The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-07-07
Sank Centre---Its Traditions
and Its Life
By GEORGE D. WING

were unfurled to the breeze from a
pole on the old picnic grounds.
Notwithstanding the weather was
unpropitious, roads bad, &C., the peo-
pie came pouring in from every way,
in wagons, on foot and by water in
boats and canoes. By 10 o'clock a
large number had assembled, it had
quit raining, a gentle wind swept
away the mist and the murky clouds,
and nature smiled and put on her
Dolly Vardens-
Marshall Kent formed the people
in procession and marched them to
the stand erected on the picnic
grounds, a beautiful table land over
looking the lake and surrounding
country. Mr.. Phillip Westover pre-
sided as chairman, and S. r. Foot
acted as secretary
The exercises were opened by
national hymn by the choir and music
by the band. The Declaration was
read, after which an Grafton by A.
Townsend was listened to by an at
tentive audience. Red, White and
Blue was sung by the choir, Hail
Columbia was played by the band,
the cannon doomed and the people
cheered. The procession was again
formed and marched to the refresh
ment tables where it was a sight to
gladden. the most fastidious epicure.
The tables literally groaned under
their pyramids of cakes and etceteras.
Dinner over, the sports of the day
Racing, wrestling, boat
ing, swinging and dancing.
l'The following resolution was un-
adopted:
"Whereas, the Birch Bark Lakes
are chain of three in number, part
of them being in Todd county and a
part in Stearns, Therefore, in order
to more definitely designate one OF
them,
"Be it Resolved, That the lower and
most southerly Of the Birch Bark
Lakes be this day christened Lake
Sylvia, and from this time forth let
it be known by this name and none
other"
Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred Townsend who
pioneered community life at the Birch
Bark Lakes, came to this locality in
1866 from Mankato. They drove
here in wagons with their household
goods and took up claim on what
later became Lake Sylvia.
Mrs. Sylvia Townsend, who is still
a resident of Sank Centre, in speak
ing of her life in the wilds said:
"There was nothing hard about our
life on the Birch Bark Lakes. The
hunting was good and the fishing
was excellent, and we had a good
time all the while we lived in the Vi
entity"
Speaking of neighbors, the lady
said that there We're a few families
followed them into the immediate To-
,ality. That members of the Chip
oawa bands Of Indians were frequent
visitors at the lakes, but that they
made no trouble and seldom paid any
attention to the white settlers.
Among the relics Of the past on the
axe, Mrs. Townsend still has in her
smooth bore rifle which
Ter husband gave her to protect her
;elf with while alone in the woods.
Mrs. Townsend was something of a
lunter and hunted a great deal with
Ter husband. ...
Alfred Townsend was by profess
ion, pastor in the Methodist church
During his residence here prior to
lis DEATH, he taught in several
schools in the locality, the first school
n the Birch Lake district having
,een erected on his claim. He was
llso the first teacher in the new brick
chool house erected in Sank Centre,
| building which was destroyed by
ire only few years since.
(To Be Continued)