Kim Eslinger
Editor
612-321-8040
kim@millcitymedia.org

Brianna Ojard
Associate Editor

David Tinjum
Publisher
612-321-8020
dave@millcitymedia.org

Claudia Kittock
Columnist / Non-Profits
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Becky Fillinger
Small Business Reporter
Producer / Milling About
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Michael Rainville Jr.
History Columnist
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Doug Verdier
River Matters

Mill City Times is a not-for-profit community service. We do not sell advertising on this site.

Community Partners

Thanks to our community partners, whose support makes Mill City Times possible:

MILL CITY FARMERS MARKET

With over 100 local farmers, food makers and artists, MCFM strives to build a local, sustainable and organic food economy in a vibrant, educational marketplace.

Visit their website...

HENNEPIN HISTORY MUSEUM

Hennepin History Museum is your history, your museum. We preserve and share the diverse stories of Hennepin County, MN. Come visit!

Visit their website...

MEET MINNEAPOLIS

Maximizing the visitor experience of Minneapolis for the economic benefit of our community, making Minneapolis the destination of choice among travelers.

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MSP FILM SOCIETY

Promoting the art of film as a medium that fosters cross-cultural understanding, education, entertainment, and exploration.

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GREAT RIVER COALITION

Enhancing the Minneapolis riverfront environment—for people and pollinators.

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Recent History Posts

Mill City Museum & Minneapolis History Blog

The Unofficial Blog of the Mill City Museum & Minneapolis History.

Monday
Dec122011

Thanks to the Mill City Museum [Photos]

Mill City Museum hosted the 1st Holiday Market held by the Mill City Farmers Market on Saturday.  The crowd was huge, and the event went off without a hitch.  It took extra effort by the MCM staff to pull this off, thank you!  And thanks MCM for partnering with the MCFM on a great neighborhood event, you make a big difference in this community.

Friday
Dec092011

Stone Quarry Update: Limestone Quarry in Minnehaha Park at Work

From Minneapolis Park History:

I was technically correct when I wrote in October that the park board only operated a limestone quarry and stone crushing plant in Minnehaha Park for one year: 1907. But I’ve now learned that the Minnehaha Park quarry was operated for nearly five years by someone else – the Works Progress Administration (WPA).

From early 1938 until 1942 the WPA, a federal program that provided jobs during the Depression, operated the quarry after “tests revealed a large layer of limestone of hard blue quality near the surface” in the park near the Fort Snelling property line at about 54th, according to the park board’s 1937 Annual Report. The WPA technically operated the plant, but it was clearly for the benefit of the Minneapolis park system.

Read the full article here...

Thursday
Dec082011

TPT Almanac Tours "1968" at Minnesota Historical Society

Almanac's David Gillette gets a tour of the Minnesota Historical Society's 1968 Exhibit.

Wednesday
Dec072011

Not to Late to Get Tickets to 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill - The Last 3 Nights at Mill City Museum

Kim and I have attended "Eventually' Christmas the past 2 years, and have tickets for the December 10 performance this year.  This kicks off the holiday season for us, and is an entertaining way to give our daughters of taste of Minneapolis history without them knowing it.  The shows always sell out fast, so reserve your tickets soon.

Times: 6:00pm, 7:00pm and 8:00pm

Location: Mill City Museum, 704 2nd Street South

An 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill

Dates: December 9, 10, 11

Mills at Night 1919 - Final

Christmas Greetings Dec 22 1920 - Final

Above - Christmas Greetings, December 22, 1920

This unique theatrical event performed in the museum's Flour Tower elevator ride, features "The Ghost of Mill City Past" guiding an intimate look at the 1920 Washburn Crosby holiday party.

GhostChains_1

The Ghost of Mill City Past

The script is based on real stories taken from the pages of the company's employee newspaper. Scenes unfold on different floors of the mill and visitors will meet different characters along the way. Witness the rocky romance of Celia and Otto; meet marketing mastermind Benjamin S. Bull; experience the awesome sweeping power of Bill Smith; and learn the secret origin of the Washburn Crosby marketing slogan, "Eventually-Why Not Now?"

Fire 1_crop

Celia & Otto

Celia Crowe June 8 1921

Celia Crowe June 8, 1921

Otto Balk June 8, 1921

Otto Balk June 8, 1921

 

This piece is written by playwright Joseph Scrimshaw, directed by Laura Salveson, and stars a cast of professional Twin Cities' actors. Not recommended for children under the age of 8.

Eventually2011_1

Cast of 'Eventually' Christmas: Holidays at the Mill

Fun and Frolic at Party 1920

Just Before Santa Arrived 1920

Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 for children ages 6-17 and MHS members; $2 off adult admission with Fringe Festival button.

Reservations: required, call 612-341-7555

Monday
Nov282011

A Guide to The Minnesota Historical Society Resources & Services - from @mnhs

The Minnesota Historical Society Library is a unique place and does not operate like most other libraries. This video provides an introduction to the Library and its collections, services, and policies.

Follow the Minnesota Historical Society on Twitter...

Wednesday
Nov232011

Minnesota Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Report Released [Video]

The report of the first year of the Minnesota Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, shows that the program leveraged significant economic growth and an increase in construction jobs. This news comes on the heels of the job report from the Department of Employment and Economic Development showing that construction jobs grew year-over-year for the first time since April 2006.

The report describes job creation benefits, particularly within the construction industry, as well as educational and community-building aspects of preserving our historic past.

The Minnesota Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit allows eligible property owners to receive a state income tax credit of up to 20% of qualifying expenses or a grant in lieu of the credit, and parallels the existing federal rehabilitation tax credit. In the first year of the credit, which ended June 30, 2011, 14 projects received preliminary approval, including the Emerge Career & Technology.

Emerge Community Development is restoring the former Minneapolis North Branch Library, an 1894 historic landmark, to create a career and technology center that will include learning labs, gathering spaces for networking and opportunity building, career training services and office space for co-anchor tenants.

The report is available online at http://www.mnhs.org/taxcredit

Friday
Nov042011

Go Medal Flour, Go! [Photo]

Mill City Museum

Mill City Museum

Mill City Museum

Friday
Oct072011

Larry Millett Talk and Book Signing at Mill City Museum

Larry Millett at the Mill City Museum

Author Larry Millett entertained a crowd of several hundred at the Mill City Museum October 6 with a talk and book signing for his new book, Once There Were Castles: Lost Mansions and Estates of the Twin Cities.   His examples ranged from grandiose downtown mansions (considered temporary and disposable by the wealthy), to sprawling estates that were vacated due to lost riches.  In this age of passionate preservation efforts, it's hard to comprehend how some of the most magnificent mansions were razed in as little as 20 years of being built.

Larry Millett at the Mill City Museum

Once There Were Castles is the first in-depth look at the history of Twin Cities’ mansions, covering ninety lost mansions and estates.  Organized by neighborhood and illustrated with photographs and drawings, it brings these “ghost mansions” back to life.

Larry Millett at the Mill City Museum

Larry Millett at the Mill City Museum

Mr. Millett not only possess a wealth of information, he presents it in an entertaining manner.  Future opportunities to see him are:

October 11, Hopkins Public Library
October 19, Common Good Bookstore
November 7, Author’s chat with Garrison Keillor, Fitzgerald Theater
December 11, St. Paul Public Library

Tuesday
Sep272011

Slideshow - Mill City Oktoberfest

Mill City Museum and Mill City Farmers Market hosted Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 24, 2011.  Enjoy!

Monday
Sep192011

A Sampling of Photos from the "Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront" Contest at the Mill City Museum

Congratulations to the 18 winners below whose work is on display in the Mill City Museum’s Mill Commons from August 25, 2011 through January 2, 2012.

A public reception was held last week to kick off the exhibition.

Below, a sampling of the works:

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront

Seeing the Minneapolis Riverfront