Celebrating the 4th of July
The first Independence Day celebration in southern Wright County was held on a island in Fountain Lake just west of Delano on July 4, 1857. It actually started as a farmer’s picnic, and has evolved in to the biggest 4th of July celebration in the state.
The island is now a peninsula, but in 1857, Andrew Stacy, wearing a long tailed coat he had brought from Virginia, paddled the company across the lake in his canoe. Everyone from the surrounding countryside was there, including the Cramer Swartout family, the Stacys, Joseph Leiter, and bachelor Charley Crawshaw. Several picnic baskets were opened and the group shared fried chicken and rabbit pie. For dessert there was lemon pie made from the first lemons brought out from Minneapolis. The men put up a swing for the children and they all played games and attempted athletic stunts.
The program was very patriotic. Mrs. John B. Herric read the Declaration of Independence and everyone sang patriotic songs. The only accident occurred on the canoe trip back. So many people were in the boat that Mr. Stacy’s long coat tails dragged in the water all the way back.
The Fourth of July celebration has moved to Delano now, but the fervor and fun remained the same. A parade became a big part of the festivities, and athletic contests and games continued for several years.
By 1881, the parade consisted of the Star cornet band, the amateur fire department, the Delano Northwestern band, a chariot consisting of young ladies around the Goddess of Liberty, the Delano Hook and Ladder Co, No. 1, the Empire Engine & Hose Co No 1., Mulligan guards, and the speakers of the day, Mayor, City Council and citizens in carriages. The parade ended at the picnic grounds, with a programs of speakers followed by a picnic, dancing on the grounds, amusements including climbing a greased pole contest, and “a magnificent display of fireworks” in the evening. The celebration concluded with a grand ball and supper in the hall of Young’s Hotel.
In 1888 the celebration featured two grand balloon ascensions, one at 2 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. followed by fireworks costing $100. The grand ball in the evening was held in Delano’s new $8000 City Hall.
The 1889 celebration began with a 42-gun salute at sunrise, a parade through the principle streets of Delano led by the G. A. R. Posts and old Soldiers the Delano Fire Department and visiting firemen, an Industrial parade with all of the businesses represented, and “the best lot of Rag Muffins ever seen in the State.”
Float of the Crow River Valley Harness Co.
Conzet, Darrow & Son, Prop.
1896
The celebration continued to grow. Bicycling had become very popular, and the 1896 parade included decorated bicycles, and bicycle races in the afternoon.
“At ten o’clock Marshall Cunningham gathered the procession near the city hall. It was led by the Bicycle Club, President O’Hair, Marshall Cunningham, and the Delano Cornet Band in their new immaculately white uniforms. Committeeman Carlin with Mr. John Steffes and Prof. C. S. Hawker followed in a carriage and the Rag-a-muffins and citizens followed. A march was made through the principle streets and over the river through Brooklyn to the beautiful grove on Breed’s hill where the exercises took place.” (Brooklyn was the name for the city on the west side of the river, and Breed’s Hill was at the end of Buffalo street.)
(The tamarack trees were in place for the Fourth of July celebration. Kids were hired to go to the swamp north of town and cut them and put them in place.)
At the conclusion of Mr. Hawker’s address and the music by the band an adjournment was taken until after dinner. A great many people took their dinner in the old fashioned picnic way and gassed and visited with their neighbors. The five stands on the grounds did a pretty fair business and gave the people a good article of ice cream, lemonade, etc. At two o’clock the dancing began on the pavilion and was kept up until 5 p. m. The games were also pulled off on the hill and were a source of considerable amusement to those looking on. The bicycle races were the big events in the sporting line and the crowd headed by the band at five o’clock marched to River street. The first race was the fat men’s foot race. Al. Eppel, “Fatty” Reibel and Dr. Shrader entered and Shrader won easily with Eppel second. The 100-yard dash was won by Charley Coolen with Charley Sunday a close second.
In the ladies bicycle race Miss Maggie Steffes won the 1st heat with Miss Allie Murphy 2nd, the later winning the 2nd heat with Miss Steffes 2nd. In the 3rd heat Miss Murphy again won with Miss Vinnie Chance 2nd, and Miss Steffes 3rd, thus giving Miss Murphy 1st prize, Miss Steffes, 2nd and Miss Chance, 3rd,
In the gents’ mile race the principal interest centered, there being considerable rivalry between those entered – Messrs. Geo Erickson, Enos Eppel, and Fred Lindsley. The first heat was won by Erickson with Lindsley 2nd and Eppel almost distanced. The 2nd heat was better, Erickson being followed by Eppel and he by Lindsley. This gave Erickson 1st place, and tied Eppel and Lindsley for 2nd. Now came the tug of war to decide the tie. Each was determined to win. One must lose. It was pretty race. With heads bowed to mother earth the silent two came flying down the reach, with Lindsley was not strong enough to keep up his terrific speed and he weakened and the race was won by Eppel.
In the two mile dash Eppel and Erickson gave another pretty exhibition of fast riding. Erickson led until within a few rods of the tape when Eppel was seen to lie down on his wheel and make a terrible dash. It landed him ahead and won the race for him. On the whole the races were good and demonstrated beyond peradventure that Delano has the tree fastest riders in the county and they stand ready to try honors with any of them.
This ended the day’s sport and most of the people went to their homes. In the evening the firemen gave a very nice ball that was well patronized, the music being furnished as was that for afternoon by Miss Julia Steffes, Messrs. Brandser, Peterson and McDonald with an occasional “lift” from others. Everything passed off smoothly and the boys had the pleasure of adding a few dollars to their fund.”
The 1905 celebration took advantage of the new brick block building on Bridge avenue to add a new attraction:
“The large, new building on Bridge Street, 90 x 100 feet has been secured for the Fourth of July by the Dramatic Club when a grand production of “The Deserter” will be put on. The biggest stage outside the cities is being erected and electrical effects will be produced that will greatly enhance the performance. The large stage will admit of magnificent scenic effects, the building will be comfortably seated, specially wired for electric lights and will be one of the coolest spots in town to rest after a long day of sight-seeing. The building will no doubt be filled to the doors as the attraction is one of unusual merit.”
The celebration continued to have a grand parade, and a large program of sports contests and entertainment, including string chewing, barrel racing for boys, nail driving for ladies, a tug-o’-war, ball throwing for both men and ladies, a cake walk, horse racing, bicycle racing, and a baseball game – Delano versus Lyndale.
It was reported that in the ladies' ball throwing contest, Edith Pett took 1st. In this event Miss Pett threw the ball 185 feet, which was considered remarkable distance for a lady to throw a ball.
There were visitors from far and near, and the large crowd present was the most surprising feature of the day’s gathering, considering that the parade took place in a drenching rain, and the band boys were compelled to march on the sidewalks.
These two floats are from the 1912 Fourth of July celebration:
E. E. Bartlett had a pretty float in the parade. This picture was taken on Elm avenue; the building in the background was the Episcopalian church, which was later converted into apartments, and then torn down to build the fire station addition.
A long standing tradition was a float of young girls dressed in white representing each of the states. Taken at the intersection of Elm and Second street, the Methodist church can be seen in the background.
A Masonic Lodge float from the early 1920’s:
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The first place float was by Tautges Funeral home.
The Delano Granite Works float took second place,
Third place in the float contest went to School District 70 (Welker School.)
The Fourth of July Committee consists of representatives of local community organizations: the Delano Athletic Club, the Delano Lions, the Delano Sportsmen’s Club, the Delano Area Boy Scouts, and the Delano American Legion