Saturday, May 27, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 27

May 27, 1885 – The corner stone of the Congregational Academy at Excelsior, Minn., was successfully laid this morning with appropriate ceremonies. The attendance from Minneapolis, though large, was reduced by threatening weather of the early part of the day, but nearly all of Excelsior turned out to participate. The several military and civic societies, headed by the Marine band, met the Minneapolis delegation at the motor station and marched to the site of the academy, where the exercises were held.

The corner stone ceremonies opened with sacred music, scriptural reading and prayer. The ministers of nearly all the neighborhood Congregational churches were present and short addresses were made by a number of them.

The proposed academy is to be a preparatory school for the Congregational college, Carleton, at Northfield.


Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.1


The academy’s existence grew out of a mass meeting in Excelsior in Feb. 1884, when the articles of incorporation were formulated and a board of trustees elected. Fifty acres of land and $8,000 in money were donated, and the project was complete. The school will open in Sept., if possible, with Prof. E. V. Stevens in charge.

The new building will be frame, with selected white brick veneer, and will cost $6,000. It will be of a unique modern style of architecture.

The St. Paul Daily Globe; “The Excelsior Academy. The Corner Stone Laid—History of the Project.” May 28, 1885; p. 3.


Congregational Academy at Excelsior, Minn.2

From "The Northwest Tourist" May 30, 1885: "The cornerstone of Excelsior Academy was laid on Wednesday, May 27 1885. in the presence of seven or eight hundred people. Many from Wayzata, St. Paul, and Minneapolis to witness the ceremony and the occasion was one of great interest, not only to the citizens but to visitors. The latter were met at the motor terminus by the Board of Trustees, in carriages and a procession was formed and moved to the Academy grounds located about a half mile distant, Commander E. R. Perkins of Frank W. Halstead Post acting as Marshall."


1http://kstp.com/kstpImages/repository/2017-05/800-carleton-brett-hoffland.jpg

2http://minnetonkascenes.blogspot.com/2013_09_01_archive.html  

               __________________________________________________________

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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Friday, May 26, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 26

May 26, 1900 – By ceremonies on Harriet Island this afternoon, the city of St. Paul came into possession of a finely appointed public bathing establishment, a gift to the city from Dr. Justus Ohage, official head of the municipal department of health. The buildings and the work done on the island represent an investment of less than $10,000.



Harriet Island1

It was while traveling to the continent several years ago that Dr. Ohage inspected the public baths* of Germany, Holland, Austria and France. He became possessed of the idea that St. Paul should have free public baths, and never lost sight of the idea. Today he saw the fruition of months of effort toward that accomplishment. Over a year ago he purchased the title to Harriet Island, a sandy wooded tract of ten acres, just below the Wabasha Street bridge. He went about getting money by subscription to pay for the work to be done, intending all the time to present the city with the island for park and bathing purposes. About $3,000 was raised by subscription, but the doctor was anxious to see the work completed.

One of the conditions of the gift to the city was that no alcoholic liquors or cigarettes would be brought to, used, sold or given to others on the island. Another condition is that the establishment will remain at all times under the direct supervision of the municipal department of health, the superintendent having full police power, his idea being that in this manner the baths will be kept in the finest sanitary condition.



Harriet Island Public Baths2


The Saint Paul Globe; “Public Baths Are Opened. Harriet Island Is Formally Dedicated to the City of St. Paul. For the Free Bath Project. Mayor Kiefer and Gov. Lind Participate in the Formal Exercises of the Occasion.”; May 27, 1900; p. 1.


*Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness at a time when most people did not have access to private bathing facilities.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_bathing

1
http://fr.b5z.net/i/u/10228756/i/WEB_-_1911_-_harriet_island_and_downtown_400.jpg

2http://imgs.inkfrog.com/pix/wildman55/Free_Public_Baths_a.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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
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Thursday, May 25, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 25

May 25, 1960 – Minnesota Senator Amy Klobacher was born on this date in Plymouth, Minn.

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





Senator Amy Klobacher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amy_Klobuchar.jpg


Happy Birthday, Amy!

               __________________________________________________________

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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
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Wednesday, May 24, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 24

May 24, 2006 – The Honeycrisp apple, “an apple cultivar developed at the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station's Horticultural Research Center at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities,”1 was adopted by the Legislature on this date as Minnesota’s State Fruit.2

1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeycrisp

2
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hinfo/newlawsart2006-0.asp?yearid=2006&storyid=381




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Honeycrisp-Apple.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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Tuesday, May 23, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 23

May 23, 1917 – J. A. Wessel, U. S. Marshal for the Minnesota district announced today that all un-naturalized Germans must have a government permit to reside within half a mile of state armories and packing plants and factories that furnish products for army and navy purposes.

Such alien enemies living in forbidden localities without permission are subject to arrest unless they remove before June 1.

The order originated in Washington, and President Wilson’s proclamation barring aliens from a half-mile zone around fortifications, military and naval posts and munitions plants was intended to embrace these additional precautions as well.

Many permits for residence in the prohibited districts have been received, Wessel says, but the government’s action in all such cases is withheld.

Permits cannot be granted, says Wessel, until aliens offer satisfactory proof that residence in or passage through the forbidden areas will not be dangerous to the community or the U.S.

St. Paul Daily News; “German Aliens Ordered to Move. More Districts Are Closed to Unnaturalized Persons by U.S. Marshal.”; May 23, 1917; p. 1.




http://mtwsfh.blogspot.com/2008/06/1917-1918-great-wars-wrap-and-now-we.html

               __________________________________________________________

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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Monday, May 22, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 22

May 22, 2012 – The NBA announced that Minnesota Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio was named to the 2011-12 NBA All-Rookie First Team. “Rubio, the Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in December/January, appeared in 41 games during an injury-shortened debut season, averaging 10.6 points, a rookie-best 8.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds. He also led rookies with 2.2 steals.”

http://www.nba.com/2012/news/05/22/all-rookie-team-release/index.html




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

               __________________________________________________________

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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

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Sunday, May 21, 2017

On This Date in Minnesota History: May 21

May 21, 1839 - Donald McDonald receives the first steamboat shipment of cargo to the settlement that would become St. Paul. Six barrels of whiskey are delivered to McDonald's shop, the "Half-Way House," in Fountain Cave.

http://www.mnopedia.org/thisday



https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFIBbBdY87WboFt7XdBuYv0zA4jefPOA1RzRGy8UjmaWLPjGQNuqmnk9yRLXqGdhxV-sPYCW76cxcMLcJ75ckFc1mzs9K2sOlnifQ-ExukXApNt7kDn2MBjmppdPF9xuE03JztfAC8tw/s1600/100_0285.jpg    

“Fountain Cave, a landmark known as early as 1811, was named for the sparkling creek that flowed from its mouth and continued some 375 feet through a ravine to join the Mississippi River about 140 feet downstream from this marker. The cave attracted such noted explorers as Stephen H. Long in 1817, Henry R. Schoolcraft in 1820, and Joseph N. Nicollet in 1837 – all of whom described it in their journals.

“Before the land east of the Mississippi was opened to settlement, Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant, a vagrant voyageur who sold whiskey illegally to soldiers ad Indians, in 1837 staked a claim where the ravine met the river. Here in 1838 he built a saloon – a small hovel that was the first building on the site of what is now St. Paul. He was followed during that year by several refugee settlers who had been ousted from the Fort Snelling military reservation.

“For many decades tourist visited Fountain Cave to view its pure white sandstone walls and mysterious interior chambers. Through the years debris accumulated to block its entrance. Construction of a highway [Shephard Road1] in the early 1960’s made it necessary to fill in most of the ravine, so that there is now no visible indication of where the cave is located.”


1https://www.minnesotafunfacts.com/st-paul-history/pierre-pigs-eye-parrant-one-of-the-first-st-paul-settlers/




Fountain Cave

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Fountain_cave%2C_St._Paul%2C_by_Union_View_Co..png 

               __________________________________________________________

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 MNHS records. Both short searches and family history reports available.

                                                         


Discover your roots, and watch the branches of your family tree begin to grow.


Website:  TheMemoryQuilt.com > click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com