THE ARROWHEAD'S FINLAND
Embarrass (1,427 alt., unincorporated), a railway station and post office in the fertile valley of the Embarrass River (named by French fur traders Because of the difficulties it presented to canoeists), is in Embarrass Township, whose population of 652 includes only two persons who are not Finns.
The first white visitors were fur traders who paddled along the Embarrass River to and from their posts. For many years the valley lay uncultivated and unoccupied, and even in 1895 there were only two men Living on the site of the future Embarrass.
Among the foreign born who migrated to the mining regions for work were many Finns. Some did not like mining, and others were eager to farm; so, attracted by the similarity between the valley and their homeland, a group left the mining communities and settled along the Embarrass River. Here they homesteaded, cutting the dense forests of pine and draining the cedar swamps. Embarrass Township was organized in 1905, but there is still no incorporated village.
The chief industries are farming and logging. Certified seed potatoes raised here are among the best in the Minnesota Arrowhead. Dairying and chicken and turkey raising are carried on extensively. A considerable amount of pulpwood is shipped from this section.
With the coming of so many Finns, Embarrass naturally took on many of the characteristics of Finland. The buildings of the small farms that dot the valley are roofed with birch bark weighted down by slender poles. To build a haystack, a pole three or four inches thick and from 15 to 20 feet long is driven into the ground, and around it a log "flooring" is laid. When the hay stacked on this floor reaches a height of from 12 to 14 feet, mountain ash or alder twigs, attached to the pole, are pulled over the stack to hold it in place. These "gumdrop" haystacks give the valley a foreign appearance.
An essential part of each Finnish farm is the sauna, or bathhouse (see Arrowhead Tour 3). Usually a log structure, 8 x 10 feet, it is considered of such importance that often it is built before the house itself. Steam for the bath is generated by dousing hot stones with water. Soap and brushes are used vigorously, and in many cases the bather swishes himself with cedar boughs to stimulate perspiration. The bath is completed with a pail of cold water or, for the more hardy, a plunge into a snowbank.
Some of the older Finns still practice native handicrafts. Wool-felt boots for wear inside rubbers are made. They are pressed and pasted on a foot-shaped mold, and are black, white, or gray because no dye or substitutes are used. These are sold at the Embarrass Cooperative Store (junction Co. Rds. 21 and 301).
From the WPA Guide to
the Minnesota Arrowhead Company
©1941 by the Minnesota Arrowhead Association
Demographics:
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 691 people, 290 households, and 196 families residing in the township. The population density is 8.2/km˛ (21.1/mi˛). There are 330 housing units at an average density of 3.9/km˛ (10.1/mi˛). The racial makeup of the township is 98.41% White, 0.14% African American, 0.58% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 290 households out of which 23.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% are married couples living together, 5.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% are non-families. 26.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.37 and the average family size is 2.87.
In the township the population is spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 104.2 males.
The median income for a household in the township is $36,111, and the median income for a family is $44,444. Males have a median income of $40,855 versus $21,786 for females. The per capita income for the township is $17,983. 8.6% of the population and 6.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 5.9% of those under the age of 18 and 5.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The
Taconite State Trail stretches 165 miles from Grand Rapids to Ely
and intersects with the Arrowhead State Trail just west of Lake
Vermillion. Portions are paved for biking and in-line skating. The
remainder of the natural surface trail is used primarily for snowmobiling
in the winter. The trail goes through a few areas that have standing
water in the summer, however portions of the trail are suitable
for horseback riding, hiking, and mountain biking. 
PAC
is a Minnesota corporation that powder coats metals for commercial
and residential applications. It can be used as a protective
or a fine finish. It is similar to a paint shop, but doesn't
have the VOC's of a liquid paint. It is applied in a dry form
through an electrostatic gun, then baked in a curing oven to give
it a very durable and finished look.
