Minnesota Plans Reception for Lindbergh Visit. Minneapolis, St. Paul and Little Falls Among 75 Cities of Country to Be Paid Call by Flyer. Minneapolis – (AP) – With numerous committees already functioning in the three Minnesota cities on the itinerary of Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, the daring young Minnesotan is assured as auspicious greeting when he visits his home state late in August. Minneapolis’ plans, which were sketched early this week, were to take concrete form today when a committee named by Mayor George E. Leach confers with one from the Civic and Commerce association. St. Paul has committees at work while Little Falls, “Lindy’s” home town, has been going ahead quietly with reception plans ever since a delegation from that city met the trans-Atlantic flier on his arrival in New York from Europe and obtained his promise that he would fly the “Spirit of St. Louis” to his boyhood home.
Minnesota aviators are planning a welcome which fliers only are capable of giving. A group of planes, probably headed by the flying squadron of the Minnesota National Guard, will meet “Plucky Lindy” at the state border and accompany him to his first landing place and probably throughout his Minnesota tour. Colonel Lindbergh, traveling under the auspices of the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics, will open his tour July 20. He is scheduled to visit 75 cities in every state in the Union. Minnesota is one of the few states in which Colonel Lindbergh will make more than one stop. He will visit two points in Wisconsin and Iowa and one each in South Dakota and North Dakota. Sioux Falls and Fargo are the Dakota cities on his itinerary. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Saturday Evening, July 16, 1927, Volume 27, Number 126, Page 7)
Lindy Comes Home To Native State. Officiates At Dedication Of New St. Paul Airport After Getting Rousing Greeting; Reception Rivaled That Of President Coolidge. Minneapolis, Aug. 23. – (AP) – Carefully laid plans to guard against a rush for the Spirit of St. Louis when Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh landed here this afternoon, went awry. Every available policeman and deputy sheriff together with a regiment of infantry, national guardsmen and a detachment of cavalry had been concentrated at one end of the field where the mayors of St. Paul and Minneapolis, high state officials and leading military authorities were ready to dignify as well as expedite his initial reception. But a single, small hangar at an isolated corner of the field caught the eye of the flying colonel and he scooted up before it to the indescribable consternation of the welcoming committee. Cavalrymen dashed ahead in a vain attempt to stem the rush that headed across the field. Cool-headed spectators sensing the danger of the most valued of all airplanes, finally dropped back in a human wall around the ship while Lindy was shoved into the hangar. A lane finally was cleared for the official car and the long dash to St. Paul begun.
Dedicates New Post. St. Paul, Aug. 23. – (AP) – Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, airman extraordinary today came home to Minnesota, the state which he left a scant ten years ago to become an outstanding figure in the world of aviation and international good will. Touching home soil for the first time since his spectacular New York-Paris flight of three months ago, Colonel Lindbergh landed in the early afternoon at Wold-Chamberlain field, Minneapolis, and then went by automobile to dedicate the new St. Paul airport. Driven swiftly over a 30 mile course from (the) Minneapolis flying field, through the Mill City loop, thence through downtown St. Paul, the brilliant young Minnesotan was acclaimed by hundreds of thousands of persons. His reception rivaled that of President Coolidge and Prince Gustav of Sweden, both of whom have visited the Twin Cities during the last 18 months. Through it all, the smiling prince of the air sat atop the rear seat of an automobile, nodding and saluting to the multitudes and apparently in good spirits despite the strain of a strenuous nation-wide trip. Mrs. Evangeline Lindbergh, the colonel’s mother, who arrived in Minneapolis early today rode in the parade through the two cities but did not occupy the same car with her distinguished son. She joined him at his hotel later, and proudly sat beside him at a civic banquet tonight. “Lindy” will rest tomorrow preparatory to visiting Little Falls, his old home, Thursday. At the banquet tonight, Lindbergh was given a gold medal for valor by the state of Minnesota. (Grand Forks Herald, Wednesday, August 24, 1927, Volume XLVI, Number 250, Page 1)
Trans-Atlantic Hero Visits Old Farm Dwelling. Spends Hour Browsing Through Vacant Homestead. Little Falls – (AP) – In a woodland setting on the banks of the Mississippi two miles out of town, Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh today returned to the simple frame farm dwelling where he grew to manhood. In company with his mother, Mrs. Evangeline L. Lindbergh, the distinguished hero of the air – Little Falls’ honored guest – stole a march on the throng of admirers who besieged his hotel early today and visited the scenes of his boyhood. After spending an hour browsing through the vacant home and walking about the familiar grounds, Colonel Lindbergh was whisked away to the flying field where yesterday he dropped out of the sky for his homecoming visit, to take off for Fargo, N. D. Only a small group of onlookers, most of them tourists who happened by the homestead, were on hand to witness Colonel Lindbergh’s genuine homecoming. News reel men and photographers recorded the picturesque scene and he posed at their behest.
He appeared greatly touched by the occasion and equally as pleased to find the same privacy he enjoyed before world-wide distinction claimed him. Mayor Austin L. Grimes, chairman of the committee which arranged and executed almost to perfection his homecoming celebration Thursday, walked beside his boyhood friend and his mother, as they made their way through the old-fashioned two-story building, now badly marred by the zeal of relic hunters. After the visit, N. U. Berghem, attorney for the Lindbergh estate, told newspaper men that Col. Lindbergh and his mother had virtually agreed that the old homestead would be turned over to the local American Legion post and maintained under their supervision as a community farm center and public meeting place. The matter of purchasing the interest of two other heirs to the estate of the late Congressman Charles A. Lindbergh, the flier’s father, has been left to Mr. Bergheim, and this is expected to be completed soon. The purchase, it is understood, is being made at the particular request of Colonel Lindbergh and it is he who will provide the funds to buy the other interests. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Friday Evening, August 26, 1927, Volume 27, Number 161, Page 15)
Lindbergh Tunes Up Airplane for Flight to Fargo. Little Falls – (AP) – Fresh from a welcome by the “home town folks,” among whom he had spent much of his life here, Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh tuned up his plane today for a hop to Fargo, N. D., to continue his tour of the country. Colonel Lindbergh and his mother, Mrs. Evangeline Lindbergh, both of whom flew here yesterday from Minneapolis, in separate planes, planned to visit the former Lindbergh homestead, where “Lindy” spent much of his early life, and where his father, the former Congressman Lindbergh, lived. Formality was lacking in the gigantic welcome the colonel received when he alighted here yesterday. He was introduced to the admiring thousands as “Charley,” by the local mayor. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Friday Evening, August 26, 1927, Volume 27, Number 161, Page 1)
Page 1. Lindy Visits North Dakota People Today. Large Number From Forks Making Trip to Fargo. Genuine Home Town Enthusiasm Shown at Little Falls. Col. Chas. A. Lindbergh will be greeted by North Dakotans today when he makes his only stop in North Dakota at Fargo at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Although there were not enough reservations to warrant chartering a special train, several hundred people are planning to drive there to help swell the welcoming crowds. Fargo, N. D., Aug. 25. – Persons from throughout the state tonight were arriving in Fargo for Lindbergh day which will be celebrated Friday with the arrival of Colonel Charles Lindbergh from Little Falls. Preparations have been made to handle a crowd of more than 50,000 at El Zagal park, where Colonel Lindbergh will speak. Six companies of national guard will be on duty at the park and in Fargo to keep traffic moving and to police the park during the program. A banquet will be held in the Masonic temple in the evening.
Home Town Greeted. Little Falls, Minn., Aug. 25. – (AP) – Greeted with genuine “home town” enthusiasm, Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh today was welcomed by the folks of the environment which moulded him into one of the great world figures of all time. A huge crowd, many times that the population of this little central Minnesota town, demonstrated in a manner peculiar its own, its felling of adoration and affection toward “Lindy.” Perhaps it was due to the energetic efforts made to make it a perfect homecoming, but nevertheless the occasion was one exemplified by a remarkable display of plain, old-fashioned appreciation for the feat of a native son. Colonel Lindbergh himself, tired and haggard, but still carrying an infectious, boyish smile, caught the spirit of the day and showed the first signs of deep-seated gratefulness that has marked his three-day stay in his home state. He had been honored by European royalty and by the president of his own nation, but today Lindy was home; he knew it; he felt it deep down in his heart – his every action spoke for itself.
Reception Different. Driven slowly from the flying field at a more dignified speed than was possible in the metropolitan centers with their boisterously enthusiastic crowds, Colonel “Lindy” passed through the streets of the old home town minus that tired, bored stare of his big city receptions. Missing were the perfunctory, mechanical salutes and verbal acknowledgement of past parades as the 25 year old figure swept through the town which saw his first out-cropping of mechanical genius, and of courageous daring in the form of motorcycling, his initial step into modern transportation. “Lindy” enjoyed that parade. He enjoyed it from the time he stepped quietly from the cabin of his “Spirit of St. Louis,” to his automobile, until he was carried back to his hotel, following formal festivities at the Morrison county fair grounds. He never missed an opportunity to greet an old acquaintance, before, during or after the parade. He waved unrestrainedly; he almost shouted at times at the familiar faces of boyhood and young manhood appeared in the lines of happy thousands that followed his every move.
Page 2. And when after a long list of city, county and state officials finished their parts on the program, Colonel Lindy was introduced by Mayor Austin Grimes of Little Falls as “Charlie,” he spoke for a full ten minutes, much as a long absent member would address the familiar family circle. It was not about himself that he talked and he held to the minimum his pattern talk on commercial aviation.
With Associates. Tonight, as today, Colonel “Lindy” was in the tender hands of his old associates. He was the guest of honor at a mammoth civic banquet. The rest of the evening was spent in talking of old times. He will go to the old Lindbergh homestead probably tomorrow and then he hops off for Fargo, to continue his tour of the states. Mrs. Lindbergh, his mother, ever surrounded by her old neighbors and family friends, was equally happy as she followed her notable son in the parade and sat beside him at the fair grounds program and at the banquet. She arrived a few minutes ahead of “Lindy,” flying up from Minneapolis in Colonel Lindbergh’s advance plane. Colonel Lindbergh arrived over Little Falls about 1:50 p. m. For ten minutes he “stunted” over the city, sending his marvelous ship into every conceivable kind of flip and slip. Then he shot three miles out to the landing field, circled once high up, and again low, and brought his silver-tinted monoplane to a beautiful landing at 2:02 p. m. while guns and cannon boomed salutes and bands and drum corps sounded off. (Grand Forks Herald, Friday, August 26, 1927, Volume XLVI, Number 252)
Lindbergh Welcomed By Nearly 50,000 On His Fargo Visit. Crowds Of North Dakota (People) Pack Streets For Sight Of Famous Flier; Speaking Program In Afternoon Followed By Banquet In Evening. Fargo, N. D., Aug. 26. – (AP) – North Dakotans, nearly 50,000 of them from every corner of the state, filled El Zagal park, crowded the landing field and thronged the streets of Fargo today to greet Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh. His silver monoplane, “The Spirit of St. Louis,” dropped out of the sky at 2 p. m., and from then until long after dark, crowds gathered wherever there was a possibility that Lindbergh might appear. Pioneers who years ago used to stop in their fields and listen to the creaking of Red river ox carts as they crawled slowly over the trails, this afternoon strained the ears for the whir of an airplane motor that would signal the arrival of another pioneer – a trail-blazer across trackless seas. After flying over the city Colonel Lindbergh turned back into Minnesota, flew over Moorhead and then returned to the landing field. He was taken from there for a quick ride through the city with crowds banking the line of march. He then went to the park where a short program of speeches had been arranged and later went to his hotel for a short rest before a banquet in the Masonic temple tonight.
Forty-five minutes before the time for his arrival at the temple the street on which it is located was packed. On the reception committee at the landing field this afternoon was Mayor J. H. Dahl of Fargo; Lindbergh’s sister, Mrs. George H. Christie of Red Lake Falls, Minn.; Murray A. Baldwin, president of the Fargo Aeronautics club, and F. E. Ferguson, who represented the mayor of Winnipeg. Mr. Baldwin presided at the banquet tonight and speakers besides Colonel Lindbergh were Mayor Dahl; B. T. Bottomson, mayor of Moorhead; O. B. Butrness, congressman of the first North Dakota district; Mr. Ferguson; Thomas Hall, congressman of the second North Dakota district, and J. H. Sinclair, congressman of the third North Dakota district. (Grand Forks Herald, Saturday, August 27, 1927, Volume XLVI, Number 253, Page 1)
Lindy Leaves Fargo, Bound for Sioux Falls. Fargo – (AP) – Col. Charles A. Lindbergh hopped off in “The Spirit of St. Louis” at 7:40 a. m. today from Fargo for Sioux Falls, S. D., after spending Friday afternoon and night as guest of North Dakota. A stop is planned at Sioux Falls and this afternoon the hero of the non-stop New York-to-Paris flight will be at Sioux City, Iowa. (The Winona Republican-Herald, Saturday Evening, August 27, 1927, Volume 27, Number 162, Page 1)
Lindbergh Greeted At Sioux City. Sioux City, Ia., Aug. 27. – (AP) – All Sioux City greeted Chas. A. Lindbergh as he arrived on his transcontinental tour this afternoon. Thousands cheered a welcome as the Spirit of Louis circled over the city and a throng estimated at twenty thousand greeted Lindbergh when he landed at 2:02 p. m. After a brief speech at the Interstate Fair grounds, additional thousands of residents viewed the parade along a forty block route to his hotel.
Passes Over Aberdeen. Aberdeen, S. D., Aug. 27. – (AP) – Swooping low over Aberdeen, circling several times in his characteristically dashing manner, and dropping an autographed message of good will to the entire city, Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh, America’s pioneer of non-stop New York to Paris air flights, this morning received tribute from the throats of Aberdeen residents, which although unheard, apparently was appreciated. Hurtling through space on his trip from Fargo to Sioux City, Lindbergh preceded by his pilot plane, passed over the city at 9:25 o’clock. (Grand Forks Herald, Sunday, August 28, 1927, Volume XLVI, Number 254, Page 1)