Today in Minnesota History: October

October 24

In 1871, the railroad finally made its way to Breckenridge in the Red River Valley. Imagine the excitement! Trains revolutionized travel and commerce, making the world a little smaller and a lot more connected. 🛤️ Fast forward to 1988, and we’ve got some political drama in Duluth. Mayor John Fedo went on trial, accused of accepting a bribe and misusing city money. Plot twist: he was later acquitted. Innocent until proven guilty, folks! ⚖️ ✌️

October 25

Back in 1892, James H. Burrell made history as the first African American member of the St. Paul police force. He was also the first documented African American police officer in Minnesota! 🚓

Fast forward to 1941, novelist Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis. She’s the brain behind popular books like “The Accidental Tourist” and “Breathing Lessons,” the latter even snagged her a Pulitzer Prize in 1989. 📚

In 1987, Minnesota was buzzing with baseball fever. The Minnesota Twins clinched the World Series, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 in the seventh game. What a win! ⚾

And in 2002, a somber moment struck as Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash while running for a third term. A liberal Democrat, he’d been in the Senate since 1990. His legacy lives on through the Wellstone Action advocacy group founded by his surviving sons and former campaign manager. ✈️💔

October 26

Today’s quick dive into Minnesota history is full of big moments! 🌟 In 1950, Mayo Clinic doctors Edward Calvin Kendall and Philip Showalter Hench, along with Swiss doc Tadeus Reichstein, snagged the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Why? They developed cortisone, a major medical breakthrough! 🏥💡 And it all started in Rochester!

Then, ten years later in 1960, Calvin Griffith made a game-changing call. He moved his Washington Senators baseball team to Minnesota, rebranding them as the Minnesota Twins. Batter up, Minnesota! ⚾

Two different fields—medicine and sports—but both made waves that still ripple through Minnesota today! 🌊

October 27

In 1849, Minnesota’s territorial legislature laid down the law—literally—creating the state’s original nine counties. The names of those original counties have some pretty interesting backstories. 📜 Benton County got its name from Thomas Hart Benton, a Missouri senator big on settler colonialism. Dakota was named to honor the Dakota people. Itasca stands for the starting point of the mighty Mississippi River. Ramsey? That’s named after the territory’s first governor. Wabasha pays tribute to several Dakota leaders, and Washington is a nod to our first U.S. president, George Washington. 🇺🇸

Here’s an interesting tidbit: Three of those first counties have basically vanished from today’s Minnesota maps. 😮 Wahnahta County, near Lake Traverse, was named after Wanotan, a Yankton Dakota leader. Pembina County was so big it covered parts of what are now North and South Dakota! Mahkahta County was situated north of what we now call Crow Wing County. 🗺️

Flash to 1937, and we find tragedy in Minneapolis. The Morris Fruit Company building collapsed, resulting in two tragic deaths. Investigations later revealed signs of rot and overload, but no one was found criminally negligent. The jury’s solution? Tighten up building codes. 🏢💔

Sports fan? In 1991, Jack Morris of the Minnesota Twins threw an iconic ten-inning shutout against the Atlanta Braves. The game ended in a 1-0 win, crowning it as one of the most thrilling World Series matches ever. ⚾🎉

Minnesota’s history is a mash-up of governance, tragedy, and athletic triumphs, each moment shaping the state we know today. 🌟

October 28

In 1834, Henry H. Sibley rode into St. Peters (now Mendota) on horseback all the way from Prairie du Chien. This guy wasn’t just passing through; he became Minnesota‘s first congressman and governor! 🏛️

Flash to 1919, and the Volstead Act is hitting the headlines. Congress said “no more booze,” and guess what? The bill was introduced by Minnesota’s own Andrew J. Volstead. 🍻❌

In 1949, Eugenie Moore Anderson from Red Wing got appointed as ambassador to Denmark by President Harry S. Truman. Yup, she was the first woman ambassador from the U.S.! 🇺🇸🇩🇰

Fast forward to 1990, and it’s political drama time. Jon Grunseth was the popular choice for governor, but accusations of scandal forced him out. That gave Arne H. Carlson, the state auditor, a shot at the title. Thanks to public disgust with the mud-slinging, Carlson clinched the win and became a pretty popular governor. 🗳️

So there you have it! Minnesota’s history is a mix of pioneers, politicians, and a pinch of scandal. 🌟

October 29

Born in Quebec in 1775, Jean-Baptiste Faribault was a fur trader who lived in what would become Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The guy moved around—Little Rapids, Pike Island, and Mendota were his Minnesotan homes. A county in Minnesota even bears his name! 🍁🏞️

Baseball fans, listen up! 📣 In 1866, the Uppertown Olympics duked it out with the Lowertown Saxons in St. Paul, becoming the city’s first baseball champs. ⚾🏆

Next up, Charles Babcock, dubbed the father of Minnesota’s highway system. In 1947, he got his own monument in Elk River, honoring his work from 1917 to 1932. He planned and mostly completed the state’s main highways! 🚗🛣️

Last but not least, let’s give a birthday shoutout to actress Winona Ryder, born in—you guessed it—Winona, in 1971! 🎬🎉 Fans, you really need to visit this house for a selfie next time you’re in the area!

From fur traders to Hollywood stars, Minnesota’s history is as diverse as it gets! 🌈

October 30

In 1848, Henry H. Sibley was chosen to represent the not-yet-recognized Minnesota Territory in the US Congress. 📜 He trekked to Washington, DC, and used his persuasive skills to sit with Congress. The official birth of the territory? That came on March 3, 1849. 🏛️✍️

Now, fast forward to 1924, and we’ve got a rare showdown on our hands! 👀 Wong Si Wing, a laundryman, got caught in a tong war when he was shot in Minneapolis. Tongs, initially created in San Francisco to protect members from rival Chinese businessmen, have mostly turned into social groups these days. 🏮🤝

Minnesota’s history is a tapestry of intrigue, politics, and a dash of the unexpected! 🌆

October 31

In 1872, Minneapolis welcomed Augsburg College with open arms with its grand opening celebration. 🏫 It’s a place where education thrives and future adventures begin.

Fast forward to 1903, and a football game between Minnesota and Michigan ended in a 6-6 tie. 🏈 The Gophers, feeling like underdogs, declared a “moral victory” and claimed a water jug left behind by Michigan as their trophy. That Little Brown Jug has since become a symbol of their rivalry! 🏆

Now, let’s talk Halloween! 🎃 In 1920, Anoka kicked off its journey to becoming the Halloween Capital of the World with its first planned celebration of the holiday. 🎉 Parade, football game, and a 5K Grey Ghost Run—talk about spooky fun! 👻

And in 1991, the “Halloween Blizzard” unleashed a record snowfall of 24 to 36 inches from Duluth to the Twin Cities. ❄️ It’s still the largest recorded snowfall from a single storm in Minnesota’s history. Mother Nature sure knows how to surprise us! 🌨️

From educational beginnings to epic football rivalries and Halloween festivities, Minnesota’s history has a little something for everyone. 📚🏈🎃

---

Join Jack and Kitty’s Newsletter!

Subscribe

Built with ConvertKit