The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-07-07

The Fourth of July in the middle
sixties was quite an event with the
pioneers of the township of Sank
Centre,
There were only a few families in
the entire locality, but the spirit OF
patriotism ran high in the commun-
ity and the celebrating of lndenpend-
ence Day were really one of the large
events of the locality.
Perhaps the most interesting event
of this nature was held in the vicinity
of the Birch Bark Lakes, situated
about six miles east of the village.
Here were offered ideal conditions
for the fitting celebration of the day.
while the three beautiful bodies OF
water forming the "Birch Bark"
chain, offered additional pleasures to
the events of the day.
Dressed in their dolly Vardens,"
the ladies of the neighborhood would
assemble at the lakes to aid their
men folks in adding zest to the oc-
,casion. On a hill overlooking the
lakes a flagstaff had been erected,
and early on the morning of July 4th
Old Glory would be raised to the
masthead to the booming of the
community cannon and the music OF
the fife and drum.
Among the families who would as
semble to make the occasion an an
nual event, were the Townsends, the
Benjamins, Kents, STATIONS, Spen-
GERS and Taylors, and the days cele-
brations would consist of firing the
cannon, music by the fife and drum
corps, shooting contests and canoe
races, the ladies always preparing
bounteous dinner for the occasion.
: Mrs. Sylvia Townsend, for whom
Lake Sylvia of the Birch Bark chain
was named, speaks very enthusiastic
ally of the celebrations of July 4th in
that vicinity.
Mrs. Townsend and her husband
were the first to locate on the lakes,
and because of the fact that she was
the first white woman to settle on
the lakes, the largest and most.
southerly lake of the chain was NAM
ed for her July a, 1873.
Mr.. and Mrs. Townsend came to
Sank Centre country in 1866 follow
ing the Civil War. Both had served
in the army, the husband as soldier
and the wife as war nurse. Both
were great lovers of the out-of-doors,
and they founded for themselves a
home in the wilds of Minnesota which
in those days, was considered the best
hunting and fishing grounds in this
entire vicinity.
The first Fourth of July celebration
recalled by Mrs. Townsend in this
locality, took place on July 4, 1867,
when three or four families gathered
at the lakes to pay tribute to the day.
They went to the largest island IN
the lakes where they spent the day
picknichng and had an altogether
good time.
But it was not until year later
that the annual celebration became
a noteworthy event. Then families
gathered from all sections of the
country. An old brass cannon was
bought and a flag pole erected. There
was an old army fife and drum corps
in the vicinity, and they furnished
the music for the occasion. "The
Fourth of July was big day with
as in the forests of Minnesota on the
Birch Bark lakes" said Mrs. Town
send.
The first account of the celebra-
tions appearing in print, was pub
lished following the celebration on
July 4th, 1878 in the Sank Centre
Herald. 1t was on that date that
Lake Sylvia was named for Mrs.
Townsend. The Herald on that oc-
casion said:
"The day was ushered in with the
firing of cannon and music by the
Nelrose hand The Stars and Stripes