Early days in Minnesota's
Hennepin and Dakota Counties are recalled in this spiral bound booklet
reprinted from two rare books: History of the Minnesota Valley,
by the Rev. Edward D. Neill, and Minnesota, a State Guide,
a WPA publication. The booklet is printed one-sided on 60# paper
with the print enlarged for easier reading. A vinyl sheet has been
added to protect the front cover.
The
1882 Neill history covers the early development of this area, while
excerpts from the WPA book, give a nostalgic glympse from a 1938
vantage point, including interesting historical notes, especially
as they relate to sightseeing possibilities. The city of Minneapolis,
grew nothing in 1855 to 50,000 in 1882, to nearly half a million
in 1938.
Past and/or present
communities (all of which may not be mentioned in the booklet)
include:
HENNEPIN COUNTY:
Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Champlin, Chanhassen
(part), Corcoran, Crown College, Crystal, Crystal Bay, Crystal Lake,
Dayton (part), Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Fort Snelling,
Golden Valley, Greenfield, Greenwood, Hamel, Hanover (part), Hassan,
Hopkins, Howard Lake, Independence, Long Lake, Loretto, Maple Grove,
Maple Plain, Medicine Lake, Medina, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetonka
Beach, Minnetonka Mills, Minnetrista, Mound, Navarre, New Hope,
Orono, Osseo, Plymouth, Richfield, Robbinsdale, Rockford (part),Rogers,
Saint Anthony (part), Saint Bonifacius, Saint Louis Park, Saint
Paul, Shorewood, Spring Park, Tonka Bay,Twin Cities AMF, Wayzata,
Woodland ,Young America.
DAKOTA COUNTY: Apple Valley, Burnsville,
Coates, Eagan, Farmington, Hampton, Hastings (part), Inver Grove
Heights, Lakeville, Lilydale, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Miesville,
New Trier, Northfield (part), Randolph, Rosemount, Saint Paul, Savage,
South St. Paul, Sunfish Lake, Vermillion, West St. Paul.
Among the many subjects discussed
are: How Hennepin county
was formed from part of Dakota; Boundaries and Boundary Disputes;
Early public officials; Land speculators; Zebulon Pike's visit
in 1805; Colonel Leavenworth's arrival in 1819; Fort Snelling;
Many firsts, such as the first steamboat to pass the rapids at
Rock Island, the first saw mill in MN, the first farm, first marriage,
etc.; Trading in Whisky and Trouble; Emigrants, half-breeds and
voyageurs; Franklin Steele's saw-mill at St. Anthony; Pierre Bottineau,
a successful half-breed; Charles Wilson, John H. Stevens, Jean
Baptiste Faribault and other pioneers; Indian treaties; Rapid
growth of Hastings; Hard times when "Land Poor" folks
were charged high interest rates; a special section on the life
of Father Hennepin, an adventurous missionary; and excerpts from
his writings ("in all probability Japan is on the same
continent as America"); and other bits of history and
trivia. There are several small maps of the Minneapolis area,
including one of the University of Minnesota, from the WPA book,
and a list of Points of Interest. Mini biographies of some early
residents are also included.
Wouldn't this make a unique
gift?
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