History of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 26. - The old Academy of Music building in Minneapolis was destroyed by fire Christmas afternoon. The building contained the Minneapolis law library which was lost.

The loss to building and contents, including merchants occupying ground floors, is about $200,000.

Minneapolis, the first city of Minnesota in population and importance, and in population the eighteenth of the United States, the capital of Hennepin co., is situated on both banks of the Mississippi River, at the Falls of St. Anthony, 10 miles W. by N. of St. Paul. It is near lat. 44° 58' N. and lon. 93° 18' W. Its invigorating climate has given it great repute as a health resort. The winter in this region is cold, but clear, the average summer temperature is below 70° F., and the autumn is long. Built upon a high and picturesque table-land, Minneapolis, with an area of 54 square miles, is laid out with regularity, and many of its intersecting streets are from 80 to 100 feet in width. The river is spanned by 9 highway and 6 railroad bridges, most of them built of iron, and several of them great works of engineering. The city has a park area of 1500 acres (valued at more than $4,000,000), including 22 parks, 8 parkways and boulevards, 4 large lakes, and the Falls of Minnehaha. Natural ...

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Jan. 10. - Fire this morning destroyed the packing house of the Anchor Flour Mill, owned by the Pillsbury-Washburn Milling Company. The loss is $200,000, fully insured.

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 30. - Fire to-night destroyed the six-story building occupied by the Minneapolis Paper Company and owned by J. C. Oswald & Co. The stock of the paper company, known also as Wright, Barrows & Stillwell, was consumed. The value of the contents is said to have exceeded $200,000. The total loss is $250,000.

Capt. George Smith of Engine Company No. 16 was leading a squad of men up a ladder on an adjoining structure in First Avenue, when the ladder broke, precipitating six men to the ground. Smith suffered internal injuries that may prove fatal. Firemen George Cheney and Frank Hessick were also badly hurt. The other three firemen were able to reach the City Hospital without assistance.

Several adjoining buildings were ignited, but the efforts of the entire Fire Department of Minneapolis succeeded in confining practically all of the damage to the J. C. Oswald & Co. building.

Minneapolis, Minn., Dec. 15. - In one of the fiercest fires in the history of Minneapolis Tuesday night three firemen lost their lives and property valued at $830,000 was destroyed. The entire retail business district was for a time threatened with a similar fate, and its escape was due as much to the absence of much wind as to indefatigable efforts of the fire department.

The dead are:
JACOB F. MILLER, insurance patrolman;
JOHN FELLOWS, pipeman.
FELLOWS and his mates had climbed to the fifth story of the Boutell Store and were pouring water into the Peck Building from the open windows. The situation becoming dangerous, the men sought to reach the ground. Three went down the fire escape, but FELLOWS made the fatal error of running to the elevator shaft and sliding down the cable in the belief that the lower part of the building had not yet begun to burn. He slid into a cauldron of flame and was seen no more. MILLER stumbled into the elevator shaft and fell to the...

Minneapolis, the first city of Minnesota in popula tion and importance and the capital of Hennepin oo., is situated on both banks of the Mississippi River, at the Falls of St. Anthony, just above St. Paul, the wide-spread ing suburbs of the two cities being contiguous. Lat. 44° 58' N. ; Ion. 93° 18' W. Elevation above the sea, 700-800 feet. The number of railroads entering or oentring here is about 20. Its invigorating climate, marked by an extreme of dry winter cold, with the mercury at times descending to — 30°, and mild summer temperatures, has given Min neapolis great repute as a health-resort. It is laid out with regularity and many of its intersecting streets are from 80 to 100 feet or more (Kenwood Boulevard) in width and contain a number of imposing edifices. The most prom inent of these is the new court-house and city-hall, com pleted in 1898 at a cost of $4,000,000. Other publio build ings are the chamber of commerce, the Union depot, lumber exchange, masonio temple, public...

Blinding Flashes and Deafening Crashes Continuous - Streets Unlighted - Newspapers Use Hand Presses.

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 6. - An explosion and fire which destroyed the main plant of the General Electric Company early to-day, injured three men, caused a loss of $750,000, and seriously interfered with business throughout the city during the day, left the city to-night in almost total darkness. Several office buildings got power for light and elevators from the street railway company and flour mills until 11 o'clock, but after that time all power was turned off. No street lamps were lighted and all save the main section of the city was without electric light all right.

Fearing that the darkness of the city may induce lawlessness, the entire police and detective force is held in reserve with waiting automobiles.

The General Electric Company has 500 men making arrangements so that the power from the company's plants in Taylor's Falls can be used.

The escape of eleven men who were ...

Minneapolis, Minn., July 13. - Three persons are dead and thirteen injured and a property loss of $100,000 was caused by one of the most severe storms in years which raged over Hennepin and Ramsey counties (Minneapolis and St. Paul) last night.

The dead are:
Ralph Gillette, aged 30, killed by lightning at the Inter lochen Golf links;

Mrs. Alma Frayer, and Mary Bergman, of Ellsworth, Wis., killed in the collapse of a barn

Scores were injured, several seriously.

Minneapolis, June 19. - Captain JOHN GRAY died in a few hours from his injuries, Ladderman FRANK KANESKY was almost instantly killed and eight others were injured in a fire which gutted the North Side high school.

Fifty firemen were in imminent danger when a wall of the old main building fell. Fire Chief CHARLES W. RINGER, Assistant Chief SANDY HAMILTON, District Chief EDWARD THIELEN and twenty-five firemen escaped the falling wall by running from beneath it into the burning building. Twenty-five other firemen ran back from the wall, but ten of them were caught. Only the heroic work of rescuers, who dug with bare hands into the fiery bricks and concrete, prevented the death of the men who were buried beneath the tons of debris.

Minneapolis, Minn., Feb. 12. - Firemen are searching the smoking ruins of the Kenwood Hotel for the bodies of a dozen persons missing since the fire which started Sunday about midnight. MRS. LUCILLE SQUIRE, 30 years old, was killed when she jumped from a third-story window, missing the life-net and striking the pavement. Twelve guests were taken to the hospital suffering from burns. An explosion of gasoline in the basement of the wooden building is thought to have caused the blaze.

Five persons were seen to fall back into the flames when a ledge from which they were preparing to leap gave way.

Spectators who arrived before the fire department rescued many of the hotel residents by piling boxes against the outer walls, which served as fire escapes for the lower floors. It is estimated there were at least 76 persons in the building when the fire started. Many on lower floors saved themselves by jumping from windows.

When the first fire company arrived 20 minutes late and...

Minneapolis (INS) - Six persons, including four children, were killed Saturday when a Navy jet plane crashed in flames and ploughed through six homes near Minneapolis.

Eleven children were hospitalized with injuries.

A man and his wife and two of their three sons were among the dead. The other son was away on a fishing trip.

A girl in a neighboring home was killed as she lay on a couch. A section of the plane's landing gear speared through the house and was found beside the girl's body.

The pilot, Marine Maj. GEORGE E. ARMSTRONG, 33, of the Minneapolis suburb of Edina, died in the plane.

The crash occurred at Weld-Chamberlain Field where last Tuesday an Air Force jet smashed into an auto and killed a woman and her daughter.
Saturday's tragedy came after ARMSTRONG took off in a formation of three Navy F-95 jet fighters.

The control tower said ARMSTRONG immediately radioed for permission to land. There was no explanation.

The plane plunged to the ground near the...

Minneapolis, Minn. (AP) - Four persons died Monday night when fire raced through two upper floors of a four-story hotel on the south edge of the Minneapolis loop.

Identified by the medical examiner's office as two of the victims were ADOLPH GILBERTSON, 58, and THORNTON POPE, 57, both residents of the Kenesaw Hotel.

The other two victims were tentatively identified as CARL ECKLUND, about 50, and EVELYN NASH, about 54. Authorities said they presumed these two also were hotel residents, but had not been able to reach next of kin.

The fire apparently broke out shortly before 5:30 p.m. Fire Chief KENNETH HALL said it was controlled by 6 p.m.
No cause for the blaze had been established Monday night, and no estimate of damage was available. Some 15 rooms of the 40-room hotel were burned out.

Minnehaha Park: This beautiful urban park features the stunning Minnehaha Falls, miles of hiking and biking trails, and picnic areas. It's a perfect spot for a leisurely day outdoors.

Walker Art Center: A renowned contemporary art museum with an impressive collection and iconic sculptures in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.

Minneapolis Institute of Art: This museum boasts an extensive collection of art from various cultures and time periods, with free admission.

Guthrie Theater: Catch a show at this world-class theater that offers both classic and contemporary productions. The Guthrie also has a stunning view of the Mississippi River from its endless bridge.

Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska): A popular lake in the city, offering opportunities for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and biking on its scenic trails.

Mill City Museum: Located on the historic Mississippi Riverfront, this museum tells the story of the flour milling industry in Minneapolis and offers great views...