The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-31
ILL., C. HOTALLNG DELIVERS ADDRESS
IN WHICH HE REFERS FEELNGLY
TO THE OLD TIME SCOTChIMEN

ing, editor of the Blue Earth county
Enterprise, read the following paper
on Other Days." being a retrospect
of the Maple River Burns club, and
which was of great interest, espec-
tally to the older residents:
| "Other Days." what "reminiscences
these two words bring back to many
of us. To you who have watched
the growth and upbuilding of the
Burns club what memories it recalls.
! Although not yet veteran in age,
it has been my pleasure to know
in person nearly every one of the
grand men who founded this organi-
cation. They were men of standing
and character, men above the aver
age standard of intelligence, men
who blazed the pathway of progress
in the early development and settle
ment of this community. Among
them were Robert Taylor, who spied
out this land of plenty for the Ma
pleton colony; that stalwart citizen,
Joseph Dobie; that grand old Pres
byterian saint, Thomas Blair; hon.
est John Johnston, the pioneer
blacksmith who stood over the anvil
at the Winnebago Indian agency and
his brother, William, whose word
and honor were never questioned !;
that educated gentleman, James FL
lis; James Morrow, of Beauford !;
Daniel Grey and George Mckay, of
Bass Lake; Collin Macbeth, of Man
kato; George Lang, of Lyra; John
Amt and VIM. Jameson. of Rapi-
dan; VIM. Brisbane of Waseca,
who because of his strong love for
American institutions was in great
demand at Fourth of July and other
patriotic celebrations; Robert Slater
who persisted in the blizzard of 1880;
William Mcqueen, the pioneer brick
maker OF Mankato, but why enumer-
ate all the Scotch within forty
miles of Lura lake. But there was
one more, who was not Scotchman
that should be mentioned, we refer
TO John Alvey, an Englishman by
birth, who recognized the spirit OF
goodfellowship which prompted the
organization of the Burns club and
contributed valuable aid to the up.
building of the society, being elect.
ed to one of it's most important Of
fees.
The first meeting was held AZ
years ago in the year 1866, and not
one of the original officers is liv.
ing today. Gathering at the home
OF Joseph Dobie in Sterling town.
ship, the organization was perfected
under the name of the Blue Earth
Valley Burns" the name being
changed in 1885 to maple River
Curling Club" and again ten years
later in 1905 to the Maple River
Burns Club" the curling feature
being taken care of at that time by
the organization of the Heather
Curling club which erected the rink
on east Main street.
The officers of the club organized
forty-seven years ago were John
Johnston, president; Thomas Blair,
vice-president; Joseph Dobie, secre-
tary; Robert Taylor corresponding
secretary; and John Alvey, treas.
urer. The bylaws stated the OBJ.
ject of the society was to improve
its members socially, as we'll as for
benevolent purposes. That there was
some fall down from this high
standard was evident, for at a re.
organization meeting in June, 1888,
resolutions were adopted to the eff.
feet that intoxicating liquors should
not be allowed at future Burns gath.
erlngs. This was about the time We
edltor came on the scene and per.
haps our prohibition proclivities
might have had a beneficial effect
Tor an old timer tells of a gathering
IN the COS when a keg of Scotch
whisky imported for the occasion,
was spirited away by a couple of
fellows whose names could be
given if necessary, and neither are
Scotch. 1t was the genuine ar.
tlcle and the owner satisfied his
disappointment by eXclaiming,
"Weel mon, that will lay them out
II anything will" On another oc.
caslon George Mckay brought over
pup from Bass Lake for friend
OF his. Nothing would do but the
dog should be christened and five OF
the old fellows, and they were not
SO old then, gathered around his
lordsnlp-or rather pupship. They
gave him the name of Bango, each
one OF the five repeating a letter of
the name, B-A-N-G-O, then uniting in
chorus on the 90" and "Bango was
his name" 1t was great occasion
and left a vivid impression on the
mind of the youngster who witness.
ed the performance.
When the club was first organized
gatherings were held three times a
year. On Burns anniversary and
on the first Thursday of June and
october. At the summer gatherings
the Celedonian sports were INDUCED
IN, such as tossing the caber. this
being a heavy log eight feet LONG
and eight inches thick, the trick be.
ing to hold it upright and toss it So
that 1t would turn over when strik.
ing the ground; putting the shot
winch in that Gay was really throw.
ing light and heavy stones. Then
they had races, jumping, throwing
hammers, etc. w. L. Mcqueen and
IL. s. Taylor, who are with lis TO.
night were frequent victors and are
among the few remaining who in.
dulged in these highland sports forty
years ago. AT the winter meetings
curling was the one sport which
held attention. 1t had been PLAYED
IN Scotland for nearly 400 years
and was introduced for the first
time in Elue Earth county, if not
In the state, by James Ellis, father
of the present able secretary of this
organization.
The first gatherings were held at
Joseph Dobie's, James Ellis, A. M.
Hewitts and A. ]. Ellis Sterling:
Thomas Blair's, John Robinson's and
GeOrPe McKav'c Pacc Io1ro. NJ