Saturday, October 13, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 13

October 13, 1899 – “President McKinley visited Duluth and gave a speech in front of Central High School. He was the first President to visit Duluth while in office.”  

http://www.thehistorypeople.com/data/docs/timeline-part1.pdf



President William McKinley

http://www.peoplequiz.com/quizzes-3224-William_McKinley_25th_U.S._President.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

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com






Friday, October 12, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 12

October 12, 1918 – One hundred years ago today, “the Moose Lake-Cloquet fire of October 12 and 13, entirely burned the city of Cloquet, reached the edges of Duluth, took 453 lives, millions in property, and 106 people died afterward of influenza and pneumonia.”

http://www.thehistorypeople.com/data/docs/timeline-part2.pdf

According to the book, “They Chose Minnesota,” published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, perhaps as many as 80% of those who died in this fire were Finns.


Carlton County Vidette; Oct. 18, 1918; p. 1.  Duluth News Tribune; Oct. 14, 1918; p. 1. Duluth News Tribune; Oct. 13, 1918; p. 1.



The Cloquet/Moose Lake Fire – October 12, 1918 – Part II http://pjefamilyresearch.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-cloquetmoose-lake-fire-october-12_12.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

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com





Thursday, October 11, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 11


October 11, 1918 – All schools, theaters, churches, lodge meetings, dances and in fact, all public gatherings indoors are prohibited in Duluth until the epidemic of Spanish influenza in the city has subsided, was the order issued by the city health department this morning, with the order taking effect immediately.

The only exception to the order will be made in the case of Red Cross workers who are charged in emergency work in combating the spread of the epidemic by making masks to be used in caring for patients. Special ventilation of the rooms will be insisted upon and all visitors will be excluded.
*


City commissioners also passed an emergency ordinance giving the police powers to enforce the order at once. The police department notified the stations at West Duluth, the steel plant and New Duluth and ordered officers to enforce the order immediately. Officers will be stationed at necessary points to see that the order is obeyed and, if necessary, drastic steps will be taken against violators. The order does not cover outdoor sports.

Every precaution will be taken by the health department and officials to prevent any further spread of the epidemic. Theaters were notified this noon of the order and immediately closed their doors. Pastors of the different city churches on receipt of the order canceled the services for Sunday. Street car officials have agreed to the suggestion that all car windows be open except in the case of rain. If necessary, fires in the cars will be started earlier.

There is no cause for alarm as the epidemic has not reached serious proportions so far and every precaution is being taken to control its spread, according to Commissioner of Public Safety R. Silberstein, this morning.

“We have the situation well in hand and there is no cause for alarm,” Silberstein said.

“All the cases in Duluth originated from outside points and spreading the disease. Every case is being watched carefully and the same quarantine measures are being taken as are used in diphtheria, scarlet fever and such contagious diseases. The public should not be alarmed as we are only doing what other cities are doing, except possibly, we are taking the situation in hand a little earlier than the others than the others have and before the situation becomes serious.”

Superior, Wis., also ordered that all places of public assemblage be closed this afternoon for an indefinite period as a precautionary measure against Spanish influenza, although there are but four or five cases in that city.

The Duluth Herald; “Public Gatherings in Duluth Are Forbidden. All Schools, Theaters and Churches Are to Be Closed. Decision Believed Necessary to Prevent Spread of Spanish Influenza. Action Taken After Discussion By Red Cross and City Officials. Red Cross Workers May Meet and Outdoor Sports Are Permitted.”; Oct. 11, 1918; pp. 1 & 7.

The Duluth Herald; “Superior Places Ordered Closed”; Oct. 11, 1918; p. 7.

*
http://www.squidoo.com/spanish-flu
               __________________________________________________________

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



Wednesday, October 10, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota: October 10

October 10, 2012 – Little Falls, Minn. native and University of Minn. Duluth graduate Brian Kobilka won the 2012 the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on this date with his colleague and fellow American, Robert Lefkowitz. Their studies show how “cells in the body respond to flavors, hormones and other signals. Their work is key to developing better medicines.”

StarTribune; “Little Falls bakery helps deliver a sweet reward: Nobel Prize”; Minneapolis, Minn.; October 11, 2012; pp. 1A & 8A.



Robert J. Lefkowitz (left) and Brian K. Kobilka (right)


http://www.insidescience.org/?q=content/2-americans-share-nobel-prize-biochemical-discoveries/806
               __________________________________________________________

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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Tuesday, October 9, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 9



October 9, 1933
- On this date, “William H. Jensen, an amateur archaeologist, uncovered the badly broken skeleton of a man in a gravel pit on the plateau visible about ½ mile south of this marker. The plateau was formed as an island in the ancient River Warren, an outlet of Glacial Lake Agassiz [in Traverse County, Minn.].

From flint spear points of the parallel-flaked type found in the grave and from the surrounding geological evidence, University of Minnesota archaeologists estimated that the burial dated to about 6000 B.C.

Flint Spears
3


 The skull of Browns Valley Man reconstructed and measured at the university was that of a man between 25 and 40 years of age who possessed many of the physical characteristics of the North American Indian. No additional traces of his culture have been discovered in the immediate vicinity.


The skeleton disappeared sometime after it was returned to Jensen, deepening the mystery surrounding the Browns Valley Man. It was rediscovered by the Jensen family in 1987. The radiocarbon dating has now dated the skeleton to 9000 years ago. This makes the skeleton one of the earliest ever found, to date, in the New World.”1 

“Browns Valley Man has been reburied according to NAGPRA regulations.”
1http://img.groundspeak.com/waymarking/3746355c-1dad-460e-b4bf-9d8fd1ad13cf.jpg

2http://www.examiner.com/article/browns-valley-man-the-oldest-human-remains-found-minnesota

3http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/16/v16i01p001-021.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







Monday, October 8, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 8

October 8, 1909 – A search party saved the lives of Thorwald F. Beherns, age 23, and Joseph Symington, age 30, of Duluth today.

They were out duck hunting on a small lake near McGregor, and were marooned on a floating bog, where starvation confronted them on one hand and death by drowning on the other, for they were three days without food and they could not swim. The men went duck hunting last Sunday and were to return to Duluth Monday morning.

They failed to return and sent no word. Two search parties went from Duluth today to look for the missing men, and one party found them on the floating bog.

The bog was against the bank of the lake and offered secure enough footing when they went on it, thinking it would be a good place to wait for duck flights. Before they were aware of it, the bog had floated away from the land.



Example of a small floating bog1

Unable to swim and with no food, except a sandwich or two for lunch, assistance from the shore was necessary or they would perish.

The men were utterly exhausted and had to be helped into the boat that brought them back to shore.

The Minneapolis Tribune; “Marooned Duck Hunters Narrowly Esape Death. Two Duluth men Stranded on a Floating Bog Three Days Without Food. Couldn’t Swim and Were in an Exhausted State When Rescued.”; Oct. 9, 1909; p. 1.

1http://www.paynesvillearea.com/news/headlinesarticles/archives/061803/art/pushingbog.jpg


http://www.lakesnwoods.com/images/McGreg1.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:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com






Sunday, October 7, 2018

On This Date in Minnesota History: October 7

October 7, 1987 – The Homer Hanky’s public debut on this date almost didn’t happen. The Star Tribune promotions department came up with the Homer Hanky idea to promote the Twins during the ALCS playoffs against the Detroit Tigers, while also increasing circulation of the paper. Terrie Robbins “proposed to produce an initial 200,000 hankies for the first days [of] the playoffs at a cost of $100,000. For that money she promised a big circulation boost and an eventual break-even. The circulation boost would come because after an initial give-away of 60,000 hankies, the only way to get a Homer Hanky was with a coupon in the paper.”2

Terrie had received prior permission from Twins, but they’d apparently assumed she’d never get permission from her managers. When she returned for a second meeting, the “Twins and Major League baseball [attempted] to kill the Homer Hanky. Twins officials were convinced they were going to be the ‘laughing stock of baseball.’ They even threatened that the white hankies were going to distract hitters and force the umpires to cancel the games and the playoff series. She says they angrily charged such a cancellation would be Terrie’s fault.

When Terrie’s volunteer army of employees started to hand out the hankies before the first game, Twins officials tried to stop her. Terrie credits [Star Tribune Publisher Roger Parkinson] with being ‘fearless’ by ordering her to go ahead. Terrie’s crew handed out the 60,000 hankies and that was that–until an early Gary Gaetti home run, [when the Metrodome was suddenly awash in white as the crowd began waving their Homer Hankies].”2

What happened next is the dream of every marketing/promotions department.  The Star Tribune “had to take the coupons out of the paper so [their] success didn’t break [them]. Terrie started charging a buck a hankie. First, she put a limit of 10 per customer, then the limit went to five and finally to two. The paper had incredible difficulty keeping up with demand. The lines were blocks long and some people waited six hours for a new delivery. The hankies were delivered in unmarked vehicles and they were stored overnight in the same safe where [the newspaper] kept paychecks. An incredible 3.3 million hankies were distributed in 1987 and another 1.9 million were distributed in 1991, according to Terrie.”2

The “Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in [this] opening game of the ALCS” playoffs.1  

1http://twinstrivia.com/today-in-twins-history/
2http://cronkite.asu.edu/mcguireblog/?p=201



My 1987 Homer Hanky



 Photo taken by Pamela J. Erickson. Released into the public domain 10/7/12,
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