Kid Cann: The Kingpin of Minneapolis

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

September 8th, 1900, Râmnicu Sărat, Romania. Eva Blumenfeld and her husband Phillip welcome their first born, Isadore, into the world. Two years later, the young family packed their bags and set sail for America. Eventually landing in Duluth, the Blumenfelds settled in North Minneapolis in 1902, and the rest is history.

Isadore Blumenfeld a.k.a. Kid CannGrowing up in Cedar Riverside and Near North, Isadore and his family bounced from house to house as his parents tried to make ends meet. At fifteen, Isadore dropped out of school for the last time and picked up a gig as a paper boy on Newspaper Row in Minneapolis in order to help his parents financially support his two younger brothers. After using his charm, wit, and persistence, he rose the ranks and eventually acquired the paper routes that went through the wealthier areas of town.

The older he grew, the bolder he became with his moneymaking schemes. The first time he was arrested came in 1920, at nineteen-years-old, for being in a “disorderly house,” probably for partying too loud. One month later, he was caught pickpocketing outside of the Armory during a Norwegian church event. Three years later, some of Isadore’s acquaintances were involved in a deadly bank robbery in St. Paul. When the police tracked down the getaway car, they found it parked in front of a familiar house. The only two people inside were not directly involved with the robbery and murder, but because of an already notorious reputation, Isadore and his friend James Pierce were arrested. Isadore was eventually acquitted, but when the police booked him, he gave them the name “Harry Bloom” one of his many aliases.

In April of 1924, Isadore Blumenfeld was once again making headlines when he shot and paralyzed Charles Goldberg in front of the Vienna Café on Nicollet Avenue. As the story goes, Isadore, his friend Robert Royan, and a cab driver Abe Percansky were arguing over a woman. Punches started being thrown and a crowd quickly grew. The cab driver pulled out a gun since he was outnumbered, and Isadore immediately took it from him. In the midst of the scuffle he shot Charles Goldberg, a bystander who was trying to break up the fight. The bullet severed Charles’ spine, and he was paralyzed from the chest down. While giving his statement to the police at the hospital, he said he was only trying to calm everyone down and that it was all an accident. After slipping into a coma, Charles succumbed to his injuries nine days later.

Isadore admitted to the shooting, but he had a friend in the legal world. Growing up in the same area of North Minneapolis as Isadore and other eventual gangsters, Floyd B. Olson was in the middle of his second term as Hennepin County Attorney. The murder was ruled an accident and Isadore did not have to serve any time.

At some point during his late teens and early twenties, Isadore earned the nickname Kid Cann. He claims he earned it in the boxing ring, but other say it was because he could always be found sitting on the can when crimes and murders he was associated with took place. He adamantly denied that explanation, so that means it was probably true, right?

Kid Cann and his bothers ventured into the bootlegging business in the 1920s. Supplied with whiskey from Canada, rum from Louisiana, and moonshine from stills in Stearns County and in a forest near Fort Snelling, Kid Cann became the king of liquor in the Twin Cities and upper Midwest. Doc Ames, a former four-time mayor of Minneapolis, can be partially credited with Kid Cann’s success. When he was in office during the turn of the 20th century, he fired over half of the police force, appointed his own brother as chief of police, hired an infamous gambler to be the new chief of detectives, and replaced the fired officers with criminals and gangsters. Operating in a city where politicians and the police force backed his business, Kid Cann would frequently supply Al Capone’s Chicago Outfit with illegal booze. Once prohibition ended in December of 1933, Kid Cann and his brothers bribed and conned their way through city hall once again and became extremely influential with distributing liquor licenses in Minneapolis.

During the peak of the Gangster Era in the United States, the Twin Cities was full of corruption and crime. St. Paul’s long line of crooked police chiefs meant St. Paul was a sanctuary for gangs, such as the Barker-Karpis Gang, and Minneapolis was being run by Kid Cann. Fortunately, this meant that not too many gangs wanted to step on Cann’s toes and mess with his territory.

Kid Cann pushed his luck in other states as well. He was caught transporting Cuban rum in Louisiana, but never showed up to his court date and charges were dropped. Two years later in 1933, he was charged with laundering the $200,000 ransom ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly received from kidnapping an oil business owner. The federal government traced the money to Hennepin State Bank in Minneapolis, took him in for questioning, and transported him to Oklahoma City where the kidnapping took place to await the trial. Kid Cann used his influence yet again when Minneapolis Police Chief Joseph Lehmeyer traveled down to Oklahoma City to testify in favor of Kid Cann. Cann’s charges were dropped.

1936 photo of Kid Cann and his legal team smiling after he was acquitted of the murder of journalist Walter Liggett.

Headline about that acquittal.

One of Kid Cann’s more infamous crimes was the murder of former New York Times writer and investigative journalist Walter Liggett outside his home in Minneapolis. Liggett was making waves in the Twin Cities journalism scene by exposing crooked cops and politicians, including many articles on the corruption of former Hennepin County Attorney and governor of Minnesota at the time, Floyd B. Olson. As brave it is to call out politicians on obvious corruption, Liggett’s fate was sealed. He was shot five times in the back. As her husband’s murderer drove off, Edith got a glimpse of his face and was convinced it was a smiling Kid Cann. All it took for Kid Cann to be acquitted of all charges was an alibi from his barber. Even though her husband’s killer, whoever it was, was never convicted, she insisted Governor Olson played a roll in the hit.

Kid Cann’s last major Minneapolis crime came in the early 1950s when busses were replacing streetcars. As a holder of 16% of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company and part-owner of Mid-Continent Development & Construction, Kid Cann caused the downfall of one of the best streetcar systems in the nation. Kid Cann and others convinced the company that diesel busses were the up-and-coming, preferred mode of transportation that would usher in a new, successful age for the city. Cables and tracks were uninstalled and sold to two companies for a fraction of their value. One of those companies was Kid Cann’s Mid-Continent Development & Construction. To no one’s surprise, it took many years for the authorities to uncover what he did, and he was acquitted of all charges.

Kid Cann's grave marker

After serving five years of prison time for transporting a prostitute across state lines, he was ordered to never live in Minneapolis again. He did not seem too upset and moved down to Miami and went into business with famous mobster Meyer Lansky. Even though the court ordered him to never live in Minneapolis, he still frequently visited his family and friends multiple times a year. He never made headlines again until his last trip back to Minneapolis in 1981 when he died of heart disease at Mt. Sinai Hospital at the age of eighty. There are many stories and tall tales of Kid Cann, but his life is still a mystery. To put it in his own words, “ninety percent of what was written about me is bull[crap].”

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Bassett’s Creek

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

From Medicine Lake in Plymouth to the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Bassett’s Creek winds its way through our urban landscape. Most of the twelve-mile creek is open to daylight, but once it nears downtown Minneapolis, it enters the underground world.

Long before European-American settlers ventured to the area, Haha Wakpadan, or Little Falls River, was an important feature for local Native Americans. It was full of fish, it attracted many types wildlife for hunting, and a trail ran along its valley from the chain of lakes to the Mississippi. As soon as settlers moved into the area, the health of the creek and its valley almost immediately declined.

The fist settlers would call Haha Wakpadan “the brook,” but in 1852, an English name would be given to it. Two years earlier, Joel Bean Bassett moved to St. Anthony from New Hampshire and began working in the lumber industry. Once he secured land on the other side of the Mississippi, where Haha Wakpadan enters the river, he would start his own farm at that location. He was also Hennepin County’s first probate judge. In 1852, locals began calling the creek “Bassett’s Creek.” During the very early years of St. Anthony and Minneapolis, the creek was mainly used for fishing, swimming, and ice skating.

As the populations of St. Anthony and Minneapolis began rapidly rising, so was the need for more industry. The first major industry in the area was lumber milling, and many mills popped up along the shores of Bassett’s Creek. There is an old saying that Near North Minneapolis would be a different place today if Bassett’s Creek received the same treatment as Minnehaha Creek. However, Minnehaha was roughly two miles from Minneapolis’ city limits when the city began, and Bassett’s Creek was inside the city limits. This meant that industries would immediately take advantage of Bassett’s Creek’s waterpower, whereas Minnehaha was too far from the bulk of the population, so only a handful of mills set up shop on that creek.

With more and more mills being built along Bassett’s Creek, the businesses quickly realized that the swampy valley the creek ran through was not ideal for conducting business. Humans intervened with the natural valley by chopping down trees, bringing in soil to make the valley floor more level, and straightening the creek to make it easier to harness its power. It is hard to imagine, but when I say “valley,” I truly mean “valley.” A headline from the Minneapolis Tribune in 1868 reads “Lady Precipitated from Bassett’s Creek Bridge, a Distance of Thirty Feet.” While the lady met an untimely demise while crossing an old bridge, significant bridges were built across the creek, and in 1871, the Washington Avenue Bridge across the creek was updated into an exceptionally large stone arched bridge.

Inglewood Spring and Ice House on the creek, 1894

All of the industries and the rising population meant that Bassett’s Creek was unfortunately where garbage and waste were dumped. By the 1910s, the valley became a wasteland of broken furniture, old tires, and human waste. In under five decades, the once pristine valley of Haha Wakpadan was transformed into a dreary, dangerous Bassett’s Creek.

1920 photo of a bridge crossing the creek.

As Minneapolis began expanding its paved street system, and new towns were being established near the creek, such as Golden Valley and Plymouth, the rainwater runoff was not able to soak into the ground and trickle into the creek. Instead, the water would drain directly into the creek causing major flooding. In 1913, the flooding was so bad that another Minneapolis Tribune headline deemed the area around Bassett’s Creek “Little Venice.” A more disgusting one at that. After that flood, the city created a plan to divert the creek into underground pipes that would empty into the Mississippi. It took another ten years for the underground system to be completed at a cost of over $280,000, or over $4.2 million after inflation. From Van White Memorial Boulevard to the Mississippi River opposite Boom Island, Bassett’s Creek was now covered.

The expansion of the suburbs caused more flooding around the open-air areas of the creek, so in the 1970s, the Army Corps of Engineers completed a study and suggest the creek be rerouted through new underground tunnels that can handle the larger flow of the creek. Since the completion of the reroute, the creek now empties into the Mississippi below the river level near Mill Ruins Park and the Stone Arch Bridge. The old, original route is still in use and mainly provides relief for the new main route when creek levels are exceptionally high.

Recent photo of the old outlet of the creek. Credit: Mississippi Watershed Management Organization website

Over the years, efforts have been made to daylight portions of the creek in Minneapolis, such as in Sumner Field Park and Heritage Park along Van White Memorial Boulevard, but those “daylit” portions do not connect to the old, original route and are merely holding ponds for rainwater runoff.

The story of Bassett’s Creek should be seen as an example of how destructive and disruptive humans can be to nature. We are fortunate to not have many stories with sad endings like Bassett’s Creek, as it took early Minneapolitans “only” thirty years to realize what Native Americans knew all along. The lakes, streams, forests, and prairies of what is now Minneapolis are worth keeping and respecting, and we have the best park system in the United States that makes it possible for every resident to connect with our beautiful, natural surroundings.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Farview Park

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Today’s story begins in 1883 when the newly established Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board laid down plans for their first three major parks. The downtown communities received Central Park, later renamed as Loring Park, the dense neighborhoods of lower Northeast were happy when Logan Park was created, and the final park was to be located in an area with one of the best views in the city.

Land that was a part of a hill and not suitable for easy development was purchased by the Park Board along Lyndale Avenue North, and the new park would keep the tradition going of early uninspiring park names and be called “Third Ward Park.” Once the park was completed, the name switched to the more appealing “Prospect Park,” two years before the Southeast Minneapolis neighborhood bearing the same name. Horace Cleveland, the mastermind behind the Grand Rounds parkway, initially wanted the parkway to extend north via Lyndale Avenue, ending in this park, at the top of the hill. Those plans never came to fruition, but success and popularity would soon find the park.

Farview Park Lookout Tower - 1910Prospect Park’s first attraction came in 1887 when a toboggan track was installed on the long, slopping hill that continues to be perfect for winter fun. The sledding hill would be the focus of drama in 1906 when Superintendent Theodore Wirth ordered the park police officer who was stationed there to stop the children from sliding down the hill to instead slide with them; a classic “gotcha” moment. In 1889, the most iconic structure of the young park was completed when a castle-like lookout tower was built atop the hill in order to take advantage of the spectacular views of the Mississippi River and the growing downtown. Later that year, tennis courts were added upon the request of the neighborhood. The next year, in 1890, the park once again changed names to fit the location better and perhaps quell confusion with the new neighborhood in Southeast, this time going with “Farview Park.” Not to be confused with the often-used place name “Fairview,” Farview Park was aptly named because its views reached, well, far. That checks out.

1892 marked another important year when it became the first park to have two sewer-connected restrooms. In 1907, the park’s playground received a facelift and later that year, the very first free summer outdoor music concert the Park Bard hosted took place in Farview Park, a tradition that has continued on to today in almost every park and that my band has even participated in. With the addition of sporadic concerts at the park, its neighbors eventually became quite the singers. For seven years, between 1924-27 and 1935-37, Farview Park won the yearly “community sing” trophy. The award, which was retired in the 1950s, was given to the park that sang the best during the summer concerts.

In 1960, the park received $260,000 for improvements and renovations. It brought in better tennis courts and athletic fields, a new shelter, and an updated playground. However, it did see the demolition of the 30-foot tall lookout tower. The recreation center was upgraded in 1992 with the addition of a gymnasium that is still one of the more popular spots to catch a game of pick-up basketball. Nine years later in 2001, Farview once again became home to another “first” when the first computer lab in the park system was installed in the recreation center.

Purple Raindrop sculptureMore recently, in 2012, the Minnesota Twins Community fund, among other non-profit organizations, completely redid the athletic fields and installed a state-of-the-art football and baseball field with artificial turf. In December of 2018, a new sculpture was installed that honors Prince. Purple Raindrop stands fifteen-feet tall and has been a great addition to the park. Looking forward, starting in 2023, the Park Board plans on pumping over $1,000,000 into updating the park once again, this time focusing on areas of the park that haven’t received any TLC during recent renovations.

A view of the skyline from atop the hillAs one of the very first parks in Minneapolis, Farview has been a hub for sports, leisure, and recreation for the communities of near north since its inception, and I look forward to watching the park continue to grow and improve as the years go on. The next time your life’s journey takes you to the Hawthorne Neighborhood, visit Purple Raindrop, watch a game of football, slide down the hill, or soak in the breathtaking view of the Minneapolis Skyline, all in Farview Park.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

The Winslow House

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Luxury and opulence were hard to come by along the riverfront during the early years of St. Anthony and Minneapolis. Even though many immigrants from the East Coast, Canada, and Europe were coming to this area, it was still very rugged. However, that would all soon change when St. Paulite James Winslow entered the hotel business.

As one of the first and most prominent hoteliers in the St. Paul-St. Anthony area, James Winslow had a keen eye for opportunity. After establishing a successful hotel at Seven Corners in St. Paul, also called The Winslow House, he looked to grow his business. Upon completion of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, the first bridge to span the Mississippi River, James Winslow bought a block of land in St. Anthony. Construction of the bigger and better Winslow House Hotel began in the spring of 1856 and was completed a year later in the spring on 1857.

1860 photo of the Winslow House taken from the west bank of the river, with the First Universalist Church, later Our Lady of Lourdes, to the left of the Winslow House.

Designed by architect Robert S. Alden, who also designed the first Hennepin County Courthouse and the Old Main building for the University of Minnesota, the five-story Winslow House was built using Nicollet Island limestone in the Colonial Revival style. It had 260 rooms, featured a ballroom, dining room, bar, billiards room, and bridal chambers, and was adorned with a cupola with a weathervane from Lyon, France of a trumpeting archangel Gabriel, a popular symbol of liberty found throughout America at the time. James Winslow even spent over $60,000, or over $1.5 million today, to furnish his new hotel. The Winslow House rivaled the great hotels of the East Coast and South.

Photo of the building taken in 1870.

Guests of the hotel were predominately from the South. With the help of Father Hennepin’s writings about his travels of the upper Mississippi, word of St. Anthony Falls and its beautiful surroundings made its way to the residents of the lower Mississippi well before Fort Snelling was even thought about. Because of this, southerners could not wait to board a riverboat and make the trek up the Mississippi to St. Paul where they would take horse drawn carriages to St. Anthony. During their stay, guests would frequently visit the chalybeate springs flowing out of bluffs near St. Anthony Falls that would eventually be home to Pettinghill’s Resort.

Guests playing croquetAs a result of the Winslow House’s popularity with southern tourists, abolitionist groups in St. Anthony did all they could to help the enslaved peoples who accompanied the tourists. The most famous of these accounts happened during the summer of 1860 when the Christmas family from the state of Mississippi paid a visit to the Winslow House with their slave, Eliza Winston.

When creating the state constitution in 1857, the writers banned slavery in Minnesota. This would normally dissuade southerners from visiting, but earlier that year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Dred Scott, a former resident of Fort Snelling, which made it illegal for enslaved people to be freed for visiting or living in northern states. Local entrepreneurs and business owners also made it clear that they prioritized money over basic human rights. With the protection of capitalism, barbaric cultural norms, and the ruling of the Dred Scott case, southerners, like Col. Richard Christmas, flocked to the Winslow House.

Later during the summer of 1860, local abolitionists, led by former slave Emily Grey, filed a complaint with the sheriff of Hennepin County. The sheriff found the Christmases and took Eliza Winston to the county courthouse for a ruling. With the streets in front of the courthouse crowded with abolitionists, Judge Charles E. Vanderburgh, also an abolitionist, ruled in favor of Eliza Winston, who was then immediately freed. While this is one of the first cases of Minnesotans showing their kindness and commitment to helping those who are in need, the ruling scared away southern tourists and thus marked the downfall of the Winslow House. The last reservation in the hotel records was made only four months later on November 6th, 1860.

That following May, the furniture was sold, and the hotel was no more. Over the next two decades, the building would serve three more purposes. As the Civil War began, the building housed a “water-cure” business that quickly failed. After being bought by Charles Macalester, the building was rented out to Rev. Edward D. Neill who used it to house the Baldwin School. Charles Macalester would later deed the building to Rev. Neill and the trustees of the school, which later helped them establish Macalester College.

The last use of the old Winslow House building was as a medical facility, the Minnesota College Hospital. The hospital left the building in 1886 and it would soon be razed to make way for the Minneapolis Industrial Exposition Building. The weathervane that once stood atop the cupola was saved and put on top of the Exposition Building’s tower. The same weathervane would make its way into the Hennepin History Museum’s collection in 1946, and in 1999, it became, and still is, the museum’s logo.

Photo of the riverfront taken from on top of the Winslow House when it opened in 1857.

Even though the Winslow House building lasted only thirty years, it made an everlasting imprint on Minneapolis History. As the tallest building in the area, guests enjoyed spectacular views of St. Anthony Falls and the riverfront. The vantage point was so breathtaking that many photographs were also taken from on top of the building. Almost every single photo of Minneapolis taken from the east bank of the river during this time period was taken at the Winslow House, the city’s first taste of luxury.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Madame Boyd: Dressmaker to the Stars

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Madame Boyd, 1915Spring has sprung and we can finally go outside, limitedly, and show off our new spring apparel. If you were a matriarch of the Washburn, Pillsbury or Hill families living during the turn of the twentieth century, this would be the perfect weather to strut around downtown and the many city parks with your new, customized spring dress by Madame Boyd, the dressmaker to the stars of the Twin Cities.

Born in 1847 and growing up in Seneca Falls, NY, Rose Henriette Crelly quickly gained an eye for fashion. Being one of nine children, Rose had plenty of volunteers to humor her as she sewed her way to the top of the fashion industry. At the age of twenty-three, Rose, two sisters, and her parents moved to a farm in Lenawee County, Michigan where she started her dressmaking business. Even though she was on a farm, people with a keen eye for fashion soon took note of her work, and Rose would take her business to Detroit and New York City. Being a dressmaker in New York City was seen as the pinnacle of success for many, but it wasn’t until 1886 when she moved to Minneapolis, the most fashionable city on both sides of the Mississippi, with her husband Alexander Boyd when her business really started taking off.

In an effort to gain respect and appear European, she called her business “Madame Boyd’s” and set up shop at 608 Nicollet Avenue. Madame Boyd and her forty employees were immediately the largest dressmaking company in the state, and they had only just started. Throughout the Twin Cities, dressmaking was not just another business that catered to the wealthy, it provided the second most jobs for women after domestic services. From 1860 to 1890, the number of women employed as dressmakers, seamstresses and milliners in the Twin Cities jumped from 124 to over 5,000. Madame Boyd, and others like Helen Gjertsen and Lina Christianson, sought to give girls and women opportunities to make a living on their own and teach them skills to be able to live independently. Rose always provided food for her employees if they were ever in need.

The Meyers Arcade in 1910, the year Madame Boyd moved her business out of there.

Black satin brocade gownWith the dressmaking industry on the rise and Rose at the top of it, she expanded her operations and moved down the block to a storefront at 928 Nicollet Avenue in the Meyers Arcade Building. It was during this time when her sister Julia Crelly Morse sent her daughter Florence to live with Aunt Rose in Minneapolis. Rose would bring Florence along with her on trips to London and Paris two times a year. Here, both of them would take extensive notes about the current fashion trends and buy the latest fabrics in order to appeal to more clients back home in Minneapolis. Upon their return back to the States, Rose would write to all of the major newspapers in the Twin Cities to tell them about her travels. It was a way to let everyone know who has the best fabrics and designs.

Back home, Florence would run errands for her aunt, go on deliveries, and even learned how to be a seamstress; all after school, of course. As Florence grew older, Rose was always there for her, doing anything she could to help her niece as if she were her own daughter. Along with Florence, Rose also raised two more of her nieces, and routinely sent money back to help her nieces and nephews who continued to live in Michigan and New York.

Pale blue faille and lace dressWith an aunt who made dresses for the builders of the milling and rail industries, Florence was always the most fashionable girl wherever she went. In fact, her appearance and confident demeanor attracted the eye of an up-and-coming entrepreneur in the furniture and funeral home business, Noble Rainville, my great grandfather. Now, Rose was also known to have quite the temper, especially while running her business, but fortunately for me and my dozens and dozens and dozens of cousins, Rose was quite fond of Noble and could not be happier for the young couple. Although, I can only imagine how nervous and intimidated great grandpa Noble was to meet thee Madame Boyd. After Florence and Noble got married, Rose even bought them a house that stayed in the family for generations.

Before this all happened, in 1903, my great great great aunt Madame Boyd purchased a house at 301 South 10th Street from Fred C. Pillsbury. This house would later be sold in 1919 by her husband Alexander to make way for the expansion of The Curtis Hotel. The success of Madame Boyd’s was astounding. She had so many customers that at one point she employed over 100 women to help run her thriving business. Because of this success, she moved her business to her home on 10th Street in 1910, right in the middle of where her wealthiest clientele resided. This way when Rose made house visits to take measurements and discuss materials and patterns, she would only have to walk a few blocks. Think work smarter, not harder.

The Boyd-Rainville memorial and the headstones of Rose and her husband Alexander.

The life of a dressmaker to the stars can take a toll on a person as one would imagine, and on November 24th, 1917, Madame Rose Henrietta Crelly Boyd passed away in her home and workplace that she loved so dearly at the age of seventy after a bout with pneumonia. It is tough to know how much of an impact a person has had while they’re living, but all Madame Boyd had to do was take a stroll through downtown or the many city parks and notice who was wearing her dresses. Madame Boyd was, and still is, a local fashion icon. Her legacy lives on in the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society and Hennepin History Museum where many of her dresses and other garments are located. Examples of these were on display as a part of The Art of High Style: Minnesota Couture 1880–1914 exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of Art that ran from May 16th, 2019 to August 4th, 2019. If you’re interested in her work, when the Earth has healed and institutions open back up, I encourage you all to take a look at the most prestigious lifeworks of Madame Boyd.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Charlotte Ouisconsin Van Cleve: The Pioneer Infant

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

During this time of uncertainty when many are trying their best to help those in need, a story comes to mind about one of the most influential women to call Minnesota home. A story about a lovely lady, travel, war, generosity, and a family who did not let anyone or anything stop them from fighting for what was right.

Starting in 1819, the Fifth Infantry, then stationed in Detroit, was tasked with establishing a military fort where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers met. On July 1st, the Fifth Infantry and their family landed in Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien, Michigan Territory. There, Charlotte Ann Seymour, with her husband Lieutenant Nathan Clark by her side, gave birth to Charlotte Clark. It is believed that Baby Charlotte was the first white person born in what is now Wisconsin.

Horatio Van Cleve Civil War photoDuring the group’s travel up the Mississippi, the soldiers gave Charlotte the middle name “Ouisconsin,” after her birthplace, and the nickname “Pioneer Infant.” A few weeks later, the group reached their destination and started a settlement, Camp Cold Water. From here, soldiers would trek a mile south and construct Fort St. Anthony, later renamed Fort Snelling. In 1823 during her early years, Charlotte saw the first ever steamboat to reach what is now Minnesota. Growing up with a father as a lieutenant, Charlotte also traveled from fort to fort across the Midwest as a child. In 1833, the Clarks resided in Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin Territory where she met her future husband, Lieutenant Horatio Van Cleve. Three years later on March 22nd, 1836, a sixteen-year-old Charlotte married Horatio.

Because of Horatio’s service, the Van Cleves moved around the Midwest again, but in 1856, the couple moved to a farm in Long Prairie, Minnesota Territory. A few years later in 1861, Governor Ramsey ordered Horatio to serve as colonel of the Second Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War. During this time, Horatio lead his men in the battles of Mill Spring, Corinth, and Stones River where he and his horse, Bessie, were wounded, but both recovered. During this time, Horatio was a Brigadier General, and upon completion of the Civil War, he was promoted to Major General. Once he returned back to Minnesota, he was once again promoted to Adjutant General. 

The Van Cleve House

When Horatio was training and away fighting, Charlotte lived at Fort Snelling. Soon after in 1862, the Van Cleves bought a house in St. Anthony from its first owner, William Kimball, a furniture manufacture. In this same year, Charlotte witnessed the first locomotive to operate in Minnesota when it arrived in St. Anthony. For four years, Charlotte and her eight children lived in that house by themselves before Horatio could return from the war. To the children’s surprise, when their father returned, he brought back his horse Bessie who then became Charlotte’s carriage horse.

As her children grew older, she started working towards social justice for women and children. In 1874, she started the Sisterhood of Bethany, an organization that helped women in need, particularly prostitutes and women who were dealing with unwed pregnancies, along with Harriet Walker, Euphoria Overlook, and Abby Mendenhall. In 1876, she also became the first woman to be elected to the Minneapolis Public School Board.

Mrs. Overlook, Charlotte, Mrs. Walker, and Mrs. Mendenhall (in that order), the directors of Bethany Home circa 1880s.

A few years later in 1879 at the age of sixty, Charlotte opened up the Bethany Home, a place where these women could stay, rehabilitate, get back on their feet, and become independent. She had an agreement with Minneapolis where women arrested for prostitution would go to her Bethany Home instead of jail. During her time at the Sisterhood, she raised ten babies, which is saintly considering she had twelve of her own. Seven years after Charlotte’s death, the Sisterhood claimed to have helped over 7,500 women and children leave the sex trade and become outstanding citizens. Charlotte would travel around the city and state giving speeches, raising money, and creating awareness for the situations many women throughout the state had to deal with.

In 1884, because of her nonstop work for women, she became an honorary vice president of the National Woman Suffrage Association. During this time, she also became a prominent writer in Minneapolis. She even wrote an autobiography titled Three Score Years and Ten, Lifelong Memories of Fort Snelling Minnesota, and Other Parts of the West. Many of you might know the name “Van Cleve” from the park in SE Minneapolis with the same name. Originally, that park was named Second Ward Park, but on May 15th, 1893, two years after the passing of Horatio, the Park Board changed the name to Van Cleve Park after the family and their impact on local and national history and society. In 1895, the Charlotte O. Van Cleve school was built on Lowry and Jefferson NE. Also in the 1890s, Charlotte was one of the founding members of the Minneapolis chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, who helped restore the George Washington flagpole on Hennepin and First Street South.

Charlotte Van Cleve on her 80th birthday, 1899

Charlotte’s last “first” came in 1905 when she rode in the first automobile in Minnesota from St. Anthony to Fort Snelling. She passed away in 1907, but her and her husband’s legacies still continue on with Van Cleve Park and their home in SE Minneapolis which is included in the National Register of Historic Places. It is rare when a person is recognized by multiple people and organizations across the county for their hard work and positive impact while they are still living, but Charlotte had such an impact. The History of Hennepin County Minnesota, published in 1881, sums it up best; “There is probably no woman in the State who has done more to lighten the burdens on the shoulders of the poor, the sick, the aged, and the distressed than Mrs. Van Cleve.”

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

A Fort in Paradise: Part III

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Part II of this three-part series looked into how Fort Snelling came to be and its role in the U.S. Civil War and the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862. Established to protect the fur trading in the area, the Fort provided a sense of safety for immigrants who were moving West. As European-American communities started popping up in close proximity to the Fort and throughout the Upper Midwest, the need for Fort Snelling diminished. Once the Civil War started, Governor Ramsey was the first to volunteer troops to President Lincoln in support of the Union. Thousands of troops were trained at the Fort during this time and many played important roles in the battles of First Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg.

The Fort also played a role in the U.S. – Dakota War as over 1,600 Dakota women, children, and elders were forcefully marched along the Minnesota River and put into concentration camps just below the Fort during the winter of 1862-63. Fort Snelling became the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Department of the Dakota in the 1870s, and served during the Spanish-American War in 1898 and the Philippine-American War from 1899 – 1902. From 1882 – 1888, the Fort was home to the famed Twenty-Fifth United States Infantry Regiment, a segregated African American unit, also known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

1919 photo of nurses teaching wounded soldiers crafts.

During WWI, the Fort became a processing and officer training center for thousands of troops. In September of 1918, the Medical Department of the US Army took over the Fort and it acted as a General Hospital. With 1,200 beds available, an all-woman Army Nurse Corps helped many people during the Spanish Flu outbreak, and when that subsided, they helped veterans who returned home after WWI. The nurses also acted as occupational therapists for many of the veterans by playing games with them and teaching them crafts. Once the war was over, Fort Snelling became known as the “country club of the army.” There were swimming pools, a polo team, and many other activities during this time. Thanks to the Civilian Conservation Corps, many of the Fort’s buildings were restored and a reception center was built to aid with the processing of new recruits.

Over 300,000 men and women went through Fort Snelling during WWII. While many of them were sent to different bases for basic training, some training did occur at the Fort, such as training for Military Police and Military Railway Service soldiers. The Fort played a very important role during this war as it was home to the Military Intelligence Service Language School. Here, over 6,000 Japanese Americans were taught the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese languages and cultures in order to aid in interpretation and interrogation, and help intelligence workers.

1944 photo of Japanese translators at the Fort.

Once WWII came to an end, so did the need for Fort Snelling as a military site. It was decommissioned by the War Department on October 14th, 1946. Most of the Fort’s land was taken by various federal agencies, and in 1960, the existing structures of the Fort were listed as National Historic Landmarks. This marked the beginning of its transition into a historic and educational site.

Picture of the inside of Fort Snelling taken in 1972.

For eighteen years, archaeologists meticulously excavated the area of the original fort. At the time, the only original structures that were left were the Round Tower, Commanding Officer’s House, South Battery, and Officers' Quarters. In 1970, the Minnesota Historical Society opened the Fort to the public as a historic site with interpretation of what life was like back when the Fort was active. By the early 1980s, over 500,000 artifacts were uncovered, and two dozen structures, buildings, walls, were reconstructed to make Fort Snelling appear as it did when it was first made in the 1820s. Since then, Historic Fort Snelling has welcomed school groups, tourists, and locals alike and introduced them to the history of one of the most important sites in this land we call Minnesota.

Now is also an important transition time for Historic Fort Snelling. Beginning this spring, a two-year process will begin to transform existing buildings, that are located outside of the Fort’s walls, into a new visitor center with exhibition and event space. Additionally, new landscaping that brings the entire site together will be added, and there will be no story left untold from the many different peoples who have called this land home.

1942 photo of soldier maneuvers on skis at the Fort.

This three-part series is just the tip of the iceberg of the history of Bdote and Fort Snelling, and that’s even an understatement. Dred and Harriet Scott once resided within these walls as enslaved persons, Dakota leaders Little Six and Medicine Bottle were hanged here, and the 99th Infantry Battalion, a group of Norwegian-speaking soldiers, were trained here to fight on skis and snowshoes during WWII. These stories and many more are waiting to be explored. Once the weather warms up and the earth is healthy again, plan a trip to Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote. If you’re lucky, I just might be your guide. 

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs. Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

Soccer in the Twin Cities

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The twenty-fifth season of Major League Soccer has officially begun. Our team, Minnesota United FC, is opening this milestone season on the road for two games, against the Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes, before their home opener at Allianz Field against the New York Red Bulls. While there is a lot of hype and excitement around Minnesota United, the state’s history of professional soccer stems back to 1976 and beyond.

1925 photo of two local soccer clubs facing each otherBefore a professional team called Minnesota home, many immigrant communities started their own clubs dating back to the 1880s. Amateur teams like the Minnehaha Thistles and St. Paul F.C. played across the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest, and every year starting in 1888, they competed for the Shaw Cup, the state’s first prestigious soccer trophy.

In the 1900s, the sport continued to make strides and gain popularity. In 1952, the Minnesota Soccer Association, now the Minnesota Amateur Soccer League, was founded. The next decade saw the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association begin, who is now the host association of the Western Hemisphere’s largest youth soccer tournament at the National Sports Center in Blaine, the USA Cup. If you’re interested in learning more about the beginnings of soccer in Minnesota, check out this article by Brian Quarstad of FiftyFive.One, an online local soccer magazine.

Minnesota Kicks, 1977 

The first professional soccer team in the state came in 1976, the Minnesota Kicks, when the Denver Dynamos moved to Metropolitan Stadium. During their six years in the North American Soccer League, the Kicks made the playoffs every year, and made it to the final of the Soccer Bowl in their first year. They even became the first team to win four straight NASL division titles. When stars like Pelé came to town, the Met was rocking and raucous with 45,000 fans in attendance. People would even go just to tailgate outside of the stadium, a tradition that Minnesota United fans are trying to continue on. Unfortunately, the team ran into financial problems and folded after the 1981 season even though they planned to move into the new Metrodome the next year.

In 1984, Minnesota once again fielded a team in the NASL when the Fort Lauderdale Strikers moved to the Metrodome. This would be the last season of the NASL, and the Minnesota Stickers would move to the Met Center and join the Major Indoor Soccer League for four seasons before folding.

Minneapolis City Soccer Club logo

A couple years later in 1990, the head coach of the St. Paul Academy boys soccer team, Buzz Lagos, rounded up the top amateur players in area and the Minnesota Thunder came to be. In 1994, the Thunder joined the U.S. Interregional Soccer League and a year later, the team turned pro. During this era, the Thunder helped the careers of future US Men’s National Team players, Tony Sanneh and Manny Lagos, the current chief soccer officer and sporting director for Minnesota United. The Thunder would go on to play in the United Soccer League, the second tier on the US soccer pyramid, and created great rivalries that have stuck around to this day against the Montreal Impact, Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps.

The 2005 season was historic for the team. In that year’s iteration of the US Cup, a tournament with competitors from every tier of the US soccer pyramid, the Thunder defeated three MLS teams before getting knocked out of the tournament in the semi-finals by the LA Galaxy. 2009 ended up being their final season, when financial problems once again became the final blow. That season, a ninth grade Michael attended a match against the Puerto Rico Islanders with his teammates and coaches of DeLaSalle High School’s ninth grade soccer team, also known as the Islanders. With the help of the Dark Clouds, the Thunder’s supporter group, we chanted throughout the match “our Islanders are better than yours.” Good times.

Thankfully, a few people decided that professional soccer in Minnesota should stick around, and the year after the Thunder folded, the National Sports Center in Blaine created the NSC Minnesota Stars. The stars would join the second iteration of the NASL, this time a second-tier league, in 2010 with former player and Minnesota soccer legend, Manny Lagos, as their head coach. A year later, the National Sports Center did not meet the financial criteria to be able to continue to own and operate the Stars, so the NASL stepped in and ran the team, which would be known as Minnesota Stars FC. The 2011 season saw the Stars become champions. In 2012, the team would play a few games in the Metrodome, and would eventually make it back to the final. The Stars couldn’t pull off a win this time around, but in attendance was Dr. Bill McGuire who would purchase the team very soon after.

Minnesota United inaugural home opener ticket from 2017Now rebranded as Minnesota United with the state bird, the loon, as a focal point in their marketing, professional soccer in Minnesota was here to stay. By uniting soccer fans from across the Twin Cities and state, Minnesota United grew at a quick pace. Fan favorites Christian Ramirez won the Golden Boot, most goals scored in a season, in 2014 and 2016, and Miguel Ibarra earned the Golden Ball, league MVP award, and a callup to the US Men’s National Team in 2014 after an amazing season.  The success of Minnesota United saw their fanbase grow and new supporter groups popping up to join the Dark Clouds, such as True North Elite.

In 2017, Minnesota United made the jump to Major League Soccer, and are coming off a 2019 season that saw them make the playoffs for the first time and open a brand-new soccer specific stadium, Allianz Field. Because of the stadium’s high quality and the atmosphere the fans and supporter groups have created, Allianz has already hosted men’s and women’s national team matches. If you haven’t been to a Minnesota United match at Allianz Field yet, you won’t be disappointed and are guaranteed to have a blast. If smaller crowds are your thing, but still want to have a fun time, check out Minneapolis City SC, a local team that plays in the National Premier Soccer League, the fourth tier of the US soccer pyramid, with home matches at Augsburg’s Edor Nelson Field. They’re a club that is going above and beyond for the sport in Minneapolis and have developed local talent who have gone on to play professionally in MLS, Canada, and Sweden. 

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

A Fort in Paradise: Part II

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Part I of this three-part series delved into the early history of Bdote, the land where the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers meet. The most important land to many Dakota was left untouched for thousands of years and was considered by many to be the exact spot where the Dakota people came to be, their Garden of Eden, paradise. However, as it is uniformly seen throughout early American history, the westward expansion of the United States meant the continent’s Native populations were forced from their own land. The Dakota were no exception.

During Lieutenant Zebulon Pike’s exploration of the northern Mississippi River in the early 1800s, he negotiated treaties with the Dakota to acquire land for the U.S. Government even though he never had the authority to do so. Once things settled down after the War of 1812 against the British, the U.S. Military began their plans to build a fort at Bdote.

Bdote - Fort Snelling by John Casper Wild - 1844

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Leavenworth lead troops to Bdote in 1819 and settled just up the Mississippi River at Mni Sni, or as they named it, Camp Coldwater, a freshwater spring. Construction of the stone military fort started a year later when Colonel Josiah Snelling arrived, and under his supervision, Fort St. Anthony was completed in 1825. That same year, the U.S. Military renamed the fort to Fort Snelling after the fort’s commander and architect. The first task for the fort and its troops was not to protect incoming pioneers and settlers, but to stop them from going into Dakota and Ojibwe land in order to make sure the fur trade continued unimpeded. A major reason for U.S. westward expansion was to acquire resources and make money, and fur trading was a major moneymaker.

Fort Snelling did its job of protecting the fur trade, and when more forts were being constructed further west and St. Paul, St. Anthony, and Minneapolis were being established, the need for a military fort in the area diminished. In 1858, the same year Minnesota became a state, the fort was closed. A former Fort Snelling sutler, or civilian merchant, and entrepreneur Franklin Steele purchased the fort from the government and intended to establish there the City of Fort Snelling. This vision never came to fruition, but Steele did turn the parade grounds into a pasture for his sheep.

Bdote - Fort Snelling - 1865

Fort Snelling would be reopened in April of 1861 when Governor Alexander Ramsey was the first to offer President Abraham Lincoln troops for the Union’s cause in the Civil War. The fort now served as a training center for Minnesota’s troops in the Civil War, and two years later in 1863, the fort expanded beyond its stone walls. By the time the Civil War ended, almost 25,000 troops passed through Fort Snelling. Two of those 25,000 troops were Rainvilles. My great great great grandfather Edward and his brother Louis were trained at the fort and became a trumpeter and sergeant respectively.

In 1862, Minnesota’s Civil War effort was lessened as the U.S.-Dakota War began. Fort Snelling provided U.S. troops to handle the violence in western Minnesota between settlers and the Dakota. Once that war ended, 392 Dakota men were tried and 303 were sentenced to death. President Lincoln ended up commuting the death sentences of 265 of the men, and in December of 1862 thirty-eight Dakota men became the victims of the largest mass execution in U.S. history in Mankato. The U.S. victory in the U.S.-Dakota War also saw over 1,600 non-combative Dakota interned at a two-acre concentration camp just beneath the bluff from Fort Snelling.

Bdote - Dakota Concentration Camp

Bdote - Mother with children inside the Dakota concentration campThroughout that winter, between 130 and 300 Dakota died from the cold conditions and disease. Of the 1,600+ Dakota at the camp, twenty-nine of them were Renvilles; direct descendants of Joseph Renville, my first cousin nine times removed, who was a translator for the Dakota and Zebulon Pike treaty discussions on that very land only fifty-seven years before. Never did Joseph Renville imagine his family would be interned at Bdote, and never did Edward and Louis Rainville imagine that twenty-nine of their second cousins would be interned at a fort where they were trained and stationed.

Fort Snelling, a fort that protected the fur trade between Native Americans and the United States, a fort that occupies one of the most sacred places to many Dakota, became a focal point for the darkest period in Dakota history. Once the Civil War ended, Fort Snelling became the headquarters of the U.S. military’s Department of the Dakota and provided supplies for the campaigns against Native Americans in the west. It is important to remember this grim chapter in Fort Snelling and Twin Cities history, as ignoring it would do us more harm than good. Knowing the atrocious behavior Minnesota and United States officials displayed towards the Dakota and many more nations, and understanding everyone’s story, will hopefully help the many peoples of the Twin Cities work together, learn from each other, and continue to build up this welcoming community that we all call home.

Fort Snelling’s history did not stop in the late 1800s. Stay tuned for Part III where I look into the fort’s involvement in both World Wars, and the Minnesota Historical Society’s continuous role in educating everyone from school groups to tourists at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.Michael is also a historic interpreter and guide at Historic Fort Snelling at Bdote and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net. Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

A Fort in Paradise: Part I

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Fort Snelling and the surrounding land it sits on are home to some of the most important moments in our history. The beginning of cities, states, and a nation started in this small, yet vital area. The historic fort and state park are going through a transformation over the course of the next few years; transitioning from informing visitors about the importance of the fort itself to telling the many stories of not only the soldiers, veterans, and their families, but also enslaved and free African Americans, Japanese Americans and their roll in WWII, and Native Americans, whose land we occupy. With the coming changes, there is no doubt that Historic Fort Snelling will continue to educate the public on the very diverse history of that land.

1848 paintings by Seth Eastman, "The St. Peters River near its Confluence with the Mississippi"

"Pilots Knob. Mouth of the St. Peters River" by Seth Eastman - 1846-48

For over 12,000 years, Native Americans have traversed the waterways of the Upper Midwest and have called this vast area home; where the forest ends, and the prairie begins. The confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers was, and still is, the most important spot in the world to the Dakota people. According to their oral traditions, this is the very site where life began for them. Known as Bdote, or “where two waters come together,” many Dakota believe that spirits came down from the Spirit Road, Caŋku Wanaġi, also known as the Milky Way, and when they arrived on Earth, the Creator shaped the first people from the clay of Maka Ina, “Mother Earth.” These people were the Oceti Ṡakowiŋ, or Seven Council Fires, historically known at the Sioux.

Carver's Cave, 1913

The Mdewakanton Dakota consider this area to be their “Garden of Eden.” The center of the world is not the only sacred place located in the surrounding area. The village of Kaposia, Taku Wakan Tipi, or Carver's Cave, Mni Sni, or Coldwater Spring, and Oheyawahi, or Pilot Knob are all located within a mile or so from Bdote. Thousands of years of building a culture and community with Bdote as their paradise, the origin of their people, would be briefly disrupted as colonizers in the east were slowly encroaching.

Portrait of Lieutenant Zebulon Pike, 1810French Canadian fur traders frequented these waterways starting in the 1600s, but it wasn’t until 1805 when the course of Dakota history would change forever. In the summer of 1805, Lieutenant Zebulon Pike was ordered to locate the source of the Mississippi River, explore the northern portion of the newly created Louisiana Territory, and expel Canadian fur traders who were illegally conducting business within the borders of the United States. On August 9th, he began his journey up the Mississippi from St. Louis. His first major stop was in Prairie du Chien, now in Wisconsin, where he was joined by guides who were familiar with the upper Mississippi and a half-French Canadian half-Mdewakanton Dakota translator, Joseph Renville, my first cousin, nine times removed.

Almost a month later on September 21st, Pike and his crew arrived at Bdote. Unfortunately, without permission, he negotiated a treaty that would hand over land at the mouth of the St. Croix River, the land around Bdote, and land up the Mississippi to St. Anthony Falls, Owamni. In total, the treaty gave the United States over 150,000 acres of Dakota land. Only two of the seven Dakota leaders present signed the treaty. It took Washington DC another three years to finally address Pike’s unapproved treaty discussions. With no Dakota representatives present, the Senate agreed to give the Dakota $2,000, or over $31,500 after inflation, even though Pike initially valued the land to be worth $200,000, or over $3,150,000 after inflation. In other words, the Senate agreed to give the Dakota $3,118,500 less than what was agreed upon when they signed the treaty.

Even though the U.S. Senate knew the treaty was invalid, because Pike never had permission to negotiate, they continued to act as though it was a legally binding document and set plans in motion to go forward with putting a military fort somewhere on that land. The need for a fort in this area was immediate. The United States was struggling to keep British Canadian fur traders off U.S.-claimed soil as the nation was trying to expand to the west, but the lack of military forts in the northern frontier made that task almost impossible.

The British claimed land in what is now northern Minnesota, and tensions were rising between the Dakota and Ojibwe because of the pressures the westward expansion of the U.S. was putting on them, so many Native Americans joined the British cause during the War of 1812. This meant that building a fort on the Pike-negotiated land was put on the back burner until the U.S. and British could come to an agreement on their shared border. Bdote, a beautiful land, a sacred land, a land that is the center of the world for the Dakota, will be untouched for the time being, but the arrival of soldiers and settlers is imminent.

Stay tuned for Part II of the story!

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

It Takes A Village to Raise A City

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Throughout the first half of the United States’ history, moving west was a dream for many. Mormons sought their own theocratic state, outlaws were on the hunt for their next heist, and pioneers journeyed with wagon trains to untamed lands. In the early 1800s, Fort Snelling was one of the few outposts in this neck of the woods for the vast, unlawful territories west of the Mississippi. The safety of Fort Snelling attracted pioneers and settlers to the area, and small communities began popping up, like Mendota and Pig’s Eye. As the years rolled on, people started venturing further from the Fort with many congregating on the east side of St. Anthony Falls.

Village of St. Anthony - 1857

The few people who decided to set up shop in this area in the 1840s made their living by operating or working in mills. With the help of an investment in milling by a civilian shopkeeper at Fort Snelling, Franklin Steele, the Village of St. Anthony was officially incorporated in 1849, the same year Minnesota became a territory. Back then, the east bank of the Mississippi was a part of Ramsey County. Remnants of this bygone era can still be seen today in Chute’s Square where the oldest house in Minneapolis lies, the Ard Godfrey House.

One of the first orders of business the Minnesota Territory legislature did was decide where important territorial institutions would be established. St. Paul received the capital, Stillwater was given the territorial prison, and St. Anthony was awarded the university. In fact, the university’s original location was present-day Chute’s Square. Equipped with a young university and a rising milling industry, St. Anthony also became a resort town. The Winslow House provided a luxurious place to stay for those visiting during the summer months, mainly from the south, and during the day, visitors would spend their time at places like Pettingill’s Resort along the river.

The painting "St. Anthony" by Ferdinand Richardt

St. Anthony also played an important role in the trading business. The Red River ox cart trails provided safe traveling between St. Paul and Winnipeg, Canada. Once riverboats unloaded their supplies and goods onto ox carts in St. Paul, their nearly 600-mile journey north began. Depending which way you were traveling, St. Anthony was either the last major city for hundreds of miles or the first sign of civilization after a tiring trek. The ox carts would roll along the riverfront through St. Anthony, which spurred the development of many businesses along this part of the route. Years later, the village would give that route the name Main Street.

Even though St. Anthony Falls and the rapidly developing milling industry were key in securing prosperity for the Village of St. Anthony, and a few years later Minneapolis, the success of the two villages quickly plateaued. In order to build off this early success, Franklin Steele and John Stevens built the first bridge to span the Mississippi River and connect St. Anthony to Minneapolis in 1855. Not only did it make travel between the two villages a lot quicker and safer, it meant that both of their economies could continue to grow and prosper.

The Steamboat Enterprise being portaged around St. Anthony Falls along Main Street, circa 1863 (the current-day Segway shop resides in the building on the right).

Both villages grew at an exceptional rate during the next two decades that saw their population triple in size. Since the two villages’ economies were so connected, officials in Minneapolis wrote up a proposition to officials in St. Anthony. Minneapolis wanted to annex St. Anthony and also expand Hennepin County’s borders to encompass the new city boundaries. A few St. Anthony politicians and business owners were not the biggest fans of this deal. There was no way little ol’ West St. Anthony was going to absorb the first, the original settlement along St. Anthony Falls. After reality set in for those with hometown pride, the two villages came to an agreement. Minneapolis would annex St. Anthony, which would also become a part of Hennepin County, and the county and Minneapolis would have to build two more bridges across the Mississippi, the Upper Bridge, now the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, and the Lower Bridge, also known as the old Tenth Avenue Bridge.

While the Village of St. Anthony is no more, its spirit lives on along St. Anthony Main and the East Hennepin business district, the neighborhoods of St. Anthony West and East, and the suburb of St. Anthony Village.

-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

The Devil in the Mill City

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Gilded Age Minneapolis was booming. Log milling was firing on all cylinders, flour milling was starting to hit its stride, and the city’s economy showed no hints of slowing down. The nation was starting to take notice of Minneapolis, but one event put the Mill City in the spotlight. Just past 9:00 PM on December 3rd, 1894, well-known dressmaker Catherine ‘Kittie’ Ging was found lifeless on the side of the road near the intersection of Excelsior Boulevard and Thirty-First Avenue near Bde Maka Ska by William Erhardt, a baggage handler for the Soo Line Railroad. The culprit? Harry T. Hayward. Because of Hayward’s confident yet bizarre persona, people from all around the United States were invested in the trial. This wasn’t your average run-of-the-mill murder.

The actual murder scene road.

The road along Bde Maka Ska near the murder of Kittie Ging. It looks more spooky than the murder scene road!

Harry Hayward, 1895Harry Hayward was born in 1865 in a railroad town halfway between the new capital of Illinois, Springfield, and St. Louis, Missouri. Within the first year of his life, the Haywards moved to Minneapolis. It didn’t take long for Harry to stand out from the other children. While attending Mrs. Lockwood’s private schoolhouse on Sixth Avenue North, he was such a nuisance that he was kicked out halfway through the school year and ended up going to Minneapolis Public Schools until he graduated high school. He took enjoyment from bullying his classmates and even tortured stray animals, including picking up a cat and impaling it on a nearby fence. This behavior was not ignored, and Fr. James Cleary agreed to be Harry’s spiritual advisor. Fr. Cleary could not break through to young Harry, and later noted that he was not a man of God and was very interested in Atheist writings.

Once Hayward graduated high school, he worked as a clerk and two years later, quickly acquired a gambling addiction. Money was his god. After years of roaming the country, he garnered the nickname ‘the Minneapolis Svengali’ as he was very good at manipulating people into giving him money to gamble with and do his dirty deeds.

He eventually came back to Minneapolis in January of 1894 and met Catherine ‘Kittie’ Ging who was a tenant at his parent’s apartment building, the Ozark Flats, on Thirteenth Street and Hennepin Avenue. As expected, after building up her trust, Hayward persuaded Kittie to loan him a great sum of money she made from selling her dresses for his gambling addiction. Once it became clear that Hayward had no intention of paying her back, Kittie demanded he do the right thing and return her money. Hayward gave her counterfeit bills, but that isn’t the end of the story. After amends were made, Hayward once again took advantage of Kittie’s generosity and persuaded her to get life insurance and name him as the benefactor. Once the paperwork was complete, Hayward made another friend, Claus Blixt.

1894 photo of Ozark Flats, which still stands today.

Blixt started out doing petty crimes for Hayward, and before he could escape Haywards grasp, was persuaded to burn down a barn. Blixt knew he was digging himself into a hole and was adamant that he would never kill someone if Hayward requested he do so. After many threats to kill Blixt and his wife and sweetening the pot by offering him $2,000, or almost $60,000 after inflation, he agreed to help Hayward with one more task, to murder Kittie Ging. Hayward did everything he could to gather many alibis while Blixt did the dirty work, and he arranged a horse and buggy ride for Kittie with Blixt as the coachmen when the plans were in place.

Hayward took Mabel Bartleson, the daughter of a well-known lawyer, on a date to see the comedy musical A Trip to Chinatown. They arrived as the curtain was rising and many people saw them take their seats. As the production began, Blixt and Kittie were rolling past Bde Maka Ska. Blixt turned down a dark wooded path and as the carriage began bumping around in the murky night, Blixt took his revolver and shot Kittie right behind the ear. The intended result was instant and now Blixt had to finish creating the scene. He turned the carriage around and as he heard a streetcar approaching, made the horse begin to gallop its way towards downtown. Kittie’s body fell out on the side of the road. Blixt was walking away and soon crossed paths with William Erhardt who just got off the streetcar and saw an empty carriage race its way down the street.

The horse and buggy used in the murder.

Image of all the major players in the Catherine ‘Kittie’ Ging murder case.It didn’t take long for people to connect the dots, and Hayward’s trial began on January 21st, 1895. During the interrogation before his trial began, he admitted to killing three people a few years earlier. He lured a twenty-year-old girl in Pasadena to the Sierra Madre mountains, shot her in the head, and took $7,000 from her purse. Across the country in New Jersey he shot a man, dumped him in the Shrewsbury River, and claimed his $2,000. Soon after, he got into a gambling argument on Mulberry Street in New York City where he plunged a leg of a chair into a man's eye. While the man was on the ground reeling in pain, Hayward put the chair back on the man’s eye and promptly sat on the chair. He claimed the man had a thin skull. If these confessions are true, he would predate H.H. Holmes, who murdered many people during Chicago’s World’s Fair, as America’s first serial killer.

The only person who thought Hayward was innocent was the man himself. As he took the stand, he denied everything witnesses said about the event. Blixt was off the hook, as Hayward’s manipulation and threats were enough for the judge to put no blame on him. Hayward’s cockiness and lack of empathy did not help his case, and on March 8th the jury ordered him to be hanged. On December 11th, 1895, over a year after the murder, he was hanged in the Hennepin County Jail. The sheriff let him say any last words, but after a tiring monologue, the sheriff told him to “die like a man” and ordered the executioner to tie up his arms and legs. Hayward’s death was not immediate and he slowly choked to death at 2:12 AM. His last words? “Pull her tight; I'll stand pat.”

The scaffold used to hang Hayward.

If you’re interested in learning more about this America’s first serial killer, check out Shawn Francis Peters’ book The Infamous Harry Hayward: A True Account of Murder and Mesmerism in Gilded Age Minneapolis, and while you’re at it, give Erik Larson’s book on H.H. Holmes, The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America, a read too.

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years. Contact: mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Click here for an interactive map of Michael's past articles.

The Best Days of Summer

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The city of Minneapolis recently celebrated its seventy-ninth Aquatennial; a celebration of the city’s lakes, streams, and river. While the week-long festival isn’t as prevalent as it was during its first few decades, it’s slowly turning back into the highlight of the summer for those who attend. When the sun is glimmering on our refreshing lakes and rivers and the sky is as blue as Paul Bunyan’s Babe, it's time to slap on some sunscreen, create your game plan for getting the best spot for the fireworks show, and enjoy the many events throughout our city’s waters.

Once the United States came out of the Great Depression and our economy was as invigorated as it has ever been, people had the extra income to splurge and celebrate a little more. Events were becoming more extravagant, like the Rose Parade and Mardi Gras, and there’s no way the business community of Minneapolis were going to miss out on the fun, and money. Lead by Winfield ‘Win’ Stevens, a group of businessmen were eager to organize a spectacular festival starting in 1940. A naming contest was held and “Aquatennial” was chosen as the winner. This led to the idea to have the festival focus on the city’s water features to attract tourism.

Aquatennial Parade in 1943

Held during the third week of July every year, the first Aquatennial was a success. People from around the Twin Cities attended all of the events, which included a Grande Day Parade that saw over 200,000 people attend, an air show that had 100,000 people in attendance, an appearance by Gene Autry, boat races on Bde Maka Ska, and the Paul Bunyan Canoe Derby that was a 450-mile canoe race on the Mississippi River from Bemidji to Minneapolis. There was no doubt that this week-long festival was here to stay. Throughout the next decades, more events were added to the schedule including the Aqua Follies show at Theodore Wirth Lake, the Queen of the Lakes contest, concerts by Jefferson Airplane and Buffalo Springfield, milk carton races on Bde Maka Ska, speedboat races on the river between Broadway and Plymouth, the Twin Cities River Rats water ski show, a fireworks show, and the Torchlight Parade, which saw over 750,000 people attend in 1962.

Aqua Follies in 1952

The Queen of the Lakes pageant was one of the most popular in the nation at its peak. The winners were also the most traveled, by trekking more miles than any other pageant winner in the U.S. except for Miss America. The 1974 Queen of the Lakes, Barbara Peterson, even went on to win Miss America. A proud moment in Aquatennial history to say the least. Organized by the Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization, the Queen of the Lakes Contest, which has also added princesses and commodores since its inception, focuses on personality, public speaking skills, and professionalism. It continues to work with females of all ages to help them succeed in life. The 2007 winner, Jessica Gaulke, chose to protect and fight for her city, state, and country when she gave up her crown to fight in the war in Afghanistan. In 2017, the Minneapolis Aquatennial Ambassador Organization hosted the first professional development Women’s Expo at the University of St. Thomas. Nowadays instead of driving and flying to be in different parades throughout the nation, the winners receive scholarships to further their education. The AAO has done wonders for the Aquatennial and the community they serve.

2017 Aqutennial fireworks

This year’s Aquatennial had many fun events, such as canoe rides in Loring Park and the Mississippi River at Boom Island, a 5k, the Twin Cities Caribbean Festival, the Loring Park Art Festival, family fun zones in Loring Park and along West River Parkway near the Stone Arch Bridge, a blood drive, lawn games and activities throughout downtown, a block party hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen. The Aquatennial is full of fun and excitement no matter which events you attend, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s celebrations during the best days of summer.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -   

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 7+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Millers vs. Saints: A Streetcar Rivalry

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Baseball runs deep in the Twin Cities. Currently, the Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints sit atop their respective divisions and are having historic seasons. They might be in separate leagues now, but there was a time when Minneapolis and St. Paul had one of baseball’s most heated rivalries. Since the 1890’s, various teams have used the nicknames Millers and Saints, but it wasn’t until 1902 when a minor league baseball league, the American Association, was founded with the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints being two of the eight inaugural teams.

The first iteration of the Minneapolis Millers started playing baseball in 1884, and from then until the first season of the American Association in 1902, they were in four minor leagues and one major league, the American League. However, before they could play a game in the American League, the Minneapolis team was abandoned for a team in Baltimore. The St. Paul Saints were also in multiple leagues before joining the American Association. The Saints, too, were one of the first members of the American League, but before the first major league season kicked off, the owner, Charlie Comiskey, moved the team to his childhood neighborhood in Chicago and changed their name to the Chicago White Stockings. So, technically the three World Series titles the White Sox have from 1906, 1917, and 2005 have roots in St. Paul.

On April 23rd, 1902, the longest lasting and most well-known iterations of the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints opened the first season of the American Association on the road in Ohio. The Millers shutout the Columbus Senators 5-0, and the Saints lost a close one to the Toledo Mudhens 8-7. As the years and decades rolled on, the rivalry between the two teams grew to become the hottest ticket in the cities. “Streetcar double-headers” were very common during the season, with the teams playing a game in the morning, the fans taking the Lake Street – Marshall Avenue trolley line to the next city over, and then watching an afternoon game.

The ballparks of the Millers and Saints were arguably as iconic as the teams themselves. Located on the block between Nicollet and Blaisdell Avenues and 31st and Lake Streets, Nicollet Park, home of the Millers, was built in 1896 and upgraded from wood to steel and concrete in 1912. Initially the ballpark was known as Wright Field, in honor of one of the founding fathers of baseball, Harry Wright. While the name was not the most creative, the local newspapers would have fun with it. A reporter noted a homerun during a game by saying the ball was “knocked by the right-fielder, across right field, out of Wright Field.” What a zinger. In 1955, the Millers won the American Association in their final year at Nicollet Park, and they played their last five seasons as a franchise at the new Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington.

Installation of lights at Lexington Park in 1937

Entrance to Nicollet Park in 1955 

The Saints played in the legendary Lexington Park, located between University and Fuller Avenues and Lexington Parkway and Dunlap Street. Opened in 1897, the wooden structure caught on fire in 1915 and was quickly replaced with steel and concrete. In 1937 both Lexington Park and Nicollet Park added lights to their stadiums, and on July 15th and 16th, the Millers and Saints played against each other for their stadium’s first night games. In the final game at Lexington Park 1956, the Saints defeated the Millers. The Saints would play their last four season in the new Midway Stadium, which later became the first home to the current iteration of the St. Paul Saints.

Willie Mays in a Millers jersey in 1951

Throughout the seasons both teams have seen many hall-of-famers come and go. The Millers were minor league affiliates to the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants, and saw legendary players like Ted Williams, Willie Mays, and Carl Yastrzemski play for them and make their way up to the majors where they became some of the best outfielders to ever play the game. The Saints were affiliates to the Chicago White Sox and the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers, and saw players like Lefty Gomez, Roy Campanella, and Don Zimmer grace the field at Lexington Park.

Roy Campanella rounding the bases after hitting a home run at Nicollet Park in 1948

The Millers-Saints rivalry was always intense, but their affiliations with the Giants and Dodgers only added fuel to the fire and raised the stakes for the streetcar double-headers. The two teams were beloved by everyone in the Twin Cities for sixty plus years, but the arrival of the Minnesota Twins was their ultimate demise. The Millers folded and the Saints moved to Omaha, but all good things must come to an end. The Twins have won the World Series two times, maybe three, ask me in four months, and the Saints have one of the most beautiful ballparks in the country in CHS Field. Minneapolis and St. Paul may not have the baseball rivalry they once had, but now is a tremendous time to be a baseball fan in the Twin Cities.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also an intern at the Hennepin History Museum and a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

The Armory

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The Minneapolis Armory has a rather unique history. From being the home of the Minnesota National Guard to hosting world famous musical acts, the Armory has seen a lot in its day. There were moments when this magnificent work of architecture seemed to merely blend into the towering Minneapolis skyline that surrounded it and its importance was lost. Now that the building has made a comeback, let’s see where it all started.

The Armory under construction, 1934

The Great Depression was one of the most debated topics during the United States presidential election of 1932. The U.S. economy was in shambles, and the candidates knew if they preached their plan to boost the economy, they would surly win the presidency. Once Franklin D. Roosevelt received the Democratic nomination, he began promising a new deal for the American people. Once he officially started his presidency, one of his first orders of business was to sign the First New Deal in 1933. Within this plan was the creation of the Public Works Administration, or PWA. The goal of the PWA was to spend $6 billion over the course of the next decade to build and improve infrastructure by using contracted skilled laborers. As a result of the PWA many notable structures were constructed, including the Hoover Dam, the majority of the Upper Mississippi locks & dams, the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City, the Overseas Highway connecting Key West, Florida, to the mainland, and the Minneapolis Armory.

The Armory was designed by P. C. Bettenburg, a graduate of St. Thomas College and Military Academy, now the University of St. Thomas. He was a major in the Minnesota National Guard, U. S. Army infantry regimental commander in North Africa and in Europe during World War II, and later the major general in command of the Viking Unit of the Minnesota National Guard. Because of the success of the Minneapolis Armory, once WWII was over he returned to St. Paul to open his own firm, which is credited with creating the master plan for the Camp Ripley Military Reservation and the armories of St. Paul, West St. Paul, and St. Cloud.

Inaugural ceremonies at the Armory in 1935

Between 1935-36, the Minneapolis Armory was constructed using ashlar coursed granite, textured buff bricks, and Mankato limestone in the PWA Moderne Style, which traces its origins to the famous German design school, the Bauhaus. This style encompasses the Bauhaus’ train of thought that simplicity is best; form should be followed by function, and that is very apparent when viewing the Armory. Inside of the building are also two very impressive frescoes made possible by the Federal Art Project; one titled History of the National Guard by Lucia Wiley and the other titled Early Minnesota by Elsa Jemne. Once the building was complete, it ended up becoming the most expensive building in Minneapolis costing $932,453, or just over $17 million after inflation.

Throughout the years when it was used by the military the Armory held twenty-seven units of the Minnesota National Guard and Naval Militia, which include the 59th Field Artillery Brigade, the 68th Infantry Brigade, the 9th Battalion of the Minnesota Naval Militia, with the primary tenants being the entire 151st Field Artillery Regiment and numerous companies of the 135th Infantry Regiment. The later two are important to Minnesota and U.S. history as both were formed for the Civil War. The 151st is known for its continuous gun fire in France during the closing four months of World War I. They were led by Colonel George Leach, who later became a four-term mayor of Minneapolis. The 135th, which was originally designated as the 1st Infantry Regiment, is the state's oldest Guard unit and is known for its charge on Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg, which is recognized as one of the most courageous acts in American military history.

Another very popular tenant was the Minneapolis Lakers from 1947-60, who won five championships before their relocation to Los Angeles. The Minnesota National Guard moved away from the Armory in 1980, and in 1985 the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989, Hennepin County bought it for $4.7 million intending to build a new county jail on the site. This intention led to the Minnesota Historical Society suing to stop its destruction and in 1993, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Minnesota Historical Society citing the Armory’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. During this down time, the Armory was used as the setting for Prince’s “1999” music video in 1982, and Aerosmith’s “I Don't Want to Miss a Thing” music video in 1998. That same year the Armory was sold to a private company for $2.6 million and used as a parking facility until 2015 when a local developer bought it for $6 million with plans to renovate it and turn it into an entertainment venue. Today the Armory holds 8,400 people for concerts, parties, and sporting events. It is once again a state-of-the-art venue that is a must see for anyone who lives in the Twin Cities.

Photo of the Armory from 2006

Interior view taken during the Imagine Dragons concert in 2018

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

The Minneapolis Central Library

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The largest library in Hennepin County, the Minneapolis Central Library, houses the third largest per capita public library collection of any major city in the United States, with a collection of more than 2.4 million items. A remarkable resource for residents in the area. Education is important for the growth of any city, and libraries have been anchors for many communities throughout Minneapolis.

Before the city’s library system came to be, there was a subscription library founded in 1859 and charted as a corporation in 1860 called the Minneapolis Athenaeum. Other subscription libraries popped up around the area during this time, such as the St. Anthony Literary Society and the Mechanics Library. However, the Athenaeum was the only one able to find success. Years later in 1865 they constructed their own building located in the heart of a fledgling Minneapolis called Centre Block, which is where Gateway Park currently lies. In 1885 the Athenaeum partnered with the newly created Minneapolis Public Library and has been associated with them ever since. Their collection is housed in vaults located on the 4th floor Special Collections Department of the current Minneapolis Central Library.

Original library, 1900

After four years of existence, the Minneapolis Public library opened its first central library in 1889, and it was situated along 10th Street and Hennepin Avenue. The main attraction of this new castle-like building was the art collection of T.B. Walker, the namesake for the Walker Art Center. Just as the city of Minneapolis was rapidly growing throughout the 20th century, so was the library, and in 1961 the Minneapolis Public Library and Information Center opened along 4th Street and Nicollet Avenue. This location was chosen in order to be a cornerstone for a very run-down Gateway District that was in the process of being redeveloped thanks to the 1960’s Urban Renewal project that impacted some of the larger cities throughout the United States.

Second library, 1961

The new building included a library, planetarium, auditorium, and a museum in its basement that was known for its Egyptian mummies. The planetarium was without a doubt a hit with children and adults alike. It was operated by the Minneapolis Planetarium Society, and from 1974-1982 they partnered with the Science Museum of Minnesota to jointly run the planetarium that saw over 170,000 visitors per year during its early years, and over four million during its entire lifespan. Unfortunately, good things come to an end and the city was without a planetarium once the Minneapolis Public Library and Information Center closed its doors in 2002 to make way for a brand-new building. Initially the plan was to construct a planetarium on top of the new building, but plans fell through and in 2011 the Minneapolis Planetarium Society merged with the Bell Museum of Natural History. Everything ended up working out for everyone, as a state-of-the-art planetarium is included in the new Bell Museum that opened in July of 2018.

Rendering of the current library with the planetarium on the roof.

Now back to the library. In the 1990s, city and library officials recognized that the downtown community was outgrowing the current building, technology was rapidly improving, and the library’s collection was growing by the day, so the process of planning a new one began. In November of 2000 the citizens of Minneapolis voted to approve a $140 million funding to improve the library. Almost six years later in May of 2006, the Minneapolis Central Library you see today opened to the public. Designed by César Pelli, who is known for designing the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the World Financial Center in New York City, the new library features many windows to allow natural light in, a rooftop garden, an Adaptive Technology Lab, homework tutoring for K-12 students, and a beautiful collection of art that is spread throughout the building. The Minneapolis Central Library has been vital for the educational growth of the city and its residents since it first opened it doors, and three buildings later it shows no signs of slowing down.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

The Minneapolis Brewing Company

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Grain Belt, the friendly beer. It’s hard to find anyone in Minneapolis who doesn’t enjoy a cold and refreshing Grain Belt. While it is very popular around the Twin Cities, it has had its fair share of trials and tribulations, so let’s take a look at how Minneapolis’ beer came to be.

Minneapolis was quickly growing during the late 1800s. The milling industry offered thousands of jobs for immigrants, and what do people who work long hours love after an exhausting day on the job? Relaxing with a nice and flavorful beer. As lumber and flour mills were popping up left and right along the Mississippi riverfront, so were breweries. On July 15, 1890, four of the city’s most popular breweries, Orth Brewing Company, The Heinrich Brewing Association, F.D. Norenberg Brewery and Malt House, and Germania Brewing Association, consolidated to form the Minneapolis Brewing and Malting Company. Soon after, the newly formed company realized using four separate facilities was not very efficient. They consolidated their equipment and resources and built a brand new brewery on the site of John Orth’s original brewery he started in 1850 that was also the first brewery in Hennepin County.

The Minneapolis Brewing Company brewery taken on 13th Avenue NE looking west.

The $500,000 brewery, or over 14 million after inflation, would go on to produce 300,000 barrels a year, and additions in the coming decade would see production grow to over half a million a year. The brewery had five main brands, Gilt Edge, Weiner, Kaiser, London Porter and Extra Pale, and it wouldn’t be until after the 1893 Nicollet Island-Northeast Fire when they would introduce their Golden Grain Belt Old Lager. The newly renamed Minneapolis Brewing Company would go on to be a beer powerhouse in the Midwest and they were the 2nd largest brewery in the state after Hamm’s.

Like every brewery in the country, the Prohibition Era was not kind to the Minneapolis Brewing Company. To make ends meet they started the Golden Grain Belt Juice Company where they would make near beer that was labeled as Minnehaha Pale Ale. They used a specialized process to take the alcohol out of the beer and then made rubbing alcohols, toilet preparations, and barber’s supplies. However, these new products could never bring in the money like beer did, so in October of 1929 they liquidated the company.

Golden Grain Belt Juice Co crate

Once the 18th Amendment was repealed, the Minneapolis Brewing Company began producing beer once again in 1933. This time they would make their Grain Belt Old Lager the face of the company, and the famous slogan “The Friendly Beer with the Friendly Flavor” was created. It would take another twenty years for Grain Belt Premium to hit the shelves. This new beer was made to please the “younger, more fickle consumer.” If only they could taste craft beer now.

Grain Belt label from 1945

In April of 1975, Irwin Jacobs purchased the Grain Belt brand and eight months later, sold it to the G. Heileman Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It wouldn’t be until 1991 when Grain Belt would come back to Minnesota when a group of investors bought the brand and the old Schmidt Brewery in St. Paul, and started the Minnesota Brewing Company. During this time, Grain Belt had a short-lived resurgence not only in the Midwest, but nationally too. In 1994 they won a gold medal in the American Lager category at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

Unfortunately, the company could not continue to run, and on June 24, 2001, the Minnesota Brewing Company closed down for good. However, Ted Marti of the August Schell Brewing Company noticed how passionate Minnesotans were about Grain Belt, and he bought the brand shortly after the closing of the Minnesota Brewing Company. Since then, Schell’s has done wonders for the Grain Belt brand. To honor the beer’s heritage and original location they created Grain Belt Nordeast, my favorite beer. Six years later they started making Grain Belt Lock and Dam in honor of the closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, and around the same time they made a special beer for the Minnesota State Fair, Grain Belt Blu. This beer became very popular and now you can find it on tap and in stores.

The story of the Minneapolis Brewing Company and Grain Belt has its ups and downs, but there’s one thing that will always stay the same, it is one of Minneapolis’ great staples. From enjoying a Grain Belt Blu on a restaurant patio looking out over the Minneapolis riverfront on a summer evening, to cracking open a cold Nordeast in the backyard around a bonfire, Grain Belt is as Minneapolis as it gets.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Human On a Stick Segway Tours of the Twin Cities

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

The snow has melted, the birds are chirping, the mighty Mississippi is roaring. Spring is here, fingers crossed. The Minneapolis riverfront is alive and well, and I cannot think of a better way to enjoy it than going on a Segway tour. If you frequent the riverfront, you’ve seen us cruising around, but have you ever thought about being a tourist in your own backyard? Mobile Entertainment LLC offers not only Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront, but also of the Sculpture Garden and downtown, Summit Avenue and Capitol Hill in St. Paul, walking tours of the Minneapolis riverfront, and ghost tours of one of the oldest buildings in the heart of the old milling district along St. Anthony Main.

Michael (left, yellow shirt) provides local history during one of his tours while stopped on the Stone Arch Bridge with the Pillsbury A-Mill in the background.

Around the turn of the century Segways were supposed to be the next big thing, a way to commute short distances and just make life easier in general. However, like a lot of ambitious ideas, Segways were not selling like hotcakes as expected, but Bill Neuenschwander, a technology entrepreneur from Bloomington, saw an opportunity to bring Segways into the mainstream. In 2003 he bought 21 Segways and his new company, Mobile Entertainment LLC, got its first taste of success at the Minnesota State Fair where they had a booth. If you’re wondering how he came up with the “Human On a Stick” name, now you know. Everything is on a stick at the State Fair! Families and organizations were calling to see if they could have Segways at their events, and soon after Bill realized giving tours on Segways was going to create a fun and exciting experience for his customers. Once he found a storefront along St. Anthony Main, he became the first person to give Segway tours in the United States, and second in the world. It’s not ridiculous to think that he jumpstarted the Segway tour business that can now be found in every major city across the globe.

While it's not recommended to go hands free on a Segway, as a seasoned guide Micheal can fearlessly flex his muscles.130+ Segways and over 100,000 riders later, Mobile Entertainment LLC has the largest fleet of Segways outside of Segway itself, and is a staple of the Minneapolis riverfront and beyond. From the collapse of the 35W Bridge and the closure of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam, to the successful growth of the riverfront that has seen the Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theater, and DeLaSalle’s athletic field become fixtures of the area, Segway tours have seen and helped the area transform into one of the most popular and beautiful places to visit in the state.

As for myself, this will be my 7th year with the company, and I too have been fortunate enough to witness the growth of the riverfront. Starting as a shy and quiet helper guide on Segway tours, Bill, the managers, and my many colleagues have helped me open up more and become very enthusiastic about the place I will always call home. Good luck getting me to shut up now! There’s no way I’d be where I am today, in graduate school, writing for the Mill City Times, if it wasn’t for Bill and Mobile Entertainment LLC. I absolutely love introducing tourists from around the country and world to Minneapolis and its history. Even locals who, like me, think they know everything about the riverfront learn something new on our tours.

The tours last roughly 3 hours, which includes extensive training, a snack and refreshment at our halfway stop at the Mill City Museum, a free pass to that museum, discounts for restaurants along the riverfront, and your very own Segway drivers license. Once customers feel confident on the Segway, we take them to the Pillsbury A-Mill, Stone Arch Bridge, Mill City Museum and Guthrie Theater, Hennepin Avenue Bridge, Boom Island, and Nicollet Island. Each stop lasts about 10-15 minutes, and the lead guides provide the history of the immediate area. However, fair warning, we love corny jokes.

So, if you ever find yourself with nothing to do on a beautiful day in the cities, come on down and experience the Mill City on a Segway. Tell them Michael sent you. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

The Minneapolis City Hall

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Standing four blocks from the Mississippi riverfront is one of the city’s most historically, culturally, and politically important buildings, the Minneapolis City Hall. It has been one of the few constants in this ever-evolving city, and it holds many amazing facts and stories. While it may just be another stop on the light rail for some, many have made a name for themselves within city hall’s walls. Let’s take a look at this praiseworthy building.

The first City Hall, 1870

Back before the current city hall officially opened its doors, Minneapolis’ court house and city hall were in separate buildings. The first official courthouse was located on 8th Avenue S and 4th Street while the first city hall was on Hennepin and Nicollet where Gateway Park currently sits. During the first two decades of Minnesota’s statehood Minneapolis grew at a very rapid rate. Because of this, the need for a larger courthouse and city hall quickly became apparent. In 1887 the state legislature assigned a commission to work with the city and Hennepin county to jointly construct a new courthouse and city hall.

The firm that was tasked with creating this new municipal center of the city was Long and Kees, who also designed the Lumber Exchange Building, the Flour Exchange Building, and the Masonic Temple, now the Hennepin Center for the Arts. The firm’s signature style was Richardsonian Romanesque as it was one of the most popular styles in America in the late 1800s. This style can be seen in almost every city that saw success during that time. Cincinnati, Toronto, Salt Lake City and Fort Wayne all have Richardsonian Romanesque style city halls. 

The Minneapolis City Hall began construction in 1888 and it took three years for the first “cornerstone” to be laid. Since this ceremony happened three years after construction started, the cornerstone is actually thirty feet above ground level. To make the timeline of construction even more confusing, the building was officially competed in 1906, although the county and city had been using it for about a decade already. During that time serious court cases were being conducted in the building, and the last execution in Hennepin County happened in the 5th floor attic in March of 1898. Some say John Moshik still roams the halls.

The building itself was not intended to be made completely out of granite, but once the citizens of Minneapolis saw the beauty of the Ortonville red granite, they petitioned for the entire building to be made out of it instead of just its foundations. This contributed to the lengthy construction time, as some of the stones weigh more than 20 tonnes. The final price tag for the new city hall was over $3.5 million, or almost $99 million in today’s dollars.

City Hall, 1904

The expense was worth it. The Minneapolis City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city, and its most noticeable aspect is its clocktower. At its time of completion not only was it the tallest building in the state, the clock face was also the largest in the world, beating out Big Ben in London by 18 inches. The building’s interior is also something the marvel. Its five-story rotunda features 41 unique grotesques, or faces, carved into the capitals of the marble columns. My favorite feature of the rotunda lies right in the middle. The “Father of Waters” sculpture depicts a reclining Poseidon-like figure with various iconographic objects of the Mississippi River around him. Sculpted by the American artist Larkin G. Mead during his time in Florence, Italy, he used the largest block of marble ever to come out of Italy’s Carrara quarries to create his masterpiece. Those same quarries were also used by Leonardo DaVinci and Michelangelo. Rumor has it, if you rub the sculpture’s big toe, good luck will find its way into your life.

The "Father of Waters" sculpture

While the Minneapolis City Hall is now dwarfed by its neighbors, it is still an amazing example of American architecture that is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.

Washburn Fair Oaks

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Nestled right in the heart of a part of town that features some of Minneapolis’ oldest and most stunning architecture, Washburn Fair Oaks Park is a place of natural beauty that complements the historic and artistic beauty found in the museums around it.

A portrait of William D. Washburn from 1880The story of this park starts back in 1857 when a lawyer from Maine by the name of William D. Washburn moved to Minneapolis to help his brother Cadwallader run his mill, the Minneapolis Milling Company. During the next two decades, he and his brother would help establish the milling industry in Minneapolis while also perusing his passion for politics. In 1871 he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives, in 1878 he was elected to the US House of Representatives where he served for six years, and in 1888 he was elected to the US Senate where he also served for six years.

Once the 1880s got started, Washburn had become one of the wealthiest people in the state. In 1883 he decided to build his home among his colleagues and friends in what is now the Washburn-Fair Oaks Mansion District. Designed by Edward Townsend Mix, who also designed the old Metropolitan Building that was demolished in 1961, William Washburn’s mansion was accompanied by gorgeous landscaping, an artificial pond and footbridge, a greenhouse, and a carriage house. His estate was spectacular to say the least. Washburn named his property the “Fair Oaks Estate” after the 10-acre oak grove that stood on the land before he purchased it.

Photo of the estate taken from 3rd Avenue facing west, Washburn's mansion is on the right.

The artificial pond, 1910

He was also very fond of the Minneapolis Park system and intended to give his property to the Minneapolis Park Board once he passed away. In 1911, the property immediately south of his estate, the Villa Rosa owned by Dorilus Morrison, the first mayor of Minneapolis, was donated by Morrison’s son to the city with the intention to build an art museum on the site. Eventually, the Villa Rosa made way for the Minneapolis Institute of Art. This gave William Washburn the idea to offer his land to the Park Board. The deal was that the city would only pay the appraised amount of the land, and not the land and its buildings. This was a huge deal because Washburn’s buildings were valued at roughly $400,000, or over $10.5 million in today’s dollars. He sold the land to the Park Board for $250,000, or $6.6 million today, with the condition that he and his wife could reside there for as long as they lived. The land officially changed hands in 1915 when his wife passed away.

Once the Park Board acquired the land, they tore down the greenhouse and stables but the left the mansion standing as it was used as a meeting place for local groups. During the next decade or so there were many ideas for the park. In 1917, Park Board President Theodore Wirth suggested installing a 1,100-seat amphitheater. Wirth also suggested to build a children’s playground on the site, but the neighbors were not fond of that idea. Meanwhile, the mansion was quickly falling into disrepair and becoming a hazard for the children who were playing in the park, so the neighbors offered to give the Park Board $25,000, or $368,000 today, to buy a new park where a playground and ball courts could be installed. They accepted this deal and in 1924 the Fair Oaks mansion was razed, and two years later, Clinton Field Park was created just a few blocks away.

After the mansion was brought down, the initial idea for the park was to make it into a landscaped plaza that lead up to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and it would also serve as the head of an esplanade that would extend a mile north to the Minneapolis Auditorium, which is now the Convention Center. Just think if that project happened. We would have our own version of the Tuileries Garden to lead up to our own version of the Louvre. How glorious would that be?

The park today

Nevertheless, this plan never got started, and instead the park turned into a peaceful place to take a break from the bustling city. If you’ve never visited this park, I highly recommend it. The next time you make a trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art or the Hennepin History Museum, take a stroll through Washburn Fair Oaks Park. Sit on a bench and imagine how life might have been like in this part of Minneapolis in the 1880s and 1890s with towering mansions and marvelous landscaping. This city’s passion for parks can be traced back to before the city even started, and it is because of patrons of the arts and parks like William Washburn that we have so many breathtaking parks spread throughout the Mill City.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

About Michael Rainville, Jr.

A 6th generation Minneapolitan, Michael Rainville Jr. received his B.A. in History from the University of St. Thomas, and is currently enrolled in their M.A. in Art History and Certificate in Museum Studies programs.

Michael is also a lead guide at Mobile Entertainment LLC, giving Segway tours of the Minneapolis riverfront for 6+ years.

He can be reached at mrainvillejr@comcast.net.