This Date in History

John L. Wilson, the “Father of St. Cloud”, purchased a section of land in central Minnesota for $100. This is where Middle Town (St. Cloud) would develop. The first town-site location at St. Cloud, covering what came to be known as “Middle Town,” now the business center of the city, was purchased on July 19, 1853 by John L. Wilson.

Stearns County Fair held at the current fair ground in Sauk Centre for the first time. The holding of fairs was abandoned until 1903 when a new association was organized, a 28 acre tract of land was purchased in Sauk Centre and preparations were made. The new fair grounds and race track were formally opened July 3, 1903.

An impressive granite monument to John Lyman Wilson, the proclaimed “Father of St. Cloud” was unveiled and dedicated June 28, 1956 in Eastman Park.

The first known settlers in the Rockville area came in 1852. More and more pioneers immigrated to the area over the next few years. As the population of the village increased, W.B. Mitchell and his father opened the first store here.

The electric car shuttled in people along with a new metropolitan experience in the city which reigned for 44 years. The St. Cloud Streetcar Co. originally consisted of two cars and 10 horses.

June 21st, 1859 – Stagecoach line between St. Cloud and the Red River opened. In 1859, J.C. Burbank and Company of St. Paul combined with the firm of Allen and Chase to form the Minnesota Stage Company and immediately set about the task of clearing a road and building stations and bridges along the route. After three weeks of work, the first two stages left St. Cloud on June 21, 1859, loaded with passengers.

James J. Hill Monument at Lake George was dedicated on this date in 1939. Have you ever wondered about the big granite statue in Eastman Park by Lake George? It is a 16-foot-tall sculpture depicting the top half of a man in a suit. If you’ve been curious enough to take a closer look, you'll notice the inscription...

On this date 146 years ago, eight women met at the house of Mrs. Z.H. Mores house to discuss the allocation of recently donated books to the new town of St. Cloud. With that act, the Library Association was formed on this date in 1865.

“Beer Caves” found? On June 7, 1949, a sewer laying crew had been plagued with water when attempting to lay pipes between First and Second Street on Fifth Avenue North. Each time dirt was removed water would ooze up and over the pipe laying operations. The contractor then struck rock which led to the unearthing of a cave 100 feet long, 18 feet wide and 15 feet high.

St. Cloud was a railway hub in the late 1800s. The city proved one of most important railway centers in the state with tracks spanning from Canada to the Pacific. The Minnesotan lines coincidentally converged in St. Cloud thus offering a direct connection to every mile of the 3,334 in the Great Northern system.