News: Loyal – 150th Anniversary (1870 – 2020)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: None

Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Abbotsford, WI) 21 Oct 2020

Throughout the first 150 years of Loyal that began with the platting of the first streets and lots in 1870, the community has passed through momentous periods in history. So it is again in 2020, as the novel coronavirus pandemic has altered life’s patterns and affected everything from businesses to schools.

A committee of Loyal leaders had been planning a 150th year commemoration when COVID-19 first made its way here and forced the cancellation of almost all public events. One of the first events to be called off was a mid-March gathering of some of Loyal’s senior citizens, who were to talk about their experiences in the community. Other events were in the planning stages, including some in conjunction with the annual Corn Festival in late August, but health department guidelines advised against any public gatherings. The committee suspended its plans for the year, and is now thinking ahead to a possible 150-plus-1 celebration for 2021, if conditions allow.

This history section publication would have been more extensive, too, had the corona-virus not come along, but we decided we needed to at least commemorate the 150th year of the community in some regard. The content that follows is by no means a detailed look at the city’s past, but an attempt to make note of the anniversary and provide some snippets of Loyal as it has grown through the City of Loyal.