I grew up in Mankato and am old enough to remember visiting
Lincoln Park and seeing the big old tree that once lived here. In
1976 (the year of America’s Bicentennial) the Lincoln Park
Elm was designated as Mankato’s official symbol. Shortly
after the Bicentennial the Lincoln Park Elm was attacked by Dutch
elm disease. A major effort was mounted to save the great tree, but
by 1980 the battle had been lost and Lincoln Park’s American
elm was cut down and carted away. When they counted the tree rings
they found that the old elm had lived 315 years.
After you find my cache, you might want to read the plaques
in Lincoln Park. You will learn about other historic events that
took place here and also find out that there is a connection to my
other cache nearby called the
Betsy & Tacy Cache. That cache pays tribute to
the childhood home of Maud Hart Lovelace and the children’s
books she wrote about growing up in Mankato 100 years ago. Lincoln
Park and the elm tree were mentioned in that series of books.
Here’s a quote from “Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big
Hill” by Maud Hart Lovelace: “'Well, I don’t want
you to go too far away,' said Mrs. Ray. 'How far do you think they
should be allowed to go, Bob?' 'Not beyond Lincoln Park,' said Mr.
Ray. ”Lincoln Park was a pie-shaped wedge of lawn with a
giant elm tree and a fountain on it. Hill Street turned into Broad
Street there. It was the end of the neighborhood."