Saturday, April 25, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 25

April 25, 1917 – Today around 5 p.m., the car that Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery drove away in with the two men stopped for speeding was found unattended in the rear of the Rex Theatre (501 Mississippi St.) in St. Paul. A dried-up stream of blood discovered on the rear seat of the machine confirmed the fears of fellow policemen that Connery has been the victim of foul play and probably murdered. The crank of the machine, also with a blood splotch on it, was found lying on the floor of the car.



The kidnappers’ car found unattended in the rear of the Rex Theatre1


Police of the Twin Cities began a systematic search for Connery’s body. Mud and grass on the wheels of the car led to a belief that the body may have been hidden in woods near the Twin Cities. Other theories are that Connery may have been thrown into the river or into a sewer.




Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery2

 After finding the car, police discovered it had been stolen from Miss Mary Lisance of La Crosse, Wis., on Tuesday the 24th, the day Connery was kidnapped. Authorities believe the two kidnappers also stole the car, and murdered Patrolman Connery because they were afraid of being caught for the car theft.


http://www.mpdfederation.com/george-connery/

Freeborn County Standard; “Auto Which Carried Kidnapped Officer Found; Blood Stains on Seat Support Theory That Patrolman Was Murdered.”; Albert Lea, Minn.; April 26, 1917; p. 1.

1Saint Paul Daily News; May 4, 1917; p. 1

2http://www.mpdfederation.com/george-connery/



Disappearance of Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery; see April 24, 2015 blog

More than 1,000 volunteers join Minneapolis police in the search for missing patrolman; see April 28, 2015 blog


Connery and Dunn murders linked; see May 4, 2015, blog

Anonymous caller tells police where body of Connery is located; see May 5, 2015 blog

Second man in “death car” arrested in Omaha; see May 7, 2015 blog

Patrolman George Connery laid to rest; see May 8, 2015 blog

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com   





Friday, April 24, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 24

April 24, 1917 – It wasn’t until his wife called the precinct around 6 p.m. asking if anyone knew why her husband hadn’t come home at his usual time, that the Minneapolis police realized that Traffic Patrolman George Connery was missing. The last time he’d been seen was by two fellow patrolmen, Charles E. Ziegler and F.X. Kort, who had stopped two men for speeding and asked Connery to ride with the two men back to the East Side police station to pay their $25 bail.

The driver gave his name as Howard Lux to Patrolmen Kort and Connery. ”We’ve just been arrested in St. Paul for speeding, and it took all our money to give bail,” Lux pleaded. “The plea was in vain. Patrolman Connery climbed into the rear seat of the men’s car, the curtains of which were closely drawn. The prisoners occupied the front seat.”1

At the end of their shift, when Kort and Ziegler returned to the station, they were surprised to “find no record of the men Patrolman Connery had stopped. Inquiries revealed that Connery never had appeared at the station with his captives.” He had also never reported back to the station at the end of his shift. The call from Mrs. Connery set off the alarm bells. Even so, “the East Side station failed to report the matter to headquarters until nearly 10 p.m.”1

“From 10 p.m. on, the entire night police force searched for Patrolman Connery. Every detective in the department was sent out. In seven automobiles they covered all of Minneapolis, but it was then approximately eight hours after Connery’s disappearance and the trail was cold.”1

1http://www.mpdfederation.com/george-connery/


Minneapolis Patrolman George Connery


http://www.mpdfederation.com/george-connery/



Car Connery disappeared in found in St. Paul; see April 25, 2015 blog

More than 1,000 volunteers join Minneapolis police in the search for missing patrolman; see April 28, 2015 blog

Connery and Dunn murders linked; see May 4, 2015, blog

Anonymous caller tells police where body of Connery is located; see May 5, 2015 blog

Second man in “death car” arrested in Omaha; see May 7, 2015 blog

Patrolman George Connery laid to rest; see May 8, 2015 blog


               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com  




Thursday, April 23, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 23



John Dillinger1

April 23, 1934 –
Gangster John Dillinger and his gang engage in a gun fight on the streets near Hastings, Minn.


 http://jalopnik.com/5531311/the-real-history-of-john-dillinger-and-henry-ford

1http://www.squidoo.com/johndillinger



http://www.hastingsmn.org/recreation.html
               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com  










Wednesday, April 22, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 22

April 22, 1982 – The General Mining Superintendent's House in the iron range town of Coleraine, Minn., formerly the residence of the mining superintendent, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on this date. 1


1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Itasca_County,_Minnesota


Marker Text:

"The General Mining Superintendent's Home, 100 Cole Street. This home was built as the district general superintendent’s residence by the Oliver Iron Mining Company in 1910- 11, replacing an earlier log structure which was located north of downtown area.

It was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

At the time of its construction, Michael Godfrey was district superintendent, having replaced John C. Greenway. Godfrey, his wife and two children were the home’s first residents.

It was thought to be quite lavish, located on a knoll east of the mining company office and overlooking Trout Lake, with much of the The General Mining Superintendent’s Home villages of Bovey and Coleraine in plain view. The landscaped grounds were a showplace, with manicured lawns and several flower beds. It was the site of many large social gatherings over the first half of the century.

The house is a two-and-a-half story frame structure covered by a multi-gabled roof. Originally the building was sheathed in clapboard and two-tone brown in color.

The interior remains virtually intact, having been carefully maintained by the mining company. A fully plastered and finished basement provides for four full floors of living space. The original detached frame garage is located on the property.

A stone stairway follows the hillside down to a grassy lakeshore area and sandy beach, where an original rock retaining wall and concrete and steel boathouse still remain.

The home has had only four owners. In 1985, the southern section of the property was divided and a new home built on that site." 2




2http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMDM63_General_Mining_Superintendents_House_Coleraine_Minnesota


               __________________________________________________________


If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 



Tuesday, April 21, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 21

April 21, 1997 – The Red River flooded the cities of East Grand Forks, Minn., and Grand Forks, N.D., cresting “at 54.35 feet (16.6 m). The river level did not fall below 49 feet (14.9 m) until April 26.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Red_River_Flood


Grand Forks after a levee overtopped and Grand Forks was evacuated

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:RedRiverGrandForks1997.jpg

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com  





Monday, April 20, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 20

April 20, 1982 – A Victorian brick residence with mansard-roofed tower, this home was built in Stillwater, Minn., in 1871 for Captain Austin Jenks, a river pilot and ship owner involved in log rafting.  It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on this date.

http://nrhp.mnhs.org/NRDetails.cfm?NPSNum=82003085



Home of 
Captain Austin Jenks, Stillwater, Minn.

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain April 20, 2015,
as long as acknowledgement included.
 


               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 


 


Sunday, April 19, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 19

April 19, 1910 – General Henry Hastings Sibley's home, the Sibley House, is considered the oldest private residence in Minn. Built in Mendota between 1835 and 1836 by a team of more than 100 white and Dakota laborers, the house was made of limestone blocks cut from a nearby quarry. On this date, the house was rescued from ruin by a joint effort from the St. Paul chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Mrs. Lucy Shepard McCourt, and Archbishop John Ireland of St. Peter's Parish. The house was restored by DAR chapters throughout the state, and was opened to the public on June 14, 1910.

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





The Sibley House



Sibley House Marker

The first stone house erected in the State of Minnesota by its first Governor, Gen. Henry Hastings Sibley. Secured in 1910 for the St. Paul Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution from St. Peter's Parish of Mendota — by — Mrs. Lucy Shepard MacCourt. Presented to the State Society D.A.R. April 19, 1910.
http://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=37594

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com