December
10, 1905 – Minnehaha Falls celebrated the semi-centennial of
its immortalization today, but despite the significance of the occasion, a
transient visitor to Minneapolis was the only person of the thousands in the
Twin Cities to journey to congratulate the Laughing Water on the completion of
its first half century of underlying fame.
The fact that Minnehaha was forced to celebrate its anniversary in solitude was
most likely due to the fact that few residents of Minneapolis knew that it was
just 50 years ago today that Longfellow, the poet, first gave his “Hiawatha” to
the world.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow1
A mere chance put Charles M. Simmons, a Chicago traveling man who stopped over
Sunday at the West Hotel, in possession of the information this afternoon,
promptly making the trip to the falls for the express purpose of being able to
say that he viewed them on “Hiawatha’s” fiftieth anniversary.
It was on Dec. 10, 1855, that “Hiawatha” was published, and from the moment of
its first appearance, Minnehaha Falls has been intimately associated with the
poem. Hundreds of admirers of Longfellow have journeyed to Minneapolis for no
other reason than to view the Falls of Laughing Water and peruse their
well-worn editions of Longfellow under the shadow of the falls.
“The Song of Hiawatha”2
Simmons, the only visitor to this historical spot today, was greatly surprised
upon reaching the falls to find that he was the only person there. According to
him, the reputation of Minneapolis as a literary center is sure to suffer if it
becomes generally known that such a significant anniversary as the one happening
today went by with no apparent notice on the part of the literary public of the
city.
“Yes, I believe that I hold the distinction of being the only person who
visited Minnehaha Falls [today], although it was the most important date in the
history of the spot. Judging from the appearance of the snow in the vicinity of
the falls, no one has been within hearing distance of the waterfall for some
time. In fact I experienced some difficulty in finding the way, owing to the
absence of a beaten path through the snow.
“It was by the merest chance that I learned that this was the fiftieth
anniversary of the appearance of Longfellow’s “Hiawatha.” I was looking at a
stack of old books in one of your book stores Saturday, and while there I ran
across a copy of a ‘Life of Longfellow,’
about the first thing I read was that the poem ‘Hiawatha’ was first
published on December 10, 1855. Something about the date struck me as peculiar,
and a moment later it dawned on me that the poem is 50 years old today. I
formed an instant resolution to see what Minnehaha looks like in the winter
time and incidentally to be able to tell my friends that I was there on the
fiftieth anniversary of the event that made the falls immortal.”
Minnehaha Falls in the winter of 19063
According to Simmons, Minnehaha is not likely to celebrate another
semi-centennial unless immediate steps are taken to preserve the falls from
being gradually eaten away. It is the Chicago man’s opinion that unless a
retaining wall is built along the crest of the falls, there will soon be no
falls to look at.
“Yesterday was not the first time that I ever saw Minnehaha Falls. Do not go
off with that impression in your head. I saw the falls fully 20 years ago, but
it happens that I never saw them in the winter time before today.
“The principal thing that struck me today in looking at
them is the change that is apparent in their looks. There was a time not so
long ago, when there was a big shelf behind the falls proper—so large, in fact, that 20 or 30 persons could get behind
the falling water without any difficulty. Now the shelf over which the water
runs is so worn down and disintegrated that there is little space behind the
falls, and, more than that, the rocky shelf itself is in danger of giving away
entirely unless something is done to brace it up.
“A few thousand dollars spent in some such way as I have indicated would serve
to keep your most famous landmark for the enjoyment of succeeding generations.
On the other hand, the failure to do anything to preserve the falls will mean
that in a few years Minnehaha Falls will be nothing more than a series of
broken rapids with little of beauty about them and nothing at all of historic
association.”
The Minneapolis Tribune; “Hiawatha. Semi-Centennial of Longfellow’s Famous Poem Is Celebrated Yesterday By Lone Traveler. Stranger in the City Finds Falls Deserted. Declares ‘Laughing Water’ Will Soon Be a Memory Unless a Retaining Wall Is Built.”; December 11, 1905; p. 1.
1https://www.biography.com/people/henry-wadsworth-longfellow-9385673
2https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/SONG-HIAWATHA-PLAYERS-EDITION-Introduction-Frank/10753731328/bd#&gid=1&pid=1
3http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/1900s.10.jpg
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