4th of July History

Forest Lake Historical Society

Forest Lake has long celebrated the Fourth of July, even before its beloved parade first filed down Lake Street. The earliest mention of the day’s festivities appeared in the Stillwater Daily Gazette in 1898 under the Forest Lake area happenings: “The Fourth of July was celebrated here; during the day by races of many kinds and other sports, and in the evening by fireworks and a ball at Hotel Leon [located then in the spot where Reub’s Tire Shop is today].” Races, sports, and dancing certainly carried the day for many years, as evidenced by American Legion programs from the 1920’s.

But what about the parade? While the Legion commemorates its 100th year of sponsoring the Fourth of July celebrations, the origin of the parade itself is still a bit shrouded. What we do know is the Forest Lake Red Cross Society took charge of the parade in its earliest days – the first mention being 1918. An early town dentist, Dr. Chester D. Larson, recalled in 1983 that the celebrations and parades started “shortly after WWI ended and have continued and expanded ever since.” Only from 1939-1940 did the Legion relinquish sponsorship of the parade when it was taken over by the Forest Lake Association.

Older residents may remember the abundance of activities in the earlier days: kiddie parades, rowboat races, drum corps exhibitions, roller skating, and all-day movie showings at the Forest Theater. There was even a “Fat Mens’ Race”, where only those over 200 lbs. would compete for a box of cigars; the runner-up winning a can of Pork n’ Beans. The tug-of-war would be held before the start of the baseball game, with twelve men on each side – again, competing for a box of cigars. Of course, it was unthinkable for ladies to participate in such an activity. Instead, they had their own contest to see how high they could kick a slipper into the air. 

How we celebrate Independence Day has certainly evolved over the past century, even with unintended changes. Where elaborate parade floats were once commonplace, we have seen a steady decline in the last few decades. Many visitors and residents today scurry back to their cars after the parade and head home. Perhaps what we’re missing is the tried-and-true community activities of years ago? Maybe we should reconsider the old 3-legged race and 50-yard dash? As for prizes, I’m sure we could up the ante on that can of Pork n’ Beans.

Article by Justin Brink, 2024

150 Years of Fishing

Forest Lake Historical Society

Forest Lake has long been touted as a prime fishing location. Boat rentals have been available since our city was founded and some of our ice fishing contests have been among the largest in the country. One such contest in 1950 had over 2,500 fishermen participate! Summer resorts once dotted the shorelines of the lake, offering rest and relaxation, and of course, fishing. The local businesses in town provided all the accoutrements necessary and tall fish tales were traded there regularly.  

Before the days of outboard motors and depth finders, people from larger cities would come to Forest Lake, much as we would visit the Boundary Waters today. It was a place to unwind, unplug and relax in solitude. There were no homes on the lake as we know it today. Aside from the train depot and general store, there was very little to see besides water and trees. In the St. Paul newspaper from July of 1870, we read that “Chief Justice Chase, Judges Ripley, Berry and McMillan and others went out to Forest Lake today for a fishing excursion.” Another reads, “Rev. Otis and others have gone to Forest Lake to spend a week or two hunting, fishing, roughing it and rusticating generally.” 

Some didn’t find Forest Lake to their liking, as we read in the Minneapolis Tribune in August of 1871: “Quite a large and select party took the train to spend a pleasant day at Forest Lake. A delay of nearly two hours at the depot put them considerably out of humor, but still they pressed on. They had with them a full equipment for a day’s fishing, including boats, tackle, etc. On their arrival, they were obliged to carry their boats for two-hundred yards or more upon their shoulders, through the brush to the lake. They fished a while, then ate their lunch, which they had no more than finished when the whistle of the locomotive warned them that their time was short, and that they must return to the depot. They felt very much disappointed in their day’s enjoyment, and vowed never to go to Forest Lake again.”

Fortunately, our leisure time no longer revolves around the train schedule, but looking back 150 years, we can appreciate the common interest in fishing that is enjoyed by so many in our city.

Article by Justin Brink, 2021.

Marshal Berglin

Forest Lake Historical Society

There once was a time when this story was fresh in the minds of all Forest Lake residents, young and old. It was a harrowing event, one so foreign to such a town as this. Certainly, it was not out of the question for it to occur — it just wasn’t expected. A homicide never is, really. 

It was April 12, 1932. The sun was just setting as the black, 1929 Ford pulled into the Standard Oil station on south Lake Street. It looked almost new. Inside the station, co-owners Idor Pederson and Oscar Olson, Ted Houle, Sigurd Sire (a salesman) and Nels Berglin were talking. Station attendant Morris Olson was in the washroom, removing grease from his hands. The three young men inside the car peered out at Pederson as he approached. The window rolled down. 

“How much do you need?” Pederson asked. 

“Five gallons” the driver responded. 

They handed him a bill and he went back into the station to make change. Two of the men jumped out with guns and followed. Unknown to Pederson, the car had been stolen hours earlier. He felt a thrust to the back as he entered the station. 

“This is a stickup! Lay down on the floor – we mean business!”

No one moved. Sigurd Sire would later tell authorities, “We were too stunned to move…convinced it was some sort of a prank.” After a final warning, they fell to the floor – Ted Houle receiving a right hook to the jaw for not moving quicker. One of the men sitting on a stool could feel his heart racing. It was Nels Berglin, night marshal for Forest Lake, just 12 days on the job. He knew a decision had to be made – comply, or draw his gun. 

Meanwhile, Morris Olson had just come out of the washroom. That was the moment Berglin took action. It was the wrong decision. The gloves on his hands prevented him from using his gun and the split-second it took to remove them was enough time for the robbers to fire several shots at Berglin, killing him almost instantly. In the melee, the marshal was able to fire two rounds – one shattering the front window. 

“Let’s get the hell out of here!” 

The two youths ran back to the car and sped off with their accomplice down what was then Highway 1 towards St. Paul. Back inside the station, Idor Pederson quickly opened the marshal’s police coat and found him bleeding profusely from the chest. The town doctor, J. A. Poirier, was summoned. Berglin was dead. “His decision to shoot was surprising.” Sigurd Sire would later say. “The gunmen had the drop on him from the very start.” Looking back years later, station attendant Morris Olson always thought Berglin felt it was his duty to stop the robbery, despite the odds.

The following month, all three of the robbers were involved in holding up the First National Bank in Hermansville, Michigan. Brothers Rudolph and Edward Kunasiewicz, ages 17 and 19 respectively, were charged, along with Frank Jacobinski – age 20. However, neither one was charged for Marshal Berglin’s death, despite being identified by witnesses at the station. Michigan authorities gained custody of the men for the bank robbery, leaving Berglin without justice. Another accomplice, John Jacobinski, brother to Frank, was also fingered as the possible murder suspect, but ended up serving a life sentence for an entirely different murder. 

The Kunasiewicz brothers and Jacobinski were released for good behavior several years later. All three denied any connection to the killing of Marshal Berglin. 

Article by Justin Brink, 2021.