Minnesota

150 Minnesota moments we’d just as soon forget: Happy Sesquicentennial, Minnesota!

1859
The temperature falls below freezing on July 4.

1869
Photographer Charles Zimmerman of St. Paul survives being struck by an icicle weighing several hundred pounds while trying to take photos of the frozen Minnehaha Falls. Bruised and sore — yes. Broken bones — no.

1893
Virginia, Minn., is destroyed by fire.

1900
Virginia, Minn., is destroyed by fire. Again.

1930
A Communist Party-owned bookstore is bombed on Third Avenue in South Minneapolis, after which a mob loots the store and tosses remaining books into a bonfire.

1936
St. Paul is named the best place in America to hire a hit man by Fortune Magazine.

Video: High Bridge smokestack demolition

Also in the Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, was a report that the condo project on 46th and 46th is on hold. Really? I thought that was kinda obvious seeing that nothing has happened with that site in over two years. Though the story does confirm that the developer has basically killed the project and won’t return calls from the paper. I still can’t believe the mess at that intersection. What should be a welcoming corner for all that cross the Ford Bridge, we’re left with a piece of crap construction site, that makes the whole area look like a joke. Hopefully the whole thing gets scraped and someone will come in and take care of it - though I still think it would be a perfect spot for my restaurant, Sloppy Moe’s, if anyone wants to invest in it.

Via the latest Longfellow Nokomis Messenger, there will be a bike tour of Longfellow to visit historic sites in the area. The two hour tour will start at 10am at the U.S. Bank parking lot on July 19th. It sounds kinda goofy, but might be a good way to learn more about the neighborhood.

“Up North” to become “Heart of the Continent”?: A partnership formed last year between 22 federal agencies from both the United States and Canada and several private organizations would like to promote the five million acres of wilderness in and around Voyageurs National Park, Quetico Provincial Park and the Superior National Forest as the “Heart of the Continent.” The effort seeks to establish the borderland area as an international destination for recreation and adventure, but the marketing plan may have already hit a snag.

Suburban Richfield : Museum Collections Up Close : MNHS.ORG: In recognition of the “Suburban World” exhibit now showing at the History Center, we take a look at Richfield, a classic Minnesota postwar suburb. Excerpts from oral histories with long-time Richfield residents are featured, along with historic photos and documents from the community. (5 min)

Order the book Richfield: Minnesota’s Oldest Suburb.

Rybak declares June 13 Electric Fetus Day

Longfellow Mural Project: The Longfellow Mural Project kicks off this June and we need your help! LCC has received the City’s Graffiti Innovation Grant and will be using this funding to create murals on sites often blighted by graffiti and vandalism. Local youth will work with a contracted artist to design and paint the murals. This is a fun and exciting way for our community to come together! We are currently seeking volunteers and youth to make this project a success! If you are artistically inclined or have a desire to work with youth in our community this is the perfect volunteer position for you! If interested please contact Joanna at 612-722-4529 or email her at joanna@longfellow.org

Putting a fresh coat on the neighborhood: Blogger Ed Kohler spends his spare time away from the computer tooling around various Minneapolis neighborhoods covering gang-related graffiti wherever he sees it. He keeps a power painter, powered by his car battery, in his hatchback at all times. Using “used” paint purchased for as little as $5 a gallon, Kohler does his part to prevent further vandalism and maintain the existing quality of life for the citizens in the neighborhoods where he travels. (via)

Hey, Ed, my whole garage is covered in invisible graffiti, any chance you’d come over and paint it for me?

NT Times: With Books as a Catalyst, Minneapolis Neighborhood Revives Washington Ave, between the University and Downtown. (via)

Longfellow Nokomis Real Estate Guide: Foreclosures in our neighborhood

Richfield Historical Society: The book on the history of Richfield, Richfield: Minnesota”s Oldest Suburb, is now available to pre-order. Here is a PDF of the cover and a few excerpts from the book - Wood Lake, Twin City Speedway, and Settlers from Maine Arrive

Ten Inches of Snow?: What? Are you kidding me? Chris Shaffer over at our weather center tells me we’re going to get somewhere between 6 and 10 inches of snow tomorrow night.

I think it’s Mother Nature’s revenge for firing Paul Douglas.

2419 Lake of the Isles Parkway: Paul Magers old house on Lake of the Isles is for sale or only $2,995,000, and being sold after ex-Star Tribune Publisher Par Ridder owned it for only 11 months. Real estate listing has pictures of the 1907 8000 sq ft mansion. (via Lambert to the Slaughter)

Richfield’s Marty Kirsch: A booster in bronze: Former Richfield mayor Marty Kirsch has been immortalized in a statue — with a mysterious, ever-changing wardrobe. At Christmas, he donned a red Santa hat and scarf and held a wreath. During hockey season, he wore a helmet and a Richfield High School jersey and had a hockey stick on his lap.