Saturday, December 26, 2015

On this Date in Minnesota History: December 26

December 26, 1911 – Passenger trains numbers 514 (east bound) and 503 (west bound) collided head-on in front of the station at Springfield, Minn., this afternoon according to information received by Superintendent J. J. Nash of the Minnesota Division of the North-Western Road this evening. Only three trainmen were slightly injured, while the engines were somewhat damaged and the passengers badly shaken up and frightened.

According to the superintendent, the accident was caused by the failure of the west-bound train’s engineer to take a siding at Springfield where the two trains were scheduled to pass. Frantic efforts on the part of the enginemen brought the engines almost to a stop before the collision. 

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Collision at Springfield. Quick Work of Engineers Saves Lives of Passengers.”; Dec. 27, 1911; p. 1.




https://harborsofheaven.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/spring3611.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 MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 



Friday, December 25, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 25

December 25, 1905 – Mrs. Stella Brennan, on trial for the murder of three of her stepchildren, is a closely guarded prisoner in the hospital room of the Hennepin County Jail, but she is not deprived of some Christmas recreation. The pretty prisoner did not hang up a stocking, but she received a beautiful locket from her husband James Brennan, and today she sat down to a sumptuous dinner of turkey and suitable Christmas delicacies that many of her free sisters would envy.

This morning Jailor Nels Clausen, assisted by some members of the newspaper fraternity, gave Mrs. Brennan a gramophone concert. The defendant was not wearing the long veil and black suit that makes her stand out in the court room. Instead, she wore a gingham dress with the sleeves rolled up and the collar turned in. The gramophone repertory included humorous and sentimental tunes and the prisoner suited her expression to the music.




Gramaphone1

But beneath the smile, there was plainly heartache. The mask of indifference she so consistently wore in the court room was missing, and when she thought no one was looking, her face would change, a far-away and sad expression would come into her eyes and several times she bit her lips as though at the thought of her trouble and perhaps to keep back tears.




Stella Brennan2

The jurors in the Brennan case are enjoying Christmas at home today. Never in the history of local murder cases have the jurors been allowed their liberty during the trial. Judge H. D. Dickinson cautioned the Brennan jurors several times against reading the papers or talking to anyone about the case during their vacation.

The trial will be resumed tomorrow morning and will undoubtedly last throughout next week and possibly longer.

The Minneapolis Journal; “Mrs. Brennan’s Holiday. Accused Woman Centre of Celebration in Jail—Jurors Freed for the Day.”; Dec. 25, 1905; p. 6.
1http://boston1905.blogspot.com/2009/07/popular-music-in-1905-listen.html

2The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; Dec. 31, 1905.

Murder of three Brennan children while they slept; oldest son and stepmother shot; see Nov. 4, 2015 blog

Stella Brennan indicted by coroner’s jury for murder of stepdaughter; see Nov. 9, 2015 blog

Stella Brennan indicted by Hennepin County grand jury for murder of her three stepchildren; see Nov. 21, 2015 blog

County Attorney outlines the state’s theory of the Stella Brennan murder case in his opening statement; see Dec. 19, 2015 blog

               __________________________________________________________

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 MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 



Thursday, December 24, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 24

December 24, 1915 – A pay-direct machine has been installed in the teller’s window at the Northern National Bank in Bemidji, Minn. The machine, when a key is pressed, shoots the required sum out into a tray in easy reach of the customer and so that the money can be picked up in case the customer is wearing gloves. The money is no longer touched and counted by the teller as the new machine counts out the sum wanted.

The Bemidji Daily Pioneer; “Pay-Direct Machine Installed at Bank”; December 24, 1915, p. 1.




http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/33499468.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 MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 





Wednesday, December 23, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 23

December 23, 1918 – Sergeant Alger C. Walker, Air Service Mechanic school, with the chevrons on his sleeves still a shade less sun-darkened than the rest of his khaki uniform, was married this evening to Miss Frances Allen Fowle. Here is how it happened:

Late in Oct., when the influenza epidemic was raging all over the U. S., several students at the air school contracted the disease, and it soon spread to many others.

Sergeant Walker was among them.

An appeal was sent out by a worried Uncle Sam to his patriotic nieces and Miss Frances Allen Fowle responded to the call.

She was detailed—totally without nursing experience—at the air school. On the day she arrived, ready to do or die, Sergeant Walker, who used to punch cows somewhere in Texas, was on the sick list.

The army surgeon didn’t think Walker was very sick—a mild case of influenza—but when the sergeant saw Miss Fowle, he almost immediately became semi-conscious. And his last words were:

I don’t want to get well.
I don’t want to get well.
I’m in love with a beautiful nurse.

And for more than a month, he didn’t get well. In fact, he hovered between life and death so often that Miss Walker was forced to pay more attention to him than to the others. And when, about a month ago, he did get well, he just couldn’t be made to believe it.

About 75 guests attended the wedding, and a large part of them wore Uncle Sam’s khaki.

Many of those in khaki forgot to address the bridegroom as “Sergeant,” for the chevrons were conferred on him about the time he contracted the influenza.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Influenza Brings Romance to Life of Air Mechanic. Case Ends Fatally—er—That Is Sergeant and Nurse Are Married Now.”; Dec. 24, 1918; p. 1.




http://www.nicolausassociates.com/images/Poster-Join-The-Army-Air-Service-Reduced.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 MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 


Tuesday, December 22, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 22

December 22, 1910 – Judge Amidon handed down a decision in the U. S. Court in Fergus Falls, Minn., late today discharging P. J. Sullivan of Browns Valley, charged with being a blind pig proprietor (an unlicensed or illegal saloon), from custody and declaring the Indian treaty of 1851 abrogated and annulled.

Sullivan was charged with introducing 900 pints of liquor in Browns Valley contrary to the provisions of this treaty. He was sentenced to jail but later discovered the act of congress passed in 1863 annulling the land rights and cutting of the annuities of the Sioux in retaliation for the massacre of 1862.

After an extended review of the case, Judge Amiden summed it up as follows:

“In the present case it is conceded that the Indian reservation that was intended to be protected by article 5 of the treaty, ceased to be an Indian reservation by the act of February 16, 1863 and since that time, none of the Indians have dwelt upon that reservation or claimed title thereto, the whole basis therefore of federal authority over the commerce of intoxicating liquors in this territory is wanting. There are no Indians there with whom commerce can be carried on; therefore, the national government has no power to regulate commerce in the territory covered by the treaty. When congress annulled all rights of the Indians in these lands, it, by necessary implication, abrogated section 5 of the treaty whose only object was the protection of the Indians.”

Under this decision the federal officers have no further power to interfere with the liquor traffic in the wide extent of territory covered by the Sioux treaties. The territory affected by the decision includes the city of Moorhead and almost the entire southern part of the state lying south of the Mississippi, including part of Minneapolis.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Indian Treaty of 1851 Now Declared Annulled. Man, Accused of Introducing Liquor Into Browns Valley, Is Released. Decision of Judge Amidon at Fergus Falls Believed to Affect Wide Area.”; Dec. 23, 1910, p. 1.




http://www.lakesnwoods.com/FergusFalls.htm

               __________________________________________________________

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 MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 


Monday, December 21, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 21

December 21, 1912 – Children passing Nicollet Avenue and Third Street downtown Minneapolis were brought to tears today when they saw two Santa Clauses engaged in a fist fight.

Concerned that “St. Nick” would get hurt and not be able to fulfill his duties on Christmas Eve caused the little ones to burst into screaming alarm.

The two Santa Clauses were engaged in soliciting funds for the poor of Minneapolis when one of the Good Saint’s impersonators threw the taunt at his competitor that his “make-up” was faulty.

“Aw, you don’t look like Santa Claus,” he said.

“I look more like him than you do,” the other retorted.

That’s when the altercation began. One Santa shot a swift right to the other Santa’s eye. He in turn came back with a hard punch to his competitor’s sawdust stomach.

The children happening on the scene at the time were horror stricken, dumb founded. One little girl burst into tears and a number of the boys doubled up their fists and started to “take sides.”

A policeman put an end to the fracas and the subdued Santa Clauses went back to their respective posts.

Police interference was too late, however, to save the fall of the children’s most popular idol for the youngsters who had witnessed the almost unbelievable sight.

“I saw a crowd gathering about the Santa Clauses from where I stood at Hennepin Avenue and Third Street,” said Peter Kope, traffic policeman, who interrupted the fight. “I reached the men before they had damaged each other to any extent and saw them become reconciled. When I asked them their names, each replied Santa Claus.”

Adjutant John O’Neal of the Volunteers of America, for whom the men were working, says that the fracas was reported to him but that inasmuch as the participants had “made up,” with each other, he would take no action in the matter.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Street Santa Clauses Engage in a Fist Fight. Two Impersonators of “St. Nick” Have Controversy Over Their Make-ups. Children Horrified to See Bewhiskered Kriss-Kringles Maul Each Other.”; Dec. 21, 1912; p. 1.




https://eqmcapital.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/santa_claus1.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 MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

 


Sunday, December 20, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: December 20

December 20, 1981 - The Minnesota Vikings played their last game in Met Stadium on this date, dropping a 10-6 decision to the Kansas City Chiefs.

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




Met Stadium
http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=a72d8318-723a-4537-85ad-ec17847c80c1

               __________________________________________________________

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 MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com