Growing up in Minden

A statue of a man on a horse rearing up into the sky seems to celebrate riding into the Town of Minden's next century. The statue commissioned by Larry Willson before his untimely death, is an homage to the men and women of the Dangberg Land & Livestock Co., which is inexorably linked to Minden's founding.

Willson was raised in the shadow of the Dangbergs and is the model for the horseman who seems to be waving his hat in greeting to the future " while remembering the past.

Minden will hold what may be the first real celebration of its founding on July 2 to commemorate its 100th birthday.

As of this writing, work on the plans for the celebration is still ongoing.

Minden Town Board Chairman Ross Chichester said the celebration will have something to interest to people of all ages.

"Everyone is welcome," he said. "We just hope that all of the people from Minden will come down and eat and remember where we came from, and hopefully where we're going, and enjoy their neighbors."

So far the tentative celebration includes serving 1,000 meals provided by Aramark, a neighborhood walk featuring 46 historic buildings marked by brass plaques and the publication of a brochure.

According to the tentative schedule, the day will start at 11 a.m. with a presentation of the colors by the Douglas County Sheriff's Explorers Post.

After a welcome, Gardnerville dentist Mike Fischer will portray H.F. Dangberg Sr., the father of Minden's founder, who will discuss the town's beginnings.

Lunch will be served at noon, and the Carson Valley Pops will perform afterward during an ice cream social.

Away from the main festivities in Minden Park, visitors will be able to tour Minden's historic homes and see the contents of a time capsule buried when the Minden Fire Station was built in 1978.

The CVIC Hall will be filled with historic displays from June 26 through July 9.

Medallions minted at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City to commemorate the centennial will be on sale, as will Minden hats and memory books. ß