Saturday, February 7, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 7

February 7, 1918 – Two men were killed near Hibbing this morning when a ton of black powder in the press mill of the Dupont De Nemours Powder Company’s Wilpen plant exploded at 10 a.m.  “The building was wrecked and the two men blown into atoms. The force of the explosion was felt in Chisholm and Hibbing. The cause of the explosion remains unknown.”

Duluth News-Tribune; “
Explosion at Powder Plant Kills Two Men, Force of Wilpen Explosion Shatters Windows in Hibbing”; Duluth, Minn.; February 8, 1918; p. 5-Range.



Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Feb. 7, 2015, 
as long as acknowledgement included.


Friday, February 6, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 6

February 6, 1975 – “Northern States Power Company’s (NSP) new Prairie Island nuclear generating plant marked a milestone [on this date] when its second unit reached full power. This means ‘all systems are go’ and the plant’s twin reactors are operating at near-capacity, furnishing from one-third to one-half of the energy in the giant power system stretching from St. Louis, Chicago and Milwaukee, to the Twin Cities and on into the Dakotas.”

St. Paul Pioneer Press
; “Prairie Island ‘on Line’”; February 7, 1975, p. 13.





Prairie Island nuclear generating plant
http://www.nrc.gov/info-finder/reactor/prai1.html

Thursday, February 5, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 5

February 5, 1901 – Seventeen horses, 14 sets of harnesses and three tons of hay were burned up in a barn owned by the St. Paul Sanitation Company, which was completely destroyed by fire at 7:30 this evening.

The fire’s origin is unknown, and was not discovered until the building, which is situated on lower Water Street in St. Paul, on the levee, was wrapped in flames. When the fire engines arrived on the scene, there was no chance to save the barn or the imprisoned horses.

The building was valued at $1,500 and was not covered by insurance. There was also no insurance of the stock. The proprietors are Hugh Martin, Jackson B. Strane and Isaac Grant. The entire loss will aggregate about $5,000.


The Saint Paul Globe; “Horses Burned To Death. Barn of St. Paul Sanitation Company Destroyed by Fire.”; Feb. 06, 1901; p. 2.




Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Feb. 5, 2015,
as long as acknowledgement included.



Wednesday, February 4, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 4

February 4, 1948 - Rod Grams, Representative-R-Minnesota 1993 - 1995, Senator-R-Minnesota 1995 – 2001, was born on this date born in Princeton, Minn. From 1982–91 he was the senior news anchor at KMSP-TV in Minneapolis/St. Paul, a position that gave him high name recognition during his campaigns.

http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysbirth/birth_february_4.html




Rod Grams
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_Grams#mediaviewer/File:Rgrams.gif


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 3

February 3, 1940 - Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback, was born in Richmond, Va., on this date.

The Minnesota Vikings drafted Tarkenton in the third round of the 1961 NFL Draft. Tarkenton, 21, played his first National Football League game (and the Vikings' first game) on September 17 against the Chicago Bears, coming off the bench to lead the Vikings to a come-from-behind victory by passing for 250 yards and four touchdown passes and running for another as the upstarts stunned the Bears 37–13. He is the only player in NFL history to pass for four touchdowns in his first NFL game.

He played for the Vikings from 1961 to 1966 and 1972 to 1978, leading the Vikings to three Super Bowls in the 1970s, but lost all of them.

http://www.brainyhistory.com/daysbirth/birth_february_3.html

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




http://thehotirondaily.tumblr.com/post/20954969693/top-ten-minnesota-vikings-draft-picks-of-all-time

Monday, February 2, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 2

February 2, 1996 – The city of Tower set the Minn. record for coldest temperature “when the temperature dropped to -60°F (-51°C). This was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the United States east of the Great Plains.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower,_Minnesota





http://cityoftower.com/

Sunday, February 1, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 1

February 1, 1891 - The town of Pipestone, Minn., county seat of Pipestone County, was first platted from 1873 to 1874, and finally incorporated on this date.

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/pipestone/history.htm




http://gilbertlodge.com/2012/08-10-12-pipestone.html