Calhoun Boulevard and 36th
Originally called by the Dakota “Mde Maka Ska”, which meant White Earth Lake, settlers later named it with the Dakota name “Medoza” or Loon Lake. The United States Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, sent the Army to survey the area that would surround Fort Snelling in 1817. Calhoun had also authorized the construction of [...]
The Calhoun Beach Hotel
Theodore Wirth claimed the tall building across the street from the bath house and beach on Lake Calhoun would “disfigure” the natural beauty of the area and probably disintegrate into a house of debauchery upon completion. Despite Wirth’s initial objections, in 1927 he recommended the Minneapolis Park Board consent to a building permit as [...]
F.L. Wright’s 1907 Minneapolis Double Wides
These 1907 photos were taken around Minneapolis and environs by St. Paul photographer F.L. Wright. They were reprinted, hand colored and and published as postcards by the Wright, Barrett & Stilwell. The company was primarily involved in the sale roofing materials, but they did a brisk stationary and postcards business on the side. These are [...]
The Pond Brothers Rock
In the 1830′s Samuel and Gideon Pond helped establish missions at Chief Cloud Man’s Dakota village on the shore of Lake Calhoun. The Pond brothers came from Connecticut in with high hopes of converting the Dakoyta to Christianity and New England farming practices. They also devised a Dakota alphabet and began translating the Bible [...]
Having Fun with the Shriners in Minneapolis
The Twin Cities has played host to numerous Shriner conventions. In 1908 these postcard were issued and the Romanesque-style Masonic Temple on Hennepin was decorated and a variety of events were held around town especially for our funny, fez wearing friends. the Shriners were started by 13 New York City Masons in 1872. Only top-level [...]
