Title

45-star U.S. Flag

Creation Date

1896 – 1908

Description

45 star US flag displayed at Stake General Store 1893-1908. This flag has no ID marking and is assumed to be the "Stake" flag because it is the only 45-star flag with no identification. It was originally cataloged/described as "found in collection" yet it was identified as being from the Stake store. There is no original accession form to clarify this uncertainty.  It is rolled on a 4-inch tube for storage.

Frans Ludwig Stake was one of many Swedes who immigrated to Anoka and settled in an area called Swedetown. They worked in the sawmills and lumberyards. While many of the Swedes bought farms, the Stakes (Frans had married Maria Jacobson by then) preferred to stay in the city. Mr. Erick Norellan, Anoka grocer, suggested to Frans that he buy the property at the corner of 5th Ave. and North St. as it would provide living quarters and a space for a grocery. Frans Stake followed the suggestion and bought the building 1891 and started the grocery business. Later he included dry goods, overalls, work shirts, stockings and shoes.

Frans Stake was listed as a grocer in the 1900 US census. In 1910 he was listed as a farmer but one of his daughters was listed as a clerk in a grocery store, suggesting the store was being run by the family with Frans working on the farm.

Frans and Maria were also founders of the Swedish Mission Church on Polk St. in Anoka.