On This Date in Minnesota History: February 28

February 28, 1866 – Beltrami County, Minn., was established on this date. “The county name was adopted in honor of Giacomo Constantino Beltrami, the Italian explorer in 1823 of the most northern sources of the Mississippi [River] near the center part of this county lying south of Red Lake.”

Upham, Warren; Minnesota Geographic Names, Their Origin and Historic Significance; Minnesota Historical Society (St. Paul, Minn., 1969); p. 34

Giacomo Constantino Beltrami

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

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 27

February 27, 1896 – Actor William Demarest, best remembered today as Uncle Charlie on the TV show “My Three Sons,” was born on this date in St. Paul, Minn.

http://www.historyorb.com/day/february/27

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

"Don Grady and William Demarest in ‘My Three Sons’ 1969"
by CBS Television


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Demarest#mediaviewer/File:Don_Grady_William_Demarest_My_Three_Sons_1969.JPG

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 26

February 26, 1926 – “Professional wrestling trainer and promoter” Verne Gagne was born in Robbinsdale, Minn., on this date. “Gagne is a 16-time world heavyweight champion, having held the AWA World Heavyweight Championship 10-times, the World Heavyweight Championship (Omaha version) 5-times, and the IWA World Heavyweight Championship once.”

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

Verne Gagne
http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/profiles/v/verne-gagne.php

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 25

February 25, 1931 – “A fire broke out on the west side of the attic in the [Rice County Courthouse in Faribault, Minn., on this date], and while firemen were attempting to put it out, the fire spread to the cuppola and engulfed the tower. Virtually everything, other than the two fireproof wings added in 1924, was destroyed. However, there were not any injuries to people in the building, and even the Courthouse cat, Tommy, made it out alive thanks to a brave custodian. The cause of the fire was never determined.”

http://www.co.rice.mn.us/node/2010

Rice County Courthouse 1901

http://www.co.rice.mn.us/node/2010

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 24

February 24, 1983 – Downtown St. Paul icon, Mickey’s Diner, was put on the Nation Register of Historic Places on this date. “The only known dining car of its type to survive in Minnesota, it was prefabricated [in 1937] in New Jersey, shipped to St. Paul by rail and installed in the heart of downtown.”
 
“Inspired by streamlined railroad dining cars, Mickey’s sports a symmetrical facade clad with yellow and red porcelain steel panels, a horizontal band of plate glass windows and a projecting neon sign with Art Deco lettering. The interior of the diner features stainless steel, mahogany and mirrored fixtures. A glass vestibule, added when the diner was installed, protects patrons from harsh Minnesota winters.”

http://nrhp.mnhs.org/property_overview.cfm?propertyID=30

Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain Feb. 24, 2015,
as long as acknowledgement included.  

 

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 23

February 23, 1854 - Houston County, Minn., was established on this date, and “named in honor of Samuel Houston, who was president of Texas before its annexation to the United States and afterwards was a senator from that state.”

Upham, Warren; Minnesota Geographic Names, Their Origin and Historic Significance; Minnesota Historical Society (St. Paul, Minn., 1969); p. 237.

Samuel Houston

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

On This Date in Minnesota History: February 22

February 22, 1967 – Conservation Officer Ronald E. Shager was killed when his patrol car was struck by a train near the Rock Island Depot in Faribault, Minn. The car was pushed down a ravine into the Straight River.

Officer Shager had served with the agency for 22 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.

http://www.odmp.org/officer/12065-conservation-officer-ronald-e-shager

Conservation Officer Ronald E. Shager

http://www.odmp.org/officer/12065-conservation-officer-ronald-e-shager