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TOLLEY Memories of picnics, skating and merry-go-rounds brought people back to Mouse River Park to celebrate the Renville County park's centennial Sunday.

"We picnicked down here," said Geraldine Peterson of Kenmare in recalling her childhood in the area. "That was a really exciting thing, especially the Fourth of Julys. The Fourth of July was almost more exciting than Christmas. You couldn't sleep the night before because you were so excited."

The homemade fried chicken, the merry-go-round, the men's tug of war, gypsy camps and the new dresses for the occasion were July 4th memories that came to mind. Peterson said her mother told stories from her childhood of getting new shoes every year to wear to the park's Fourth of July events.

"But they were so used to going barefoot that their feet would hurt if they wore their new shoes," she said.

Peterson also had attended some of the Chautauquas that drew talent from across the country to the park. As a young girl, she loved the costumes.

"They always had such beautiful clothing, such beautiful dresses. I guess that impressed me the most," she said.

Marjorie Harmon of Minot, formerly of Mohall, used to come regularly to the park when she was growing up for the roller skating. On special occasions, her father would set up a concessions stand, and she and her brother ran carnival booths that let people throw balls at milk bottles or play ring toss.

Orlin Hanson of Sherwood recalled setting off July 4th firecrackers to startle passers-by when he was a kid back in the 1930s. He also remembers week-long 4-H events and a tornado scare that scattered people from the park. Fortunately, no tornado touched down from the menacing clouds.

His keenest memory, though, goes back to the 1970s during discussion of a Burlington dam to provide flood control for Minot. The dam would have flooded the park.

"If we'd put the Burlington dam in, there would be no Mouse River Park," Hanson said.

Hanson was involved in developing a water management plan for the park, which now is protected by a dike from the flooding that had plagued it during its early history.

Les Randash of Minot remembers jumping off the foot bridge with the other children who liked to go diving into the river.

"Back in the early '60s, it was something to do," he said.

Beverly Hunter Aper came from Klamath Falls, Ore., to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a park that was special to her as a child. Her grandparents, Andrew and Anna Kragh, lived near the park. Andrew Kragh was hired to clean up the property when landowners, William and Emily Grinnell, decided to create a park in 1909. Anna Kragh cooked for the workmen who built the foot bridge.

"We used to come up here all the time," said Aper, who grew up in Minot. "It was the only time I got a nickel to buy a candy bar in the store. I loved it."

The centennial celebration included a health fair, parade and a musical program. As the oldest attendees, Mabel Perron, 99, was recognized as queen for the day, and Hugh Hiley and Finn Hellebust, both 89, shared the king's honors.