Photo of the Month

May, 2003

SUGARLOAF TOWNSHIP FLAG WITH 37 STARS

The flag with thirty-seven stars existed for nine years and four months from March 1, 1867, to August 1, 1876, until Colorado entered the union as the thirty-eighth state. It is a large flag measuring 91 inches in height and 143 inches in width and made of wool bunting with thirty-seven cotton stars inserted into the canton. The stars are arranged in five horizontal rows with 7-8-7-8-7 stars in each row. Sugarloaf Township is the farthest northern township in Columbia County. The term "Democracy" in the inscription was a synonym for "Democrats" during this time period.

This 136 year old flag is in the Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society’s collection. Unfortunately, the Society does not have any documentation on the history of this flag. It is assumed that there may have been a special occasion when the Democrat party in Columbia County gave the flag to Sugarloaf Township sometime during the nine-year period of time, March 1, 1867and August 1, 1876. A review of the election returns for Sugarloaf Township reveals that it was one of the most loyal Democratic voting districts in the county. In the 1868 and 1872 presidential elections, 89% of voters in Sugarloaf Township cast their ballots for the Democrat candidates, Horatio Seymour and Horace Greeley. Volunteers have reviewed the existing county newspapers and have been unable to find any reference to this flag.

Tom Adams, a member of the Society, took this picture.