On this Date in Minnesota History: August 31

August 31, 1960 – “Sections of Minneapolis, including about one-third of the downtown district were without electricity for 25 minutes following a short circuit at a Northern States Power sub-station. Three television stations, KMSP, WCCO and WTCN were off the air during the power failure,” and traffic lights shut down. People were caught in elevators, and elevators and air conditioning were off throughout the area.

Minneapolis Morning Tribune, “Power Failure Darkens Television, Traffic Lights”; September 1, 1960; p.1.

http://www.johnweeks.com/highway/mpls-neighborhoods/