On this date in Minnesota History: June 28

June 28, 1986 – The museum ore boat William A. Irvin opened for tours on this date. “The Irvin was purchased by the [Duluth] convention center board, refurbished and docked behind the Duluth Arena-Auditorium. The boat will be used as a tourist attraction and to lure conventions to the city’s planned convention center.”

Duluth News-Tribune & Herald; “Freighter opens Saturday for tours”; June 25, 1986; p. 8A

William A. Irvin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_A_Irvin

On this date in Minnesota History: June 27

June 27, 1856 – “The St. Croix Union reports on the mass escape at the Minnesota Territorial prison: ‘We are informed that one day this week every prisoner and convict in the penitentiary made his escape, and up to Thursday noon they had not been recaptured. We censure no one because we do not know that anybody should be censure; but the fact that they have escaped is humiliating to us as a community.’

The escape was partly possible because of the corruption of the warden of the time, [Francis] Delano. However, after Delano's tenure, the prison gained a reputation as a model prison.”

http://projects.wchsmn.org/reference/events/mass-prison-escape/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_R._Delano

On this date in Minnesota History: June 26

June 26, 1896 – “Sheriff Joseph Rogers was shot and killed as he and a deputy attempted to arrest two men they encountered on a road near Glencoe Township. When Sheriff Rogers told the men he was going to arrest them, one of them fired at the Sheriff. After Sheriff Rogers returned fire the men again fired, striking Sheriff Rogers in the chest. The deputy went to get help and Sheriff Rogers was shot several more times.

The suspects were apprehended by a posse in a swamp the next day and were lynched.

Sheriff Rogers had been marshal of Glencoe for 7 years before being elected Sheriff in 1894. He was survived by his mother, father, and sister; he is buried in Hillcrest Cemetery, Glencoe, Mcleod County, Minnesota.”

http://www.odmp.org/officer/11452-sheriff-joseph-rogers

Sheriff Joseph Rogers
http://www.odmp.org/officer/11452-sheriff-joseph-rogers

On this date in Minnesota History: June 25

June 25, 1977 - Grandma's Marathon was first run on this date with only 150 participants; that first race was won by the Minnesotan runner and 1976 Olympic 10000m runner Garry Bjorklund.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandma's_Marathon

http://kdal610.com/news/articles/2014/jun/19/an-extra-65000-people-will-be-in-the-duluth-area-for-marathon-weekend/

On this date in Minnesota History: June 24

June 24, 1892 – The first electric streetcar line in St. Cloud, Minn., opened on this date.

http://wjon.com/first-electric-streetcar-opened-on-this-date-in-central-minnesota-history/

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain June 24, 2014,
as long as acknowledgement included.  

On this date in Minnesota History: June 23

June 23, 1871 – Richwood township was organized on this date in Becker County. It was named for Richwood, Ontario, Canada, the home town of W. W. McLeod, one of three owners of a sawmill there.

“The first store was brought from Fergus Falls by two Mills Brothers. They put part of the goods in a large tent and part in McLeod's house. The store tent was erected in the field [that] is now part of the Alfred Nodsle Farm.”

http://www.minnesotawaters.org/group/brrla/history-richwood-village

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richwood_Township,_Becker_County,_Minnesota

On this date in Minnesota History: June 22

June 22, 1909 - American theatre and film producer Mike Todd, probably best known today as the third of Elizabeth Taylor's seven husbands, was born in Minneapolis on this date. He died on March 22, 1958, when his private plane crashed near Grants, NM.

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

Mike Todd, Liz Taylor and their daughter LiZa Todd
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Liz_Taylor,_Liza_Todd_and_Mike_Todd_by_Toni_Frissell,_1957.jpg