Minnesota Historical Society | Page 55

Souvenir beer can from Anoka Halloween Celebration, 1978

A souvenir beer can from the 1978 Anoka Halloween Celebration.

Anoka Halloween Celebration

Anoka, Minnesota, became the Halloween Capital of the World in 1937. The title recognizes its status as one of the first cities to discourage Halloween tricks by hosting a city-wide party: the Anoka Halloween Celebration.

Henry Martyn Bracken

Henry Martyn Bracken (chief executive of the Minnesota State Department of Health, 1893‒1919, 1916).

Letter to Surgeon General on transportation of patient D.P.

In this letter, a doctor describes the transportation of Italian immigrant D.P. to the Diamond Point Quarantine Station in Washington state, chosen for its isolation and temperate mountain climate. Leprosy was still incurable, and although leprosy is virtually impossible to transmit without sustained contact, great care was taken to ensure the patient left no disease-causing bacteria behind. On the journey, Mr. D.P. separated his bedsheets from the mattress with a thick towel to ensure no skin flakes or body fluids were left behind, regularly cleaned his sink with a 60% alcohol solution, gargled and flushed his nose with a antibacterial wash multiple times daily, and kept his used linens separate for later disposal.

Charles Hewitt

Charles Hewitt, creator of the Minnesota State Board of Health and the first secretary of the State Board of Health, 1872‒1897, 1891.

Leprosy in Minnesota

When Minnesotans think about leprosy, they may recall Biblical references to the “unclean,” the National Leprosarium in Louisiana, or a Hawaiian leper colony. In our state, however, leprosy was a medical concern during the late 1800s and early 1900s, when many of the affected were Norwegian immigrants.

Harmony Amish

On the streets of the small town of Harmony, in Fillmore County, cars and trucks share road space with horse-drawn black buggies and wagons. Drivers in modern dress travel alongside people dressed in dark, plain clothing resembling mid-nineteenth-century attire—members of a local Amish enclave. Since its founding in 1974, the Harmony-area Amish community has grown to become the largest Amish population in Minnesota.

Remick, Robert (1904‒1998)

Visual artist Robert Remick spent decades creating masterpieces that grace public buildings, galleries, business places, and homes. As his fame grew throughout his career, so did his generosity. The Remick Gallery in the Cottonwood County Historical Society building, the Remick Ridge Estates for senior living, and the Robert and Helen Remick Charitable Foundation Trust are named in recognition of his philanthropy.

Milk carton kayak used in Minneapolis Aquatennial, 1971

Kayak constructed of waxed paper milk cartons over wooden frame with masonite supports. Brands of milk cartons used include Land-O-Lakes, Target, Polka-Dot Dairy, Inc., Dairy Fresh Brand, Purity-Ohleen, Franklin and Farmdale. Large advertisement stickers adhered to top of kayak are for sponsors including radio stations KDWB 63, and WDGY and Dairy Queen. Paddle wheel attachment is constructed of masonite with wood beam supports. Paddle hand crank made of white PVC pipe connected to wood supports with a small metal bracket connected to wood. Used in the 1971 Minneapolis Aquatennial.

Minneapolis Aquatennial

Started in 1940 by a group of businessmen looking to promote their city nationally, the Minneapolis Aquatennial has been drawing crowds every July since for parades, pageantry, and crowd events, highlighting Minneapolis’s status as the “City of Lakes.”

Gale Family Library