Anoka County Celebrates 150th Anniversary in May
DON’T MISS OUT! ABC Newspapers presents a 68 page sesquicentennial special edition newspaper
chronicling Anoka County’s 150-year history with stories, photos, and features!
Link: http://www.abcnewspapers.com/ads/susquelocations.pdf
To download Event Poster & Schedule (pdf)
**Friday Night Music by "Buggy Whipp"**
 Tom Knapp - The Shooting Star Show starts Saturday 1:00 PM |
 Rich Bellert - The Cowboy Poet Saturday 11:30 am & 1:30 pm |
Anoka, MN — 13 April 2007 — On May 23, 1857, an act of the Minnesota Territorial Legislature
created Anoka County. On that same day, the smaller county of Manomin was also formed. Eventually Manomin
County (made up of today’s Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop, and Spring Lake Park) would join Anoka County,
giving it the borders it knows today. Over the last 150 years, the county has seen tremendous growth and change.
Transitioning from milling and farming communities to a suburban county with manufacturing and
Fortune 500 corporations, Anoka County has much to be proud of and to celebrate.
The month of May features major events to celebrate Anoka County’s 150th anniversary. For over a year, the
Anoka County Historical Society has been working with Anoka County officials, business leaders, and interested
citizens to plan and execute a year long celebration. The high point of the celebration will take place the third week
of May when the Anoka County Sesquicentennial Wagon Train begins its trek across the county, before landing at the
Anoka County Fairgrounds to kick off a weekend of events May 18-20.
Anoka County Sesquicentennial Wagon Train Travels Across the County May 15-20
The Wagon
Train, led by Wagon Master Jon Olson, starts its journey on the eastern side of
the county in Columbus,
when it leaves camp in Coon Lake Park on Wednesday, May 16. The covered wagons will roll through the Carlos
Avery Game Preserve before returning to Coon Lake County Park to make camp for the night. Thursday morning
the group will head west and travel approximately 18 miles before
making camp in Bunker Hills Regional Park. Friday’s journey will take them through Blaine and Coon Rapids
before reaching Anoka, where the wagon train will arrive in front of the Anoka County Government Center at
approximately 3:00pm. Waiting to welcome the wagon train, will be various dignitaries, officials, and sponsors.
After a short ceremony, the wagon train will travel a short distance to the Anoka County Fairgrounds,
accompanied by the Wells Fargo Stagecoach and the Leinenkugel’s original “Bel-ony” Horses.
Their arrival at the fairgrounds will signal the beginning of weekend of events at the fairgrounds,
including a dinner and entertainment, featuring the band Buggy Whip. Tickets to the dinner and
dance are available for $16. Early Saturday morning, the wagon train will leave the fairgrounds and travel west
into Ramsey, before looping back and returning to the fairgrounds for its final night. The following morning there
will be a 9:30am church service at the church on the fairgrounds, followed by a 10:30 brunch, before the
wagon train breaks camp. Dinner and brunch tickets are available by advance purchase only. Dinner tickets include
access to the fairgrounds on Friday night.
F Friday Features a Wakeboard Show with Band Sunshine Behavior
There will be something for everyone that weekend at the Anoka County Fairgrounds. On Friday,
May 18, Freshtip Design will produce an urban wakeboard event with professional riders. For a $7 gate fee,
the show will feature high flying acrobatics and amazing moves in a large pool constructed by Freshtip for the event.
I in addition to the wakeboard show, Sunshine Behavior will treat show goers to a concert. Food vendors and a
be beer garden will be part of the celebration.
Saturday Features Events and Activities All Day, Leading to the ACHS Barn Dance
On Saturday, May 19, the fairgrounds will host a series of events leading up to the Anoka County Historical
Society’s annual barn dance, a major fundraiser for the Society’s general operations. For the cost of only $5,
visitors in all-day access to the fairgrounds, and a wide variety of family orientated activities.
Starting at 10:00am, and running all day in the grandstand, there will be an antique tractor pull, featuring tractors
f from 1955 and older. Also running all day are a classic car show and vintage farm equipment provided by the
Nowthen Historical Power Association. At 11:00am, a flag raising ceremony will take place with a rifle squad
provided by the Anoka County Vietnam Veterans Chapter 470 and an honor guard featuring representatives
from Anoka County VFWs and American Legions. The military’s place in Anoka County’s history will be evident
in a living history timeline, which will feature costumed interpreters depicting encampments from different eras
in the county’s history. School age children will be able to visit the one room schoolhouse on the fairgrounds
and get a taste of what a 1907 school day might have been like.
The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office will be at the events sharing their 150 years of history in the county.
already this year, the Sheriff’s Office has issued Anoka County Sesquicentennial badges to commemorate
th this historic year.
A cowboy crew will staff the old post office and print shop on the fairgrounds. Visitors can see real life cowboys
having fun and raising a good-time ruckus. Rumor has it that the strong box is in danger of being stolen—visitors
will want to be on alert for this!
The Ramsey Fire Department and Boy Scout Troop 204 will have activities and demonstrations taking place from
10:00am to 2:00pm. The Ramsey Fire Department w will have a number fire trucks and other vehicles on display.
At 11:00, a vintage base ball game between the Quicksteps and the Silver Stars begins. Playing by 1860s rules,
onlookers will recognize the game that has become the national pastime. It’s three strikes and you’re out under 1860s
rules, but a ball caught on the bounce qualifies as an out.
The Leinenkugel’s Original “Bel-ony” Horses will do a demonstration of their choreographed routines in the horse
arena at noon and 2:00pm. Sponsored by Miller Beer and Grosslein Beverages, the horses are featured in parades
throughout the Midwest.
At 1:00pm, Tom Knapp, The Shooting Star, will amaze onlookers with his accurate and outlandish trick shooting.
Setting up on the east side of the grandstand, Knapp, who is equal parts P.T. Barnum and Wild Bill Hickok,
always puts on a great show.
Costumed actors will present a dramatic reenactment of the one of the early meetings of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners
at 2:30pm. The re-enactment will take place in the Barn Dance stage area.
At 3:00pm, the Anoka Philoectians will present a vintage fashion show. Men’s and women’s fashions from the last 150 years will grace
the runway as models show off the historic clothing. As the audience watches, narrators will share the county’s history and its link to the
fashion styles of the time.
At 4:00pm, the Hot Foot Stompers will provide a demonstration of square dancing techniques and welcome the public to the
Anoka County Historical Society’s annual Barn Dance. An annual tradition in its fourth year, this year’s Barn Dance has been
moved up from its traditional fall schedule to help celebrate the County’s 150 years. An important fundraiser for the Historical Society,
the Barn Dance features live and silent auctions, and a raffle. Attendees will have the option to bid on merchandise and services from local
merchants. Items range from tickets to sporting events, to decorative and fine art, to travel packages. The music of Jack Norton and the
Mullet River Boys will entertain dancegoers.
At 9:00pm, fireworks displays will occur simultaneously throughout Anoka County in three locations. Visible from the fairgrounds, fireworks
will be launched in Anoka near the Rum River Library. Blaine’s National Sports Center will host a second display. A third display will be
shown on the County’s northern reaches in St. Francis at the Ponds Golf Course.
Generous support from public and private sponsorships make this celebration possible. Anoka County and 19 cities and townships provided financial support. Additionally, Barna, Guzy, & Steffen, Wells Fargo, Anoka-Hennepin Credit Union, and Miller Beer (Grosslein Beverages) provided major sponsorships. Many other groups and organizations provided in-kind and donated services for the event. The Anoka County Historical Society would like to thank all who have helped organize this event.
The Anoka County Historical Society, organized in 1934, is headquartered in the Anoka County History Center and Library at 2135 Third Avenue North in Anoka. For more information on its programs and activities please visit www.ac-hs.org.
Official Sesquicentennial Sponsors
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