Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1931-06-04
ASKOV IS rs
YEARS old
Celebration CommemOrat.
ing Beginning of Settle
ment to be Held.
Three Days Program on
June 5, 6, and z; Many
Visitors Expected.

Twenty-Five years ago-back in 1916
the Danish Folk Society of America
founded the Askov colony, and in COM
memoration of that three days cele-
bration is to be held here, commence
ing on Friday, June 9Th, the Danish
independence day, and continuing on
through Saturday and Sunday, June
9th and 7th.
When the first few Danish settlers
came here in 1906 the postoffce ana
station was then known as partridge
which a few years later was changed
to Askov-named up after the folk
high school by that name in Dem
mark. Twenty-Five years ago this was
practically a wilderness, only few
isolated settlers here and there, with
but practically only trails for roads.
X. H. Duus and L. c. Petersen, both
coming from Tyler, and who nave
since passed to their reward, were
the original land men, being selected
by the Danish Folk Society to locate
settlers and sell lands to them. The
Ludwig Mosbak family, also amongst
the first settlers, and still active in
the community life, conducted the old
hotel a few years, a building which
has since burned.
The Danish Folk Society purchased
10000 acres land from the Farmers
Land and Cattle Co. and the Theo. F.
Koch Land Co., this being of the cut
over variety but good quality sandy
loan with hard clay subsoil. The
almost barren land was formerly for
ested by white pine, Norway pine.
birch, oak, Eastwood, elm, soft and
hard maple, and some poplars.
Saw Mill in Early Days.
Tracts of 40 and 80 acres mostly
were sold to the settlers. In the ear
iy days the saw mill, owned and oper-
ated by Martin Sorensen and the late
H. ]. F. Poulsen gave work to some
people as there was a little timber
left, but the lumber that was produced
was used mostly for buildings on the
farms. The work of clearing the land
from brush, stumps, and stones was
Immediately begun and the result of
the 25 years of effort is plainly evil
dent. Good leadership here has
helped materially in bringing it to it's
present state of a good farming COM
munity but the success of the under
taking was made possible by the good
cooperation and willingness on the
part of all to pitch in.
An elegant church building was
AcL hos
complete graded and high school for
many years, this year graduating II
students from the high school. A
pretty little park with band stand and
refreshment stands is located in the
midst of the village, the community
has good creamery and modern SUBJ
stantial business buildings. The farm
homes are good and numerous, and
now there are about 1900 Danes in
the community. Most of these are
in Partridge township and Askov viii
lage but the community also stretches
into Finlayson, Norman, Sandstone,
and Fleming townships. The develop
ment and growth of the community
will be shown on slides in the D. B. S.
nail sunday evening.
Ready for Celebration.
Many willing hands have been ac-
tive for days and weeks in preparing
for the 25th anniversary celebration,
the park has been put in good shape,
streets and alleys improved, lawns and
gardens beautified and a week before
Decoration day many folks spent an
afternoon in identifying the cemetery.
The Rev. A. E. Frost has been very
active in this work and has taken a
leadership in preparing the program
and otherwise arranging for the fest
i've days.
An anniversary booklet has been
printed and put on sale, and an elab-
crate program has been arranged for
the three days. The Askov band, the
orchestra, and the choir will furnish
music and songs for all occasions. A
rare treat may also be given Sunday
evening by Sigurd Jorgensen of Tyler,
on his violin. The Rev. Holger Strand
skov, Tyler, and the Rev. H. Koch,
West Denmark, Wis, will give the
principal addresses during the fest
ival.
The Program.
The program begins in the park, if
weather permits, June 9Th, at 1:3O p.
m. Besides the address a memorial
will be dedicated. Saturday after
noon there will also be lecture in the
park. On Sunday an all day program
has been arranged for, beginning with
worship in the church, at 1880 a. M,
picnic in the park at II M, followed
by lecture and music. Kittenball or
other sports can be INDUCED in every
day after the lectures. Sunday eve
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