Prairie Days is a community get-together that takes place every summer. In 2011, it’s set for the third weekend in July, Friday and Saturday July 15 and 16.
Prairie Days has a volunteer committee that plans the annual celebration. This year will commemorate the 125th anniversary of Lester Prairie, and many special activities are planned. Look for a separate 125th anniversary article elsewhere in this guidebook for details.
On Friday night, there will be a band, bingo games, and plenty of food available.
Saturday morning will begin with a Prairie Arts Council fun run/walk and a short children’s run at 8 a.m. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m.
An all-school reunion (for anyone who attended Lester Prairie Public School) is scheduled for 1 p.m. Alumni who would like to participate in the musical part of the program can come to choir practice at 10 a.m. or band practice at 11 a.m.
The day will continue with a beanbag tournament, kiddie parade, and grande parade.
After the parade, coronation of Lester Prairie royalty will take place downtown.
Fireworks will be shot off at dusk, and the popular band, Diamondback, has been booked for the evening’s entertainment.
At 9:30 a.m. Sunday, there will be a church service under the tent.
Other events scheduled Prairie Days weekend include a city-country softball game, a car/bike/tractor show, a golf tournament, and an open house at the Lester Prairie Sportsmen’s Club.
Prairie Days Committee
Those interested in being involved with the planning and production of Prairie Days are welcome to join the Prairie Days Committee. For more information, contact LaJean Hoof at (320) 395-2615.
125th anniversary in 2011
In its 125 years of existence, the small city of Lester Prairie has had a lively history.
The first settlers arrived in the area in 1854 and started clearing the region for farming. According to the Lester Prairie centennial book, many couples walked to Chaska to get married, because there were not churches in the area for the first few years.
In 1886, when the railroad was built, several businesses opened and the town was platted. By 1888, the population had grown to 180.
The town was named “Lester” in honor of Maria Lester and her family who settled in the town, and “Prairie” for the little prairie and wooded area where it was situated.
At one point, Lester Prairie had six grocery stores. Clarence and Delores Mohwinkel opened the seventh grocery store in 1941. At that time, 3 pounds of apples sold for 17 cents, 2 pounds of fancy peanuts cost 25 cents, and a 50-pound sack of flour was $1.49.
Salaries were also lower in Lester Prairie’s early days. In 1952, a teacher’s starting salary was $2,500, and superintendents made $4,600, according to the centennial book.
When Lester Prairie first started, there were several country school districts. In August 1954, they were consolidated to become Joint Independent School District 90.
It’s time to celebrate
This year, several exciting events are planned to celebrate Lester Prairie’s 125 years of existance.
Thursday, March, 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) is “Lester Prairie Day” at the McLeod County Historical Museum in Hutchinson. From 4 to 8 p.m., the public is invited to learn about Lester Prairie’s interesting history.
Citizens will have the opportunity to test what they learned at a Lester Prairie trivia/knowledge bowl at Lester Prairie City Hall at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 22.
During the spring, the local cable TV station will also showcase a play that was performed 25 years ago, during Lester Prairie’s centennial celebration.
The play, “The Unforgettable Prairie,” had a cast of about 50 people.
“It was a wonderful play, all about Lester Prairie,” Prairie Days committee member Charlotte Ehrke said.
Ehrke is organizing a “historical hayride” for the first Saturday of April, May, and June, starting at 9 a.m. at the gazebo in Lester Prairie.
The hayride will include a ride around town, with information and photos about buildings and businesses from years past. The Sunday before Memorial Day, there will be a cemetery tour featuring a timeline of historical events in people’s lives.
Prairie Days and 125th celebration will be observed Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16, 2011
The 125th celebration festivities will add extra fun to Prairie Days, as well. On the Saturday of Prairie Days, there will be an all-school reunion program at 1 p.m. People who would like to be involved in the choir and band performance will practice that morning.
There will be ongoing tours of the school, and demonstrations of the school’s SMART board technology. A reunion dinner will take place at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, and there will be a community education-sponsored breakfast Sunday morning.
Prairie Days visitors are also encouraged to stop by Central Square Park to observe the engraved plaques of servicemen. Space is still available for people who would like to add the name of a local serviceman.
