“My heart gives a little sigh when I see these old Graeser Park photos, my 10 year old self in black and white. In 1956 our family moved from the Paynesville, MN area to the Twin Cities. The first few years we went back three weekends a month. Stopping at the Graeser Park roadside attraction was right up my farmer background – FREE. Weddings and funerals were met with a caravan of us ‘City Slickers’, uncles, aunts and cousins. Graeser Park was the last stop before we split and we went NE while others went to St. Paul, Fridley etc.
I can remember running around all the stone benches, tables etc. Many times we were the only family there, and we had all that space to run and play, safely and beautifully. My love of rough hewn stones probably started there. Visiting will be emotional.
In 1933, my mom was 8 years old. She can recall her father praying to the heavens for rain. Both sides of my family come from farm country. Two of my mother’s uncles worked for Roosevelt’s Works Administration Program (WPA).”
Submitted by Linda Chapple, 10.5.2018