Mahtomedi is Dakotah for Grey Bear Lake. The lake that Mahtomedi borders is now called White Bear Lake. How the lake changed its name, who knows-maybe the name change was caused by the John Dillingers and the Baby Face Nelsons of the 1930′s that used Mahtomedi as a hideout. They used to fish the lake and take the train east on what is now Dellwood avenue.
That is how Mahtomedi got it’s nickname,the Zephyrs. It comes from the trains that used to be called Zephyrs. They play a number of games in Ramsey County’s White Bear Lake Arena built not far from what was the Wildwood Amusement Park. Its roller coaster is long gone.
In the 1970’s, St. Paul and Ramsey County combined to build 10 ice arenas using basically the same design the built four concrete walls around a rink and a small building on one side. The arena’s were built to get indoor ice; not for comfort. And they are still being used “to get indoor ice”.
The White Bear Lake Arena has become home for Mahtomedi; the Grey Lakers play in a arena named White Bear Lake and on a chilly October Saturday, it still served its basic purpose, to provide indoor ice. The White Bear Lake Arena has developed some character over the years because of it’s setting; it sort of arises in the middle of a wooded park that may have been part of the Wildwood Amusement Park. The arena is off to one side from some major buildings. It is easy to drive by and it hasn’t lost its charm-bring blankets.