as a village. Today, it appears on some maps as the location of the Old Crossing Treaty Park.
Parks and Recreation
Old Crossing Treaty Park
The Old Crossing Treaty Park in Huot was created in 1933. It covers about 8.8 acres (3.6 hectares) on the west bank of the Old Crossing site. A monument was put up there on June 25, 1933, to remember the 1863 Treaty of Old Crossing.
Around the same time, citizens from Polk and Red Lake counties bought another 100 acres (40 hectares) on the north side of the river. This land included parts of the old Pembina Trail. Today, the park has places for picnics and historical exhibits that are open at certain times of the year. It also has a boat landing and the monument. The park is managed by Red Lake County.
Cultural Events
Annual Festival
The annual Old Crossing Chautauqua and French-Canadian/Metis Festival is a three-day event held in Huot. It is sponsored by AFRAN (Association of the French of the North). This festival takes place on the fourth weekend of August. AFRAN's goal is to help people understand the world's French heritage through art and culture.
