ALMELUND / AMADOR TOWNSHIP
37475 Park Trail , Almelund , MN 55012 Town Clerk : 651-583-3108 Email : AmadorTownship @ gmail . com Web : www . amadortownship . com
Almelund is an unincorporated village within Amador Township . Both are in Chisago County and governed by a three-member board of supervisors that meets the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p . m . at the Amador Town Hall , 37562 Park Trail , Almelund . The Amador Township Building is at 15740 Maple Lane in Almelund .
Town departments include parks and fire departments . Officials include supervisors Lin Strong ( chair ), Peter Johnson , and Gene Fisk ; clerk , Terri Lind and treasurer , Bob Linder .
HISTORY
The area has a long history beginning with French explorers who traded with the Chippewa and Sioux Indigenous tribes before Swedish Immigrants arrived in the 1870s . To the north and east of the township is the St . Croix River , used as the main mode of transportation for the Indigenous tribes and early fur traders .
Arrowheads and spearpoints found in the farm fields during the early 1900s evidenced the many battles waged in the area between the Sioux and Chippewa tribes . Land in what is now known as the Amador Township first became available for sale after the Indian Treaty of 1837 .
Dr . Carmi P . Garlick was one of the Yankee land speculators to settle the area in the 1840-1850 era . He left for the California Gold Rush in the 1850 and 1853 and on his return he named the village he platted along the St . Croix River “ Amador ” after a county where he panned for gold in California . The name “ Amador ” is Spanish for “ lover of gold .” Swedish immigrants soon arrived by river steamboat and flatboat and followed trails to the Amador area , which quickly grew as a Swedish community with a Spanish name .
Garlick built a sawmill along the St . Croix River that was never completed due to the financial crisis of 1857 . After this loss he moved to Osceola , Wis . where he
practiced his profession until 1864 when he enlisted as a surgeon of the 35th Wisconsin during World War I . He was honorably discharged with a medical disability in February 1865 , and died the next June in Milwaukee .
Although nothing remains of the original village of Amador except a basement here and there , it once consisted of several homes , a ferry , hotel and other business . This area is now located in Wild River State Park .
John Almquist founded the village of Almelund in 1887 after learning that a Lutheran church was being constructed by Swedish immigrants at the crossroads between Taylors Falls and North Branch . The village founder built a general store that stood 30 years before burning down in 1911 .
FESTIVALS
About a thousand people live in the township which celebrates three wellknown festivals each year .
1 ) People come from all over the Midwest for the Almelund Threshing Show . The show is sponsored by the Almelund Threshing Company . The celebration occurs the second weekend in August from Friday to Sunday . The event features vintage tractors and old farm equipment plus displays of traditional threshing methods . Visitors enjoy a large flea market , demonstrations of glass-blowing and many hand-crafts . They can also visit a blacksmith shop , general store , Clover Blossom School and the former Chisago County Court House with numerous displays and entertainment . More at www . almelundthreshingco . org or call 651-583- 2083 .
2 ) On the second weekend in September , the largest Snowmobile Swap Meet in the USA , the Sno Barons Snowmobile Club Hay Days , is held at 38740 Oriole Avenue in North Branch . Hay Days features grass drags , vendors and promotional events . The event draws thousands of visitors from all over the world . For more information call 763-274-0235 or www . snobarons . com
3 ) For more than 26 years , Amador has hosted the Almelund Apple Festival the third Sunday in September 11 a . m . -4 p . m . at the Amador Heritage Center in
Almelund . The grounds also house five reconstructed Swedish log structures and a former two-room 1910 brick schoolhouse , which now features local history displays . This festival introduces history to children with different types of music , rides in a Model T Ford , demonstrations , historic displays , and arts and crafts . The Friends of the Amador Heritage Center sponsor the event and welcome volunteers to help with the project .
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Almelund Fire-Rescue Squad provides protection for Amador Township along with portions of Sunrise , Chisago Lakes and Shafer Townships . The firefighters are a self-supported organization with 30 trained volunteers , many of whom also serve as first-responders . The department is led by Chief Jason Fredlund .
The Chisago County Sheriff ’ s Department provides law enforcement and protection services , and the county manages
zoning .
MUNICIPAL PARKS AND RECREATION
Carl Almquist Ball Field — St . Croix Trail / Highway 95 , has nine + acres , two ball fields with overhead lighting , a concession stand , playground equipment , picnic tables , picnic shelter , bleachers and dugouts .
Amador Heritage Center Museum and Swedish-Immigrant Log Farm — offers 13-acre park-like setting currently featuring a 1910 two-room brick school that is used as a museum , three pre-1890 log cabins , one 1880 era log Granary and log barn . The site includes playground equipment and walking trails . The museum features portions of the original church . The center also holds models of the area ’ s first creamery and church and a large variety of local memorabilia along with a Swedish Immigrant Log Farm . The museum is open June through September on Sunday afternoons from 1-4 p . m . A picnic shelter with eight picnic tables is available for family reunions and other events . Call 651-269-3580 to reserve it for your event .
Triangle Park — Maple Lane & Park Trail , small village park featuring a picnic shelter and playground . Check www . amadortownship . com for more village information .
North Branch / Rush City Community Guide • February 2025 Page 9