Myrtle may be one of the smaller cities in Freeborn County, yet several large events are scheduled for the commemoration of the community’s centennial next weekend.

Saturday, August 11, 2001

Myrtle may be one of the smaller cities in Freeborn County, yet several large events are scheduled for the commemoration of the community’s centennial next weekend.

Lana Hajek, a Myrtle resident and coordinator of the centennial activities on Saturday, Aug. 18, and Sunday, Aug. 19, said most events will be centered on Main Street.

&uot;It’ll be like a homecoming for area folks and former residents,.&uot; she commented.

One of the weekend highlights will be a parade starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Hajek said participants will include the Glenville-Emmons High School Band, a color guard from the Glenville American Legion post and the Albert Lea National Guard unit. Also in the parade will be old cars and tractors, area senior citizens, riding in convertibles, and the Little Miss Myrtle candidates.

Ray Kral is in charge of parade arrangements.

After the parade, a new flagpole near the Myrtle Fire Hall will be dedicated to the memory of two men. One is Lana’s late uncle, former Freeborn County Commissioner George Hajek, and the second man is her late father, Emil Hajek, who was a farmer, city council member, and owner of a Myrtle bar.

Starting at 2 p.m. Saturday, a water fight involving volunteer firefighters from several county communities will take place. An evening street dance, starting at 8:30 p.m., will feature music by Blue Denim.

A community church service with Rev. Dan Baker of Bethlehem Lutheran Church officiating will start at 8 a.m. Sunday on Myrtle’s Main Street. Music for this polka-style service will be furnished by Dan and Bonnie Belshan.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Myrtle firemen will be serving a pancake breakfast as a fund raiser in the fire hall.

On Sunday afternoon several musicians and musical groups will be playing. These include Debbie Nordland, the Fountain Street Brass from Albert Lea, and others.

All during the centennial weekend a co-ed softball tournament involving 10 teams will be taking place at the Myrtle Park, according to Hajek.

&uot;We’re going to have food – spit roast pork, steak sandwiches, hot dogs, root beer, chicken wings and more,&uot; Lana said. Taking part in this part of the festivities will be Hunter’s Bar and the Dugout.

&uot;Mrs. P. will be selling hand-crocheted doilies, and we’ll raffle off one of her crocheted tablecloths,&uot; she added.

Also to be raffled off are four quarters of beef.

&uot;We’ll be selling the special Myrtle Centennial tee shirts, cups and caps,&uot; Hajek said.

The Myrtle Museum will be open both days, and Hajek said the museum ladies will be serving coffee and Bohemian kolaches.

One phase of this centennial celebration is based on the crowning of Little Miss Myrtle. Julie Oakland, the coordinator of this event, says this is the first of its type. Candidates should be between the ages of 2 to 6, and be from the Myrtle area. They will be riding in the parade. Selection of the winner is scheduled just after the parade on Saturday, and will be based on a short interview and the decision of the judges.

Parents interested in having their daughters participate may contact Oakland at 1-507-433-8320.

&uot;Myrtle is 100 years old, and I thought we should have something to celebrate this,&uot; Hajek said. &uot;The city council approved and we got support from London Township and many people. Folks have been great and we couldn’t have done it without their help.&uot;

Myrtle is named for Mrs. Myrtle Lane, who was the postmistress of a small post office located about a mile east of the present town from 1886 to 1900. The building of the Illinois Central Railroad in 1900 between Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Albert Lea resulted in the building of a depot in Section Seven of London Township. In 1901, Albert A. Schuhmacher had a portion of his nearby farm surveyed and plated into lots. This resulted in the start of the present community.

This community became the center for the Bohemian (Czech) settlement in Freeborn County. This was emphasized with the location of what was once the ZCBJ Wooden Hall, and the present historic Brick Hall on County Road 30 north of Myrtle.

During the years Myrtle has had 35 businesses which have come and gone since its founding, according to the 1988 Freeborn County Heritage book. The one firm which has endured through the years and stands out as the most dominate in the community is the Speltz Elevator. And unlike many area communities, Myrtle still has railroad service for the shipment of corn and soybeans.

Myrtle, located at the junction of County Roads 30 and 13, was incorporated as a city in 1937. According to the 2000 Census, there are 63 people living in Myrtle. The present officers are: Bernard Meinke, mayor; Cheryl Nelson, clerk-treasurer; and council members, Don Kral, Leo Learn, Ruth Schilling and Patty Lawson.