Edward Phelan - Legacy

Legacy

Phalen Creek has been named after him as a result of claim near the creek in Swede Hollow. Phalen Creek travels from Lake Phalen and drains into the Mississippi River. Near the turn of the century most of the creek was covered over and routed through sewers. The lake that was drained by the creek became known as Phalen's Lake despite Phelan never living near its shores. The lake is now referred to as Lake Phalen. The Saint Paul Water Company set up a supply plant at Lake Phalen in 1869 and the lake was used as Saint Paul's primary source of water until 1913. The lake is one of the largest in Saint Paul with an area of 196 acres (0.79 km2). The area surrounding the lake has been made into a 494-acre (2.00 km2) park, named after Phelan. John Fletcher Williams, a local historian, wrote in 1876 "It is a disgrace, that the name of this brutal murderer has been affixed to one of our most beautiful lakes - one that supplies our households with water."