ABOVE: Ceylon Museum Director Marilyn Stelter stands with the collections of Ceylon High School memorabilia, including class photos, student portraits, student and athletic uniforms, trophies and other tokens of history. Ceylon will celebrate the 125th year since its founding with a festival from Thursday, Aug. 7 to Sunday, Aug. 10 with city-wide garage sales and various events at the City Park and the Lake Belt Bar and Grill in Ceylon.

CEYLON — Described by residents as the ‘biggest small town’, Ceylon carries 125 years worth of history of a strong community. Ceylon invites its residents and the neighboring towns to celebrate the 125th ‘quasquincentennial’ anniversary of its founding with various festivities from Thursday, Aug. 7 to Sunday, Aug. 10.

“It’s great. Ceylon was always the biggest little town in Minnesota,” said Ceylon Museum Director Marilyn Stelter.

Stelter has directed the museum since its founding in 1997. Following the closure of the Ceylon High School (CHS) in 1996, Stelter and the five other charter directors were motivated to find a location to store school and community memorabilia and history. The Ceylon Museum was then formed.

A box of tea played a pivotal role in making history in Martin County. As the town was founded on Oct. 22, 1900, it was named by a group of men after the South Asian island-country “Sri Lanka”, which changed its name from “Ceylon” in 1972.

“They were in the process of finding it, meeting in [Tom Sahr’s General Store], and they happened to see this bag of tea, marked ‘Ceylon Tea’ on the shelf, and they said, ‘Well, let’s call it Ceylon’. That’s how we got our name,” Stelter said.

With Ceylon founded, the population steadily grew, reaching more than 600 people. Stelter, a longtime, now former resident who was raised in the town, shared that Ceylon was a vibrant place when it was flourishing with residents. There were more leisure opportunities including roller skating and ice skating rinks, a movie theater and other businesses that kept the town active.

“Ceylon was a huge gambling town. People would come from miles, and a bus company from Fairmont changed hands three or four times in one night through the gambling,” Stelter said with a laugh. “Wednesdays and Saturdays were called Town Nights, and everyone would come to town. Main Street would be filled with cars. It was full, and there were bars, and that’s where people went. There were three or four grocery stores, and it was just a real busy town, and it was so fun.”

Overseeing the museum, Stelter and museum guests revisit exhibits that reflect livelihood of Ceylon culture. Stelter shared that she is pleased Ceylon will be celebrating its 125th founding anniversary to gather the community and recognize the town’s milestone.

“It’s really nice that they can do this festival. Somebody’s doing something. When I have the museum open, you can never get done looking at the exhibits. There’s just so much. We also have videos; it’s fun to watch those. I love it. It brings back so many good memories. I really think that time was the best of times,” Stelter stated.

Stelter said she appreciates Jordan Burmeister of the Lake Belt Bar and Grill, which frequently hosts community-driven events.

Stelter expressed her pride in Ceylon and shared that he would like to see it grow and continue to thrive.

The museum is open on the first Sunday of the summer months. Stelter explained the museum will open again for tours by appointment, CHS class reunions and other area festivals. Stelter shared that, during days the museum is open, approximately 25 visitors explore the museum, with the CHS exhibits drawing much attention. Stelter reiterated that she is happy to keep Ceylon history alive and relevant. With the responsibility of overseeing a museum with a generous amount of history, Stelter said the museum would gladly accept volunteers to assist.

Anniversary celebration events on Aug. 7 include line dancing at 7:30 p.m. at the Lake Belt Bar and Grill. Events on Aug. 8 include BINGO at 6 p.m. and a Door 49 concert at 8:30 p.m. at the Lake Belt Bar and Grill. Events on Aug. 9 include a Craft and Vendor Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lake Belt Bar and Grill, face painting at 11 a.m., bounce houses from 1 to 5 p.m., a petting zoo and classic car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and an outdoor movie at 7 p.m. at the City Park and concluding the evening with karaoke at 8 p.m. at the Lake Belt Bar and Grill. Events on Aug. 10 include a Fireman’s Breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon at the Lake Belt Bar and Grill. The Ceylon Museum will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3 and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9. Various garage sales will operate during the weekend throughout Ceylon. For additional information about the festival’s events, contact Amy Laue at (507) 317-5352, email ceylonsummerfest@hotmail.com or visit the Facebook page, “Ceylon Summer Festival”.