Osage Spring

Osage Spring The legislature formed Mitchell County and established its boundaries in 1850-51. In the fall of 1851, Leonard Cutler and his son, J.B.... more

by Bonfire Photography

Title

Osage Spring

Artist

Bonfire Photography

Medium

Photograph - Photographic Prints

Description

"Osage Spring" The legislature formed Mitchell County and established its boundaries in 1850-51. In the fall of 1851, Leonard Cutler and his son, J.B. Cutler, passed through Mitchell County, prospecting. They were the first to observe the area's beauty and suitability as a permanent settlement. In the spring of 1852, they returned and the first claims were made. Leonard Cutler staked the first claim in the county at the site of the present spring at Spring Park. The first settlers in both St. Ansgar and Osage arrived in 1853.

In the early years, people of Osage went on camping trips to Nim's Ford, about 10-12 miles south of town on the Cedar River. Equipped with tents and provisions, the family might camp out for a week or more. Transportation was by horse and buggy and a trip of this distance was too much for daily trips. It wasn't possible to make the trip too often, and people began looking for a place closer to town where they might go camping. They needed a safe place for children, offering good water, shade, and a bathing beach.

In the late 1800's, Jacob Haight owned part of the land where Spring Park is now located. He lived on his farm south of the river. The spring on his land was called Jacob Haight Spring.

A committee was formed to look over some of Haight's land. It was near town and had a good wagon road running out to it. The men talked with Haight and decided to buy 20 acres of land for $60 per acre, for park purposes.

The land was purchased and the deed was signed by Haight July 2, 1894. The articles of incorporation for the Spring Park Association were drawn up that day, also. The association had a capital stock of $12.50. The articles of incorporation provided that each stockholder was to contribute $50. Upon this payment, a certificate would be issued.

There were 24 charter members in the corporation. Later, that number grew to 55.

At first, the entrance to the park was on the east. A wagon road went to the east side of the park. A place to keep horses was provided near the entrance. A dam was built on the river to make swimming safe for the children. When the wagon road was used, the drivers had to take their horses through the grounds, unload the tent and equipment, and then go back across the grounds to the barns. After a while, the entrance to the park was moved to the northeast corner of the land.

The association members built a road down the hill west of the spring. It proved too steep even for horses, so they extended it further west. They moved the barns from the east gate to just south of the spring, where they remained until automobiles replaced the horses and they were no longer needed.

The park area was originally divided into a number of lots, mostly fronting on the river. In its early years, the association would hold a mid-winter campfire at the old Sprague Opera House and at this time the members drew lots for their summer camping sites.

The first season in 1894 was a glorious one. As soon as school was out, parents and friends began to move down to the park. Tents with tight floors and screened front porches were used. They were placed along the high ground near the river.

The spring was cleaned out and cased in. The creek was cleaned to the river. Each family had a container that was left near the spring in the cold water, providing "refrigeration" for their food. There were holes on opposite sides of the box, letting water through and keeping food fresh and nice. Milk would keep nicely for 5 days.

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2015 Bonfire Photography

Uploaded

July 12th, 2015