Saturday, December 13, 2014

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 13

December 13, 1905 – The shoes of Minnesota Gov. John Albert Johnson were stolen sometime last night from under his berth on a sleeping car, as his train was approaching Spokane, Wash. The mercury in the thermometer was hovering perilously near the zero mark when the governor sat up this morning. But he was forced to remain in his stocking feet for several hours before the porter had an opportunity to purchase substitute footwear.


The Minneapolis Journal; “Our Governor’s Shoes Stolen as he Slept”; Dec. 13, 1905; p. 1.




Minnesota Gov. John Albert Johnson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Albert_Johnson



Friday, December 12, 2014

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 12

December 12, 1905 – Theodore Loranson, living near Pelan, Minn., Kittson County, is reported to have killed his father, John Loranson, today by cutting him with an ax.

Almost three years go Loranson was with his brother Albin when he was killed with a shotgun. Theodore and Albin were driving to the threshing field, and had placed a gun in the vehicle, intending to do some chicken shooting. They had gone but a short distance when the gun was discharged, the charge striking Albin in the head and killing him instantly. The shock was too much for Theodore, who immediately afterwards developed symptoms of insanity.

Loranson has been sent to the insane asylum at Fergus Falls five times and each time has been released on parole.


The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Pelan Scene of Murder. Report Is That An Insane Man Killed His Father.”; Dec. 15, 1905; p. 4.

The Minneapolis Journal; Minneapolis, Minn.; Sept. 19, 1902; p. 17.





http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gtusa/photos/mn/pelan.jpg

Thursday, December 11, 2014

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 11

December 11, 1979 – “In 1872 a newspaper called the Big Woods Citizen began to lend an influence to the [Delano] community.  For many settlers this paper brought the only news of the state, national and international events.  It contained local news, serialized fiction, and a healthy dose of editorial opinion.  In 1881, the name of the paper was changed to the Delano Eagle.  This paper has served the community continuously since its inception in 1872.”

“In 1883 the Delano Eagle moved from a little frame building on Third Street into the brick building on Railroad Avenue.”
Its offices are now located in Osseo, Minn. The Eagle Newspaper Office in Delano was added to the National Register of Historical Places on this date.

http://www.delano.mn.us/community/misc/history-of-delano




The Delano Eagle office building on Railroad Avenue, Delano, Minn.
Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Dec. 11, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.
 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 10

December 10, 19701University of Minnesota alumnus Norman E. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his research on wheat improvement, “adapting the new wheats to new lands” and “gaining acceptance for their production.”2

1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize

2http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1970/borlaug-bio.html




Norman E. Borlaug 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Norman_Borlaug.jpg

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 9


December 9, 1971 - Duluth's Union Depot was built in 1892, served seven different rail lines, and accommodated 5,000 passengers. In 1973 it re-opened as the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, housing the Duluth Art Institute, Lake Superior Railroad Museum (which operates the North Shore Scenic Railroad), St. Louis County Historical Society Museum, a Veteran's Memorial Hall, and five performing arts organizations.

It was listed on National Register of Historic Places on this date.

http://www.thehistorypeople.com/data/docs/timeline-part3.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duluth_Depot















Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Dec. 9, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.
 





Monday, December 8, 2014

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 8

December 8, 1910 – Deputy D. Patten of Akeley and Deputy James M. Quinn of Brainerd, under order of William Eugene “Pussyfoot” Johnson (an American Prohibition advocate and law enforcement officer), have closed Brainerd’s 27 saloons. No disorder attended the closing. In giving the saloonkeepers orders to close Deputy Patten said he was a United States officer; that the saloons should close; keep out all patrons; lock the doors and box up and ship the liquor supply as quickly as possible to the wholesale houses. The saloons expected the closing and had only small stocks on hand.

Ten Strike and Turtle River saloons were also closed by government agents, which leaves Bemidji the only town in Beltrami County affected by the Indian treaty that still has saloons.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Brainerd Saloons Closed. Federal Deputies Order All Liquor Be Shipped Away.”; Dec. 8, 1910; p. 1.





http://www.lakesnwoods.com/Brainerd.htm

Sunday, December 7, 2014

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 7

December 7, 1923 – Dedicated on this date, the Franklin Avenue Bridge, officially the F.W. Cappelen Memorial Bridge, carries Franklin Avenue over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minn.



Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Dec. 7, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.


It was designed by Frederick William Cappelen, assisted by Kristoffer Olsen Oustad, both of whom were among four important Norwegian-American engineers working in the region at the time. The reinforced-concrete open-spandrel arched structure was completed in 1923. The bridge's overall length is 1054.7 feet (321.47 m), with a central span of 400 feet (122 m). It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 28, 1978, along with several other area bridges as part of a multiple-property submission.

The current bridge replaces one built in 1889 and its pilings and foundation can still be seen to the south of the current bridge. During planning of this original bridge there was consideration and debate concerning its possible interference with river navigation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cappelen_Memorial_Bridge





Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Nov. 19, 2013,
 as long as acknowledgement included.