Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-06-30
BEAUTIFUL PARK
NOW DEDICATED
Carlos Avery Formally Dedicates
Pretty Spot to Use Of People
of State

l
estimated that there were nearly
three thousand people gathered to be
present at the opening of the Park, and
these lands by Commissioner Carlos
Avery and incidently partake in the
annual celebration of the Kandiyohi
County Old Settlers Association.
The occasion was a great success
despite the bad roads and threatening
weather. a large speakers stand had
been erected upon which sat the
speakers and the prominent old set
tiers who were in attendance at the
reunion Of the Old Settlers Associa-
ton. The grounds were thick mass
of cars which arrived from all parts
OF the county. The constant influx of
cars kept the ten men on the parking
committee on the jump during the
tally hours of the afternoon. Many
OF the cars came from distant places
Us the event had been we'll advertised
The roads in the park were newly
made and wet from recent rain and
rttOre were not in the best posi-
bic condition. Yet all cars braved it
and little difficulty was encountered
in reaching the grove
The reunion of the Old Settlers was
set for ten o'clock in the morning, but
due to various delays and the non-ar-
rival of the crowd tn 1t later poured
II 10 the grounds, tie session was
Il r"efole postponed Until in the af-
It lnuon at two o'clock. Here a brief
Meeting was held when reports were
heard from the officers, common mat
ters discussed and the following exc
cutlVe staff elected: President, George
Johnson of New London; First vice
''.''~ :'nt. Peter Henderson of Spicer;
H>.2:a Eice-president, J. G. MOnson
u >anG:yOAl: Secretary, A. 0. Fors-
IAr! O.. Willmar and Treasurer, G.. w.
del CT Willmar The elections were
made by uc"lamatiOn. One hundred
u mbtIs II the Association were pre-
sent. Among the prominent old tim.
ers present were Peter Broberg; Mrs.
Jane E. Clark; Mrs. Mathilda Larson;
Z. A. Geer; P. O. Johnson; George
Johnson of New London; George
Johnson Of Colfax; J. A. Lundberg of
Belle Plaine. son of a survivor of
the West Lake massacre; j. Monson;
7. G. Nygard; William Olson of Spic-
er; Erick Paulson; A. w. Strand of
Minneapolis; George Becker of Litch-
field; Robert TAFT of Harrison; John
Wicklund, and Mrs. Eva Elmuuist of
Fahlun
The dedicatory exercises followed
Immediately after the session of the
Old Settlers closed and was opened bv
selections from the two bands present.
Special mention and appreciation
must be expressed to the members of
| the Murdock and the Belgrade -Broot-
en- bands which furnished splendid
music during the afternoon AS Sen.
| ator Gandrud said "They deserve un.
reserved praise for their fine work"
President John Wicklund then address
sed word OF welcome to the old sett-
lers to the reunion and to the park
dedication. Hon. Theodore Christ
ianson of Dawson then delivered
forceful and eloquent address to the
! old pioneers in which he called to
mind the heroic work of the early
founders of our communities and de-
clared in part as follows:
| The pioneers had strength, strength
! OF body, mind and character to endure
| the hardships Of the wilderness. They
| had vision. the diScernment to see that
! here in West Central Minnesota was all
that a strong people needed to build a
great community. They had patience
the WILLINGNESS to work and wait thru
|
! they soWed could grow to fruit or bios
som into flower.
| Every generation has it's pioneer
work to do. Ours is the task to unite
| communities, to coordinate diverse in
terests, to harmonic clashing purposes,
to make nation. Organized effort for
community betterment is seen on every
| hand. Farm bureaus, development as
sOclatlons and improvement leagues are
but outer manifestations of an inner
| consciousness
The pioneers are passing. Most Of
them have joined the Great Majority
| in the life beyond Their work we'll
done: they rest content under the gold
en- sunshine and the silent stars. Their
dust is mingled with that of the prair-
le. Their memory shall be our benedic-
tion and their example shall go far and
on SURVIVING every shock and wreck Of
time until at last it reaches it's fruition
on the great and perfect day"
Senator P. A. Gandrud, chairman of
the meeting then offered some re-
marks in which he lauded the work
OF the pioneers and complimented the
people of this vicinity in being privil-
eyed of possessing such a grand park
in their near location and access to
it's grandeur.
After few preliminary remarks in
which he paid tribute to the efforts of
those who were instrumental in Sc
curing the establishment of Sibley
Park, including the members of the
legislature, County Board, and Park
Board, Mr.. Carlos Avery, Executive
Agent of the State Game and Fish
Commission, delivered the following
dedication address,:
We are assembl here today to for
mally ratify and celebrate the estab-
lishment of this beautiful spot as a
park, belonging to the people of the
State of Minnesota and to remain their
common property for all time to come
1t has become the fixed policy of the
State as we'll as of the Federal Govern.
ment to set apart suitable tracts OF
land for the use of the public for re.
creation purposes. The first National
Park. the Yellowstone, was created as
years ago and since then others have
been added until now we have II OF
these wonderful museums of native
America set aside and dedicated to the
perpetual use of all the people.
These public parks and monuments
are something more than mere play
grounds and recreation places The,
are museums of the historic-the grant
the unique-the beautiful things O.
nature to be preserved as God mad,
them-not to be spoiled or defiled b,
commercialism or vandal hands. It il
incumbent upon us to exercise our Wig
lance as owners and trustees of thes
natural parks to see to it that they ar
forever kept in their original condition
l OF nature, as otherwise their charm an
value will be lost. (Cites water powe
bilD.