Saturday, April 29, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 29

April 29, 2011 – Nearly 1,000 tired Minnesotans, many women dressed formerly and wearing hats for the occasion, watched the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William from Brit’s Pub in downtown Minneapolis. The doors opened at 4 a.m., and the pub was reportedly packed from floor to ceiling with Royal Wedding enthusiasts.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/04/29/royal-wedding-higgins/





Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain April 29, 2017,
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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com


Friday, April 28, 2017

On This Day in Minnesota History: April 28

April 28, 1985 – The New York Yankees front office fired manager Yogi Berra today and replaced him with Billy Martin. This was the fourth time during his career that Martin led the Yankees.

Martin spent eight years (1962–69) in the Minnesota Twins organization after his retirement as a player. He was a scout from 1962–64, the third-base coach of the Twins from 1965 through May 27, 1968, and manager of their Triple-A affiliate, the Denver Bears, for the last half of the 1968 campaign. He succeeded Cal Ermer as Minnesota's big-league manager following the '68 season.

http://brown.sd.us/dacotah-prairie-museum/news/this-week-in-history/apr28-30

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Martin#Minnesota_Twins


http://bronxbanter.arneson.name/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Martin.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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                        


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com





Thursday, April 27, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 27

April 27, 1913 – The partially exposed bones of gigantic size, discovered on the farm of George Budde, near Kellogg, comprise part of the skeleton of a mammoth prehistoric elephant that lived in the area probably from 10,000 to 30,000 years ago. J. M. Holzinger, member of the faculty of the Winona normal school, so declared this evening after personally investigating the find.

Budde, who is a farmer, made the discovery a week ago. The bones protrude from the side of a newly made cut caused by the recent high water. A portion of one of the tusks and bones of great size were sent to Frederic W. Sardeson, of the University of Minnesota. The latter, according to press reports, declared they were the bones of an Asiatic African elephant probably buried by a traveling circus in recent years. The Winona man takes issue with this finding.

Holzinger bases his opinion on the fact that the location where the find was made, was in an inaccessible place precluding the circus burial theory. Although, he says ivory will hold intact for 5,000 years, the ivory tusks from this skeleton are brittle. Layers of earth indicating many years formation are visible over the exposed bones. Because of the fact that the bones are brittle, it may be impossible to save the skeleton, although an effort will be made to excavate it.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Finding Elephant’s Bones Gives Rise to Controversy. Winona Normal Man Declares Skeleton Is of Prehistoric Origin. University Professor Says Relics Are Those of Circus Animal.”; April 28, 1913; p. 2.




http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/27949603.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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com





Wednesday, April 26, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 26

April 26, 1978 – A beautiful home built in the Lowry Hill neighborhood of Minneapolis for Charles J. Martin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on this date. Martin served for many years as the secretary and treasurer of the Washburn-Crosby Company, a predecessor of General Mills.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_J._Martin_House




Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain April 26, 2017,
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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com



Tuesday, April 25, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 25

April 25, 1907 – The inventor of the pontoon boat, Ambrose Weeres, was born in Richmond, Minn., on this date.

“In 1951, Ambrose was asked by a friend to create a contraption out of tubes and oil barrels that would float in water. With the assistance of Edwin Torborg, ‘I worked on it and designed the tubes, then a raft, and kept going until I had a boat. The hardest part was making a mount for an outboard motor and designing a steering device.’”


A Weeres Pontoon on a Richmond area lake in 1954.



A modern pontoon boat on Rose Lake, St. Louis County, Minn. (pje)



“The first boat, later christened ‘The Empress’ sold before [Weeres] even had a chance to name it. ‘Mr. Pontoon,’ as [he] came to be known, kept improving on this design and founded Weeres Industries the following year in 1952. In 1955, the Winona Daily News named the Weeres Pontoon Boat ‘Boat of the Year.’

“In a Resolution issued by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1990, Ambrose Weeres was officially recognized as the inventor of the pontoon boat. He was elected to the Minnesota Marina Hall of Fame in July 1991. Weeres is also credited with inventing the first “water bicycle”, or paddle boat in 1956.”


http://wjon.com/the-inventor-of-the-pontoon-was-born-in-richmond-on-this-date-in-central-minnesota-history/
               __________________________________________________________

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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com



Monday, April 24, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 24

April 24, 1889 - Granite Falls was incorporated as a village in 1879 and became a city on this date. Named for the granite and gneiss outcroppings over which the Minnesota River flows, Granite Falls is the county seat for Yellow Medicine County.

http://www.granitefallschamber.com/history.html



http://www.granitefallshealthcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Granite-Falls-Sign-Straight.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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                       


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com





Sunday, April 23, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: April 23

April 23, 1912 – A telegram received today brought the news that the body of Walter D. Douglas, wealthy Minneapolitan who met his death on the Titanic, had been recovered and embalmed, and was on the boat Mackey-Bennett, sent to search the scene of the disaster.


Walter D. Douglas1

George C. Douglas, Walter Douglas’ son, was advised today of the reported recovery of his father’s body. He left this evening for the East to take charge of the body. Mr. Douglas took the shortest and quickest route to Halifax where he will wait for the Mackey-Bennett to arrive. It is believed that Walter Douglas’ body will be buried in Cedar Rapids, Ia., the old family home.


Walter D. Douglas was listed as recovered body #622


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “W. D. Douglas’ Body Reported Recovered. Message Received Gives News to Family in Minneapolis. George C. Douglas, Son Leaves for Halifax to Take Charge. A. O. Halvorson, Also Wreck Victim, Said to Have Been Found.”; April 24, 1912; p. 3.

Mahala Douglas, widow of Walter D. Douglas, returned home to Minneapolis after rescue from Titanic disaster; see blog April 21, 2017.

               __________________________________________________________

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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com