Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-11-25
Seml-oeutennlal Celebration.


81 Of the act Of Congress admitting
Wisconsin TO the Federal Unioi., viii
occur upon May 20. 1898; and the
fiftieth anniversary Of the ceremony
Of taking the oath OF Office, by the
first elective state officers upon June
Z. 1898.
Appropriate obseryances in com
memoration of these events are, we
feel assured. generally desired by the
people of our state. to the end that
there may be fostered among us that
spirit of historic consciousness which
is the source of civic pride and patri-
otism. The several programme COM
mittees-which were the outgrowth
of the committee of one hundred, at
the final meeting of the latter, in
Milwaukee a few months ago-have
outlined plans which embrace three
features as follows:
/. County pioneer celebration, to
be held at each county seat upon Sat
urday, May IS. 1898, (for the 29th
falls upon Sunday, and the 30th IS
Memorial Day.. These celebrations
to be, so far as possible, under the
control Of local historical or early-set-
tier societies. either already organized
OF at once to be organized with this
end in view
2. A general state celebration. of
military. literary and historical
character, to be held at Madison, the
seat of State government, upon Tues
day, Wednesday and Thursday. June
Z, and 9, 1898. The 9TH of June has
been declared by the legislature leg
al holiday. aud the programme upon
that day is in the hands of the gov
ernor; the proposition is to extend the
celebration through the Sth and 9th,
under the guidance of the peoples
committee.
3. A carnival at Milwaukee. the
metropolis of the state, from June
9th to July ID, to graphically repre-
sent the business and industrial de-
velopment Of the commonwealth dur
ing the past fifty years.
At meeting Of the executive COM
mittee Of the State Historical society,
held on the 29th of October. the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted:
Resoired, That the State Historical
society of Wisconsin views with great
interest the preparations now under
way for the semi-centennial celebra-
tion proposed to be held at Madison.
the seat OF state government, upon
the 9TH, Sth and 9th of June. 1898. and
at Milwaukee, the metropolis of the
state, from June 9th to July I'd, 1898.
1t considers the proper observance Of
the anniversary year as of much inn
portance to the people of the state, be-
lieving that it will awaken stirring
historic memories and foster civic
pride. thereby conducting to the cause
of good citizenship within our borders.
1t therefore bespeaks for these sever
al celebrations the hearty cooperation
of Wisconsin men and women, where
ever they may be.
Reso}red. That the society advises
and requests the immediate formation
of local ana county historical and
earlv-settler associations, to develop
the historical spirit in their several
communities. to aid and direct local
celebrations at the several county
seats on the 2sth Of May next, and, as
a further mode of semi-centennial OBJ
servance. to gather for preservation
within the archives Of this society (as
the trustee Of the state) whatever his
torical material may be found within
their borders.
In furtherance OF the purpose Of
these resolutions. the society begs
leave. at the present time. to urge
the people OF the state:
/. At once to folm local historical
and early-settler societies. which shall
meet as frequently as convenient dur
ing the coming winter for the pur-
poses Of social reunion and pioneer
"reminiscences. 1t should be the aim
CT these local societies to call out val
liable personal narratives of pioneer
life in written form: to collect from
pioneers ort the descendants Of pioneers
early manuscript diaries, journals, let
ters and original documents OF every
sort which may throw light on the
early history Of our state or of the
northwest in general. 1t is also de-