The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-03-16
Interesting "reminiscences Of Halt a
Century Ago Are Related.
BANQUET ENJOYED BY MEMBERS.
Semi Centennial Celebration OF
Mankato Lodge A. E. and A. NJ;
Many Visitors.

The semi centennial of the founding
OF Masonic lodge-Mankato No. II, A.
+. and A. M.-was befttingly observed
by its members on Saturday evening at
their hall, corner of Second and Hickory
streets. About $50 persons, composed of
Masons, their families, and members of
the Eastern Star lodge were in attend
ance. Quite number from the neigh
boring lodges came in on the afternoon
and early evening trains and enjoyed
the festivities of the evening.
Saturday evening was regular meet
ing night; and the lodge was called to
order early and was closed by eight
o'clock.
F. l.. Soaring, the present master of
the lodge, opened the program by in
viting to the platform all visiting mas
tiers and pastmasters. Thomas Mont
gomery, the state secretary, and Cen
eral Gustaf Widell, deputy grand mas
ter of the grand lodge, also occupied
seats in the east.
After short address by the master,
c. A. Chapman, for many years the
treasurer of the lodge, read the follow
ing interesting paper:
1t is my intention, in this paper,
briefly to present the contrast between
the condition of our lodge and town
fifty years ago, and today, so great a
change has this half century made. But.
in contrasting the condition of our lodge
fifty years ago with that at the present
time we labor under the disadvantage of
distance, which, while it lends enchant
ment to the view, renders the scenes of
past ages dim and indistinct, while those
of the present time are clear and sharp.
Certain facts of that past time have
been preserved for us, embalmed like
Egyptian mummies i'll our records, so
that we can open their burial caves, and
gave upon the actual lineaments of the
departed. But many others, and some
which the lapse of time has rendered
important, rely for their preservation
wholly upon tradition, and the fading
memory of those who were actors on
that stage half century ago.
"N nat was the condition and aspect
of this town in March, 1856? 1t was as
YOU know an insignificant village on the
edge of wilderness. But some of you
may not have definite ideas of its boun-
diaries and appearances. l will attempt
TO describe it as it appeared to me about
that time. The business portion of the
town was comprised between Jackson
street on the south, and Plum and Wash
ington street on the north. But by far
the largest portion of it was concentrat-
ed in Block Is, between Walnut and Main
streets. This block naturally became the
first center of business from its position
directly opposite the steamboat landing
The river was then our main avenue OF
communication with the world. The
roads leading east were SO bad, almost
impossible at certain seasons, that we
depended almost entirely on steamboat
for our annual supplies of food, clothing
and hardware; everything in fact which
we could not raise or manufacture our
selves, for the country around us was
not yet self supporting. Our farmers had
not begun to raise enough to have any
surplus for the market.
"The steamboats, usually tied up at
the levee, which extended from about
the foot of Mulberry street to the pres
ent site of the city hail. One boat is
said to have lost its way in time of
high water, and went sailing over Cum
ming's addition to where Front street
now crosses the slough. Across the river
where now stands the growing city of
North Mankato with it's thousand inhab
itants, there was nothing but a jungle
of trees and bushes. Warren's addition
was forest; Van Brunt's a corn field.
The crossway across the slough had not
been built, and the road to South Bend
ran along what is now Minnesota street.
The only houses in West Mankato were
the log cabins of Buckskin Lyons near
the Blue Earth, and the house of Andrew
Hanna. Wild animals prowled about.
have myself seen in the present city
limits deer and timber wolves.
THE Indians were frequent visitors.
Those noble tramps were to be seen on
Front street every day. Indian dances
were common. We called them begging
dances because they expected in return
some presents of flour or tobacco. At
open doors of saloons I saw men gam
bling with money on the table, and they
were not ashamed. $3.50
'When this lodge was founded we had
mails about once week. L remember
we hailed it as great advance when we
began to have tri-weekly mail. Con-
trast that with our present condition.
Now we are disappointed and wrlthy if
the st. Paul or Chicago mail is delayed
an hour. Then we were well content if
we heard what happened in New York
a week ago, or in Europe last month.
Now we demand the news from Japan
on the very day of its occurrence. Then
we went home from the lodge by the
light of the noon, or lantern, and if