The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-08-03
PROPOSE MARKER
FOR STOCkADE SITE
GRADATIM CLUB HEADS MOVE
MENT TO MEMORABILIA OLD
INDIAN DAYS
FUND NOW Being SECURED
PLANNED TO HOLD THE DEDICA-
TON OF MONUMENT DUR
ING HOMECOMING WEEK

Probably the most interesting pc
Rod connected with this locality, is
the period of the Sioux Indian war,
generally referred to by old residents
as the "Stockade Days."
When these aborigines were de-
vastating the frontier with torch and
tomahawk, and settlers were fleeing
for their lives to eastern points, the
citizens of this locality organized a
company Of citizen soldiery, built a
stockade and made stand against
the savages.
This was the most Westerly point
held by the citizens in the Northwest,
and became the rendezvous of the set
tiers of the surrounding territory, al
though many regarded the defense as
Insecure and proceeded farther east
with their goods and families.
The Gradatim Club, one of the old
est women's organizations in this part
of the state, deemed this event wor-
thy of cOmmemoration, and on the
suggestion of Mrs. A. Barto, one of
the former presidents of the Club,
through its civic department, inaugur-
ated a movement to mark the former
location of the old stockade, all
traces of which are rapidly becoming
obliterated. This work has been faith
fully continued by the Club for the
dual purpose of carrying out the orig
inal intention and as memorial of
Mrs. Barto, who labored for many
years for the civic benefit of this city.
A series of fortnightly teas have
been given by the Club to raise funds
tt erect the marker.
The intention is to secure a natural
granite boulder (hardhead) from
some point in as close proximity to
the city as possible and locate it at
one of the corners of the old stock
ade building.
A boulder 3x4x3 feet or approx
nately that size, is desired. Anyone
knowing the location of such a boul-
der will confer favor on the Club by
leaving word at the Herald office.
| On this boulder will be attached a
bronze plate on which will be engrav-
ed the names of the officers and PRIV
ates of the original company of cit
iZen soldiery who erected the stock
ade, and a suitable inscription.
The probable cost of such marker
will be about $3.50. The ladies of the
Club expect to be able to raise about
one-half of that amount and expect to
raise the balance by popular subscrip-
ton. -
The cities of Mankato, New Ulm,
Hutchinson and others have already
marked the historical spots connected
with the Indian war with suitable
monuments and it is surprising that
this city, noted for it's civic spirit, has
rot taken action before in this mat
| ter.
Every citizen in Sank Centre should
take special pride in providing fit
ting Renaissance emblem of the he
roism of the settlers of by-gone days
and it would be almost criminal on the
part of our people to continue to let
the most interesting event in the his
tory of Sank Centre remain unrecog-
nized.
The citizens owe debt of gratitude
to the ladies of the Gradatim Club for
taking up this work and should be
glad of the opportunity to assist in
carrying it out.
We are confident that if the Club
would appoint committee to solicit
a popular dollar subscription that the
major portion of our population would
be pleased to respond.
| 1t is hoped to have this marker set
and dedicated during Homecoming
| Week" and it will doubtless be one of
the most interesting features of that
interesting occasion.