Sherburne History Center Blog

  With the Fourth of July weekend upon us, local historians inevitably ask: how did we celebrate so many years ago?   Has it always been loud fireworks and excessive drink?   The answer to these questions remains a definitive yes and no.   Depending on the year and the location, the fourth of July celebration in Sherburne County has been both loud and raucous, and other times silent and sedate.   Veteran's Memorial at Sherburne History Center Using newspapers as the source, in the decade of the 1890s, often town baseball remained the highlight of a July Fourth celebration.   The newspapers routinely reported of tournaments pitting Elk River nines against Rogers, Monticello, or other local teams.   With the end of nine innings a watermelon feast marked the culmination of the celebration.   During the decade, livelier celebrations also took place.   In 1893, the newspapers advertised river excursions on the Mississippi River.   The ste...

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of several celebratory feasts.   The turkey day, Christmas, and New Year’s Day call for some type of feast and celebration. With the end of the Thanksgiving feast, I paused to wonder about the food I had just devoured.   Specifically, why turkey?   After a brief search, I discovered a variety of meats served during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.   Each of the centerpieces, whether they be turkey, goose, or pork; held a significant meaning to traditional diners.   In the United States most holiday revelers held Turkey as the primary dish of a festive meal.   Whether at Christmas or Thanksgiving, the bird of choice remained the gobbler.   The wild turkey must be hunted and killed.   And so, early feasts celebrated the holiday and the hunting skills of family members.   As you move into the twentieth century, turkeys became domestic farm animals and more easily attainable.   Goose and pork, on th...

Previously we explored a variety of different parties and celebrations around Elk River.  The lemon party, an event for ladies with admission being one lemon.  The lemons are used in various games.  The highlight of the evening arrived when the ladies made lemonade out of the admission fees.  The Sherburne County Star News documented a variety of similar celebrations.  On October 17, 1912, a particularly unique party invitation graced the pages of the newspaper: “The Christian Endeavor will give a necktie social this evening.”  The newspaper announced, “Ladies are requested to wear aprons and bring a necktie to match, sealed in an envelope.  These will be distributed to the gentlemen and the wearer of your necktie eats supper with you.”  The brief announcement guaranteed a “big supper” and fun for all.  “Everybody is invited, the older people as well as the young folks.”      There are no reports for the success of...