On This Date in Minnesota History: June 16

June 16, 1962 – “The $100,000 restaurant The Sky Room opened [on this date] by Mr. & Mrs. Jerome J. LaPlante at 1144 Mesaba Avenue [in Duluth]. The decor was based upon a panoramic view of the Duluth harbor, sky and stars with a seating capacity of 160. It was sold and bought and sold and evolved, but was always a restaurant. Finally, it was called the Buena Vista Restaurant and Motel, but was sold for its site - meaning its view. Construction of condominiums was underway in 2005.”

http://www.thehistorypeople.com/data/docs/timeline-part3.pdf

The Sky Room

 

http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2016/05/03/sky-room-restaurant-
adjoining-the-buena-vista-motel/

               __________________________________________________________

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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On This Date in Minnesota History: June 15

June 15, 1922 - A bolt of lightning that struck a raft at the Chisago City summer camp of the Minneapolis Y.M.C.A during this evening’s storm killed Raymond F. Thomas, 30 years old, swimming instructor at the Central Y.M.C.A.

Claude Neavies and George Anderson, two other secretaries from the Minneapolis Y.M.C.A., who were also standing on the raft, were hurled into the water by the bolt, but were uninjured. They hurried to Thomas’ aid, but found him dead.

Thomas had gone to the Chisago City camp early today with three other secretaries, Neavies, Anderson and Ben Chapman, to prepare the camp for its opening next week. Chapman was on the shore and the other three men were standing on the raft, erecting a diving tower, when the storm broke.

The lightning bolt, one of the storm’s first manifestations, struck first in the water near the raft, then hit the raft.

Physicians with a pulmotor were summoned from Chisago City, but reported Thomas was beyond help. The body was taken to Chisago City this evening.

Thomas is a graduate of East High School, and was a student in the medical college of the University of Minnesota at the time of his death. He was a member of the medical corps during the war, and was declared to be the first American soldier to reach German soil. He was cited by his own and the French governments for conspicuous bravery.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Lightning Kills ‘Y’ Instructor at Chisago City. R. F. Thomas, Swimming Teacher, Loses Life at Summer Camps. One Other Man Dies, One Overcome, Two Hurt During Storm. “; June 16, 1911; p. 1.

https://www.ci.chisago.mn.us/play

               __________________________________________________________

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

On This Date in Minnesota History: June 14

June 14, 1913 – A woman was granted a license to operate an automobile for the first time in the history of Minnesota this afternoon. She was Rae L. Mueller, Minneapolis, and she passed with flying colors. Her percentage was 90.

W. O. Larson of the Minnesota State Board of Automobile Examiners was busy at his desk this morning when a young woman stepped up. “Is this the place that one must apply for a chauffeur’s license?” she asked.

“It is,” said Larson. “Is it for your brother? He’ll have to apply in person.”

“It’s not for my brother, but it is for me,” replied Miss Mueller.

1913 Minnesota Chauffeur’s license1

Miss Mueller had driven an automobile for several years for her own pleasure, but now desires to enter the employ of a local automobile livery.

Minnesota did not require personal driver’s licenses until 1933.²


The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “Chauffeur Permit to Girl. Miss Rae L. Mueller Becomes State’s First Licensed Driver.”; June 15, 1913; p. 1.

¹http://www.chauffeurbadges.com/33.html

²https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ohim/summary95/dl230.pdf

               __________________________________________________________

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

On This Date in Minnesota History: June 13

June 13, 1933 – Alice Elizabeth Doherty, “The Minnesota Woolly Girl,” died on this date at age 46 in Dallas, Tex. She was born in Minneapolis in 1887 and is the only known person born with hypertrichosis lanuginosa in the United States.

Alice in her teenage years.¹

Alice was born with two-inch long blonde hair all over her body.¹

Her parents took advantage of her unusual looks and started exhibiting her as a sideshow attraction from as early as two years old.

A portrait of young Alice.²

Alice and family were able to make a decent living, but she did not care for the sideshow life, and retired in Dallas in 1915.


My heart breaks for this poor girl and woman!

1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Elizabeth_Doherty

http://today-trivia-puzzles-sudoku.com/trivia/june-13

2https://www.thehumanmarvels.com/alice-doherty-the-minnesota-woolly-girl/

               __________________________________________________________

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

On This Date in Minnesota History: June 12

June 12, 1963 – The oldest Minneapolis skyway still in use opened on this date. Crossing Seventh St., it connects the Northstar Center with the Roanoke Building.

https://www.minnpost.com/minnesota-history/2013/07/minneapolis-oldest-skyway-still-use-turns-50

Photos taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain June 12, 2018,

 as long as acknowledgement included.

               __________________________________________________________

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 

On This Date in Minnesota History: June 11

June 11, 1920 – The decision of Judge A. B. Childress, in which he held that Judge J. F. Martin of Dodge County Probate Court, could not collect compensation during the period while he was suspended from office by Gov. J. A. A. Burnquist, was affirmed by the Minnesota Supreme Court today.

Judge Childress filed an order in the District Court of Dodge County in which he held that Judge Martin was not entitled to collect salary from Feb. 29, 1918 to Dec. 1918.

1

Judge Martin was accused of publicly stating that the war was all wrong and that the president was insincere, and of otherwise being disloyal and discouraging enlistments.

He was suspended from office by Gov. Burnquist Feb. 20, 1918, on the grounds of malfeasance in office because he was found guilty by the governor of being disloyal to the government during the World War. The Supreme Court reversed the order of the governor and held that the conduct of Judge Martin did not amount to malfeasance in office.

During the investigation by the governor and the trial in in the Supreme Court, Judge J. M. F. Cooper of Mantorville held the office as an appointee of the governor and drew the salary from Feb. 20, 1918 to Dec. 1918.

The Daily People’s Press; “Supreme Court Affirms Order of Childress. Decision Made by Him in Martin Case Will Stand. Was Filed in Dodge County. Suspended Official Not Entitled to Salary While Out of Office.”; Owatonna, Minn.; June 12, 1920; p. 6.

International Falls Press and Border Budget; “Governor Suspends Dodge County Judge”; Feb. 29, 1918; p. 8.

¹The Mantorville Express; Oct. 6, 1916; p. 1.

               __________________________________________________________

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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On This Date in Minnesota History: June 10

June 10, 1914 – A windstorm accompanied by heavy rain raged in Pipestone this afternoon lasting one hour and 15 minutes, and doing considerable damage. Two Indian boys were killed at the school one mile north of the town: Frank Shran, age 12, had an arm broken in two places and several ribs broken, Quincy Shambo, age 9, a fractured skull. Another student, B. Smith, 12, received various minor injuries.

Boy’s Dormitory at Pipestone Indian School¹

They started from the barn to the dormitory during the storm, but could not make it, being blown against a fence, where later they were found under the timbers of the barn roof, which was blown about 50 feet from the barn. The barn itself was a total wreck.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; “2 Killed in Southern Minnesota. Boys at School Are Blown Against Fence.”; June 11, 1914; p. 1.

The Duluth Herald; “Indian Students Victims of Storm.”; June 11, 1914; p. 5.

¹http://www.mnopedia.org/multimedia/boys-dormitory-united-states-indian-school-pipestone

               __________________________________________________________

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