Throngs crowd into Ambrose, Columbus

July 12, 2006
Page 1

100 times two

Journal photo by Cecile Wehrman

Grandma Mendy Parchman of Ambrose (left) brought together the oldest and youngest of Ambrose residents, her grandson, Gavyn Dimmick, 6 months, and Christine Eriksmoen, 99.

Journal photo by Ericka Erickson

Members of the 1950 State Champion Columbus Cougars' team were among those parading in Columbus.

Throngs crowd into Ambrose, Columbus

Natives from near and far return
for two area centennial celebrations

Two towns, two celebrations, one result.

Organizers in Ambrose and Columbus are well pleased with the turn-out last weekend for centennial celebrations that were a year or more in the planning.

Ambrose hosted a one-day celebration, preceded by a two-day wagon train, while Columbus hosted a three-day event.

The big day for both towns was Saturday, when crowds swelled the population of Columbus from 100 to an estimated 1,400 people. In Ambrose, population 22, the crowd for Saturday's parade was estimated at about 800.

“I know we served over 600,” said Ambrose Centennial Committee Member Arlene Myers. Registration Chairman Anne Torgeson said the official registration was just below 600, with many more people attending part of the day's activities.

“We had a great time,” Torgeson said, with guests from places as far flung as Connecticut and San Diego, Canada and Sweden.

In Columbus, Heidi Vigness, secretary/treasurer of the Columbus Community Club, put the official registration at 1,068 people.

“In addition, there were several people in town for just one day or night, and some local families, who did not register.”

Centennial organizer Denise Hassel said, “It was a lot of people that came from a lot of different directions and just came back to celebrate their old town.”

The centennial dinner Friday night was attended by 771 people, and 420 breakfasts were served on Sunday.

“For the street dance, the street was full,” she said. “It was a fun time.”

But for all the people in the two towns, there were even more people celebrating around the region. Westby had its Prairie Fest on Sunday, it was Buffalo Trails Days in Epping, and in Dagmar, Mont., they had a centennial of their own.

The area has yet two more big celebrations to mark this summer. The annual Threshing Show at Crosby's Pioneer Village is July 21, 22 and 23. And Wildrose has an all-school reunion planned for July 28, 29 and 30.

For pictures and stories on the Ambrose centennial celebration, click here.