Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-08-07
THOUSANDS WILL B.
GO 70 RlDGELY
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle Of
Fort RidgeIy Aug. 1928.

u
Fiftieth Anniversary of the Battle Of
Fort RidgeIy Aug. 1928.
Plans for the celebration of the
fiftieth anniversary of the Battle Of
Fort Ridgely are progressing as rap
idly as possible, but they are COM
plete enough at this time to indicate
that this celebration will be the real
big event in this section for many
years to come, says the Fairfax
Standard.
The defeat of the murderous red
skins ait the old battlefield on that
memorable August day in 1862 was
as important to the people Of the
state and the entire northwest as
any event ever transpiring and it is
but proper that it should be fitting
w COMMUNICATED at the 5Oth ami
versary of the battle.
The head and front Of the Fort
Ridgely movement has always been
C. H. Hopkins and he has general
charge of the celebration next month.
The gentleman is a patriot who has
devoted much Of his time in the fur
thering Of the cause Of making the
old battlefield either a state or ma
tional park, working much Of the
time under adverse conditions. The
last legislature set apart a sum suf-
fcient to purchase the original site
owned by the government and Mr..
Hopkins was designated as superin-
tendent by the state auditor.
For a day at least practically the
entire state government will be re-
moved from St. Paul to Fairfax and
Fort Ridgely, and one Of the inter-
esting events in connection with this
anniversary celebration will be the
turning over of this park to Gov.
Eberhart by State Auditor Iverson,
and the dedication of the same to
the use Of the public by the states
chief executive. Interesting short
talks will also be made by other men
of prominence.
With fair weather conditions and
good roads the largest crowd ever
assembled ait an inland point in the
state will visit Fort Ridgely on Aug.
1928 to pay tribute to the valiant
citizens and soldiers who sacrificed
so much in the suppressing Of the
Sioux.
| People are coming from far and
near to renew the scenes of pio-
neer life and meet old friends and
relatives. 1t will be home coming
in fact.
In order that the celebration shall
take on a military aspect Col. Hop
kins has secured the battery from
New Ulm who will have with them
the orr ginal cannon used at the Fort
Through the intervention Of United
State Senator Knute Nelson, it has
also been possible to secure the at
tendance Of battalion Of the 9th In
fantry U. S. Army, recently returned
from the Philippines to attend this
celebration. -.
The committee in charge Of the
celebration are making every pos
sible effort for the care and enter
tainment Of the visitors. People will
be carried from Fairfax to Fort
Ridgely and return for $l.00 per pas
senger. The round trip is practical
]y fourteen miles so that the rate is
admittedly very reasonable. Auto
mobiles will be parked under the
watchful care of competent help at
charge of SO cents for each car.
Cars will be checked and only the
person holding the check can secure
car at the close Of the day.
Those attending the celebration
are requested to bring their lunch
con with them wherever possible.
There will be refreshment stands on
the grounds but with favorable
weather conditions it will be hard
to feed the multitude. No game of
a questionable character will be per-
mitted.
Music for this event will be fur
nlshed by the Citizens Band Of Fair
tax, the Second Regt. Band Of New
Ulm and also probably the Olivia and
Redwood Falls Bands.-Bird Island
Union.