an early King Boreas cache published on 9/05/2001 by iryshe
NOT at the posted coordinates !
Sullivan Lake Park, today:
- Tennis courts
- Walking trail
- Small playground
- Picnic area
Sullivan Lake Park, built between 1978 and 1981, is one of the newest parks in Columbia Heights. It is on a portion of what used to be a 600 acre farm in Manomin County. (Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Fridley)
Irish immigrants John and Margaret Sullivan arrived in a covered wagon in 1863 and bought 120 acres of land for $600. They raised 12 children. The original house still exists and is believed to be one of the oldest houses on its original site in the Twin Cities area. The posted coordinates will lead you to this house.
The Sullivans' "forbidden love" forced John and Margaret out of Ireland, and brought them to Minnesota. John Sullivan was "landed gentry" (a member of the upper class, with substantial land holdings) in Cork County, Ireland, while Margaret was a maid at the manor. Gentry were not supposed to marry servants, so to escape their families' strong disapproval, the Sullivans left their homeland for America, the land of freedom.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the Sullivans let the community use the wooded area around the lake for picnics and other social events. On St. Patrick's Day, Margaret hid small "pots of gold" around the lake. Sullivan Lake was much smaller then. It had no fish, was not deep, and was more like a swamp. It had a pretty nice track running around it. Harness racing was a big attraction, with the horses and riders coming from the outskirts of Columbia Heights and Fridley.
Drivers raced their Model Ts around the track as well, although the races weren't based on speed. They were based on the drivers' proficiency in the low gears. The last car moving around the lake was the winner. If a car stopped, it was disqualified.
Dancing, horse races, car races, wrestling matches, picnics
Sullivan Grove: a long history of entertainment brought to the public by Irish immigrants.