On This Date in Minnesota History: November 7

November 7, 1903 – Two more skeletons were discovered today by workmen grading along Langford Avenue on the Minnesota state fairgrounds, making a total of fifteen skeletons unearthed over the past week.

Secretary Randall of the state fair said he believes that a party of explorers or traders wandering through the wilderness, which then covered the city of St. Paul, were attacked by a band of Indians and defended themselves in a desperate battle near where the cow barns of the state fair now stand. Having repelled the enemy, it is surmised, the remaining white men stopped long enough to bury their own dead and those left on the field by the Indians.

Coroner Miller discovered pieces of metal, one or two buttons and some small pieces of cloth attached to the some of the bones, which indicates this was not an Indian burial ground, as the bodies were buried so long ago, it does not seem likely for Indians in this region to have such articles in their possession.

St. Paul Globe; “Grim Relics of 18^th Century Pioneers, Skeletons Found Near Fair Grounds Believed to be Those of Men Killed in Battle.”; Nov. 8, 1903; p. 1.

In 1903, Langford Ave. was the southern boundary of the
Minnesota State Fair.

http://www.mnstatefair.org/interactive/maps/sections/