Tradition goes the distance
Published 9:00 am Sunday, October 5, 2014
By Cathy Hay
Battles were the catalyst for the first-ever homecoming celebration held in Albert Lea, but these battles stemmed from war, not the gridiron.
The first local homecoming reported in the Freeborn County Standard newspaper appears to have been in 1919 for soldiers returning from the “Great War.” Held on Sept. 30 that year — three months after the Treaty of Versailles ended World War I — plans for the daylong holiday included two bands, a street dance, a 30-piece orchestra and tug of war, among other things.
“The big event of the day, of course, will be the barbeque,” reported the Standard on Sept. 25, 1919. “Seven choice beefs from the Albert Lea Packing Co. have already been slaughtered and are now seasoning in the coolers and being made fit for the feast. The barbecue will take place on the vacant lot, corner of Main and Newton streets. A serving counter 200 feet long will be built along the two sides of the lot. In the center will be the roasting cattle, and tables filled to overflowing with food and drink for the soldiers.”
The newspaper also stated, “Albert Lea is ready to entertain the largest crowd, in its history. Fifteen-thousand people are expected during the day. For the benefit of ladies and children, the rest rooms will be kept open all day and evening.”
Unfortunately, rain canceled many of the plans, including an elaborate fireworks display, but didn’t dampen the community’s spirit. Albert Lea stored the fireworks and set them off on the following Fourth of July in 1920. The organizing committee was also pleased to announce that it spent only $4,000 of the nearly $6,500 raised on the Homecoming event, with the remaining money going to benefit the community.
The first Albert Lea school homecoming reported in the Standard came in 1922 when Luther Academy celebrated its 34th anniversary. This Lutheran high school in Albert Lea held exercises at its chapel with C. A. Melby of St. Olaf College speaking in the morning and the Rev. J. C. K. Preus of Byron in the evening. Students, faculty and alumni all attended. Class reunions and a football game were held in the afternoon.
“It is planned to make this ‘Foundation’ day an annual Homecoming event,” reported the Standard.
Albert Lea High School followed with its own Homecoming on Oct. 23, 1926, according to the Albert Lea Tribune.
“Playing the most spectacular football to be witnessed on a local field in years, the Albert Lea and Mankato high school football teams battled to a 14-14 tie here on Saturday afternoon,” the newspaper reported. “The game was the feature event of the Albert Lea school’s first annual homecoming and the game was played on the new football field. Mankato had the honor of being the first big school to face a Tiger 11 on this new field. The game was played before several hundred fans who braved the chilly weather to the see the two teams battle.”
The 1926 Tiger football team was one of 13 undefeated teams in Minnesota that year, ending the season with five wins and two ties. In fact, the team had not lost a game on its home turf in three years.
As part of the inaugural Homecoming festivities, the school held a “football loyalty song” contest, seeking a lively song to play at pep fests and games. Out of 300 entries, senior Alma Dale wrote the winning lyrics, to be sung to music composed by L. J. Emmons:
“Albert Lea! Albert Lea!
“Loyal to you are we,
“Bring back a victory boys,
“Everyone is cheering,
“Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
“True to our colors, cherry and blue,
“Loyal to our team are we
“Ever and ever we cheer
“Albert Lea! Albert Lea!”
It took a few years for Homecoming to become a tradition at the high school with no Homecoming games played in 1927, 1929 and 1931. The event found a firm place in Albert Lea life in 1932 when the first Homecoming queen — Gladys Reese — was crowned in a citywide contest.
Fifty years after the inaugural ALHS Homecoming, the 1976 festivities included the traditional student royalty and annual game, which Albert Lea lost to Rochester John Marshall. Also on the scene were activities fondly remembered by many alumni: streaming toilet paper through the trees of Central Park, holding a parade in downtown Albert Lea, painting blaze orange tiger paws from the school to the stadium and a halftime show by the Tiger band, majorettes and flag bearers.
The 2014 Homecoming game against Faribault continued a tradition that started almost 90 years ago.