Historic memories of Fillmore County; Bird’s eye view of Preston 125 years ago

Today we’re viewing the Mighty Root River from afar and not only that, it is 125 years ago when the scene looked liked this!

We all know by now that our poet and photographer friend, Aaron L. Sleyster, spent much of his time writing about and photographing his beloved Root River and the iron bridges that once spanned it. The picture you see today accompanied his lovely poem about Preston.

You are no doubt wondering, “where in the world was Mr. Sleyster standing when he snapped this picture?” It may come as a surprise to you but where he was positioned was just west and southwest of Preston, high on a hill, on the edge of the Crown Hill Cemetery. At that time in history there were not many trees and underbrush on the land near the river, thus making it possible to have a clear view of the town below it. When I first saw this picture I was very surprised to learn that all of that land lies between the river and the Crown Hill Cemetery. And yes, there were no tombstones… yet, in this picture!

However, the cemetery was already established at that time. I am not certain what the date was for the first grave entered there, but if you have ever walked along the east edge of the cemetery you will see very, very old tombstones. Some of them look as sharp and clear as if they were just set in recent years and the dates are easy to read.

Mr. Sleyster’s poem entitled “Ode to Preston” was written in 1888 and in it he refers to the Crown Hill Cemetery like this: “High on the topmost hill beyond, we see the city of our dead.” Thus from that we know the cemetery was in full use at least 132 years ago!

Thus the reason we can’t see any of the headstones in this particular picture is because when they began to have burials they were first done on the east side of the Crown Hill Cemetery, very close to the bluff of the Root River. As more and more graves were added, the cemetery grew westward and it continues to do so, right to this very day!

And what a spectacular old view this photograph imparts. Front and center, is the fabulous old Fillmore County Courthouse with its beautiful dome. Surrounding it we get an excellent view of the myriad of businesses that flourished on the north side, west side, and in the distance, those on the east side of the courthouse.

If you look closely on the upper right hand side of the photo, there appears a church with its steeple jutting high into the sky – it is the old German Lutheran Church. In the early 1960s that church merged with the Norwegian Lutheran Church and together those two congregations formed the present day Christ Lutheran Church.

The German Lutheran Church was sold to a private party and converted into an apartment building that is still being utilized for that purpose today.

Once again, thanks to an early pioneer who so deeply loved Preston, Minn., we have this priceless picture of the town in its infancy and the following beautiful poem that Mr. Sleyster wrote about it:

“Preston”

By Aaron L. Sleyster, 1895

There’s a village in the valley

Where Root River ripples by,

Whose attractiveness and beauty

With the charms of nature vie;

Whose rare picturesque 

appearance,

Mid the sunlit, summer scene, 

Is akin to royal splendor

At the crowning of a queen.

 

Fairest queen of all the valley,

How my life is linked with thine,

May the power of peace preserve thee

To the utmost end of time;

May thy unborn sons and 

daughters,

As the years speed on apace,

Prosper, – while their joy is echoed

O’er my last long resting place.

Wow, how touching is that! He even mentioned you and me – the present day citizens of Preston, referring to us as: “Thy unborn sons and daughters,” and wishing us all prosperity and joy!