Ascension Place

Asiyo Mohamoud

Minnesota History

Jack Norton

5/14/2019

 For this exhibit I will be talking about the Ascension Place known as Haven Housing on 1803 Bryant Ave North. I will also be talking about how the place became a shelter for unique group of women. Haven Housing also helps and supports women as they stabilize and overcome their barriers. I decided to do this because I thought it was very interesting that this was a place for women who need help. The Ascension Place was first known as the “Old Highlands Association.” Three Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet, along with Father Harrington, were the people that first began the ascension place in 1897. They began the program with 160 students in a three-room building. The Ascension complex is part of five special building. The oldest building was twin- towered Gothic brick building designed by E.J. Dona Hue of Saint Paul under the direction of Archbishop Ireland. The Ascension Place was also a good example of the English Renaissance style. Over the years the place became a housing for women who needed help. It became a shelter to them so that they can get away from the violence and abuse they were facing.

Haven Housing states that “Ascension Place provides transitional housing and comprehensive, individualized support to more than 70 women each year.” Haven Housing is for women who face chemical dependency, mental health issues, histories of abuse, homelessness and many more. They each have a case manager to work with so that they can start planning for a better opportunities and better future. I believe that this place has done an amazing job over the years helping people especially women. It is a safe place for both women and children.

First Convent for the Church of the Ascension.

“Guidestar.org. Accessed May 03, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-1396238. States that “Next Step Housing provides permanent supportive housing to women in our site-based apartment building in North Minneapolis and to women and women-led families living in scattered site apartments throughout Hennepin County.” I defiantly liked the idea of how they are trying to widen the place so that they can help more people. Haven Housing is a place that is willing to help their people and community. In the year of 2016 Haven Housing started doing trauma-informed care throughout their St. Anne’s Place emergency family shelter. This place helped so many women and children overcome the hardships they face and gave them a place to call home.

However, I believe My sources support my thesis because each article states different information on how the Ascension Place works. I don’t believe I would’ve had valid information if it weren’t for my sources. They have helped gather good information for both my thesis and project.

1. “Ascension Place | Haven Housing | Minneapolis, MN.” Haven Housing. Accessed May 02, 2019. https://www.havenhousing.org/ascension-place.( Primary Source)
2. “Old Highland Neighborhood Association. “1803 Bryant Avenue North: Ascension Place.” Minneapolis Historical. Accessed May 03, 2019. http://minneapolishistorical.org/items/show/8.  (Secondary Source)
3. “Guidestar.org. Accessed May 03, 2019. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-1396238. (Primary Source)
4. “1803 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota.” Placeography RSS. Accessed May 03, 2019. http://www.placeography.org/index.php/1803_Bryant_Avenue_North,_Minneapolis,_Minnesota. (Secondary Source)

Building Communities on Bryant Avenue

Ascension Catholic School has taught moral education on Bryant avenue from 1920-1970 in helping build communities together.

            In my first source, it displays kids playing together in the school playground. I believe the school playground had some positive impact on helping children learn different skills in life such as how to interact socially during play time and meeting new kids. This helped bring the community together by allowing parents who live on Bryant avenue to know each other.  Source 1: “1723 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota.” Placeography RSS. Accessed May 7, 2019. http://www.placeography.org/index.php/1723_Bryant_Avenue_North,_Minneapolis,_Minnesota.

            In my second source, the ascension club which is a part of the ascension catholic school played a role in the socialization of the community. The recreation areas provided a way for people to gather and socialize. This built a stronger relationship between different communities on Bryant Avenue. The bowling alley was a great way for people to come together and play games.”1704 Dupont Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota.” Placeography RSS, Accessed May 7, 2019. http://www.placeography.org/index.php/1704_Dupont_Avenue_North,_Minneapolis,_Minnesota.

            Fr. Alexander Christie laid the groundwork for Ascension catholic parish and Fr. Jeremiah continued his legacy in 1894.  I believe having a vision becomes reality when you act upon it. Fr. Harrington knew the importance of education and carried out the vision by buying lots on Dupont Avenue for a school. The school opened its door in September 1898 by the help of three sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. In the beginning, there were only 160 students but the school expanded in 1927 accepting many more students. All of this was possible through Fr. Harrington, who had an idea of building a school for the surrounding community on Bryant avenue in Minneapolis. In 1970, the community on Bryant avenue became culturally diverse. People from different backgrounds eventually enrolled in Ascension Catholic School. I admire Fr Harrington for valuing education and empowering the community by building this school. “History. “Ascension Catholic School. Accessed May 7, 2019.https://ascensionschoolmn.org/about/history/.

            In the book” They Came to Teach by Raiche, Annabelle. “reveals the importance of Ascension Catholic school and the great works done throughout the community. When the school expanded in 1970 it created a way for people of different faith denominations to enroll. For example, students can be a none Catholic and still get accepted. ” Ascension’s First Century,1890-1990, a Booklet Commemorating the 100th anniversary of ascension Parish in Minneapolis, p.41.p72. Raiche, Annabelle. Template They Came to Teach.

In conclusion, it’s evident how Ascension Catholic School helped shape the communities on Bryant Avenue. Thanks to Fr. Harrington for playing a tremendous role in establishing the school. He knew by earning education students would become more successful. Endurance and perseverance through Fr. Harrington is what kept the vision alive.

Minnesota history: Final project

Taha Hassan

The Allan spear colonnade

Minnesota history

Final project  

The Allan spear colonnade in Mueller park is a very historic location for Minnesota history not because of Allan spear but for what he did for others. This exhibit demonstrates the role Allan spear played in important legislation for the rights of the LGBT community. With the sources I found I will support my thesis. To begin who is Allan spear and why was the memorial placed in Mueller park. According to mnopedia Allan spear was the first openly gay man in the the untied states to serve as a state legislator. Allan Spear also fought for the rights of the LGBT community in Minnesota and was the leading reason for the amendment of the Minnesota human rights act in 1993. This amendment included the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Allan spear was born in 1937 to Esther and Irving spear on June 24 in Michigan city Indiana. He was impacted by the kidnap and murder of Emmett till at the age of 18 and took part in the walk on Washington on august 28 1963. These events led to his sense of justice and were the reason he studied and taught African American studies. Allan spear continued teaching and studying African American studies until he was elected as a member of the Minnesota senate. In the year 1974 after an interview with the Minneapolis star on December 9^th Allan spear became the first openly gay man to serve in state legislator in the united states.  from the years between 1974 to 1993 when the amendment was passed Allan spear fought for the LGBT community to be recognized in the human rights act of Minnesota. Now as for the reason to why the memorial/colonnade was placed at Mueller park. According to his autobiography Allan spear lived a block away from the park while he lived in Minnesota. the park was his local place to relax outside. This was the only reason why the colonnade was placed there. Now on to what he did for the LGBT community. As I stated many times before Allan spear was the main reason for the amendment of the Human rights act in the year of 1993. Before 1993 in Minnesota people could discriminate against people based on sexual orientation and sexual preference this was done in hotels, dinners and many more places. because of the amendment and the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and preference that Allan spear worked 20 years to obtain. the LGBT community can live freely in Minnesota. Now according to the current human rights act, the LGBT community is protected in employment, housing, public accommodation such as bathrooms, public service, education, credit and business. Allan spear set the precedent for other forms of LGBT rights in Minnesota as well some of them being the right to a legal marriage between two men and two women as well as the right to adopt children. All these freedoms exist because of Allan Spear. As Allan spear stated in the senate hearing “senate file 444 is an amendment to are state human rights law that would add the category of sexual or effectual orientation to the categories that are already protected under that law. it would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment, public accommodations, public service, access to education, and access to credit”. Allan spear also had Some other things that he tried to have amended that related to LGBT right, but did not see to completion during his lifetime. Allan spear passed away in the year 2008 due to heart complications but his legacy still lives on today.  As you can see Allan spear was the reason we have rights for members of the LGBT community in Minnesota. the amendment of human rights act with the help of Allan spear changed the lives of many LGBT Minnesotans in a historic manner. This change impacted and helped the lives of many in the  Minnesota homes of the LGBT community  around the state . The sources I provided in this blog show and prove my thesis to be true.  It is because of Allan spear and the role that he played in important LGBT legislator that many Minnesotans have the ability to live free in this state. if you want to learn more about Allan spear or the senate hearing check out the sites/sources below or checkout his autobiography at your local library.

1. Spear, Allan H. Crossing the Barriers : the Autobiography of Allan H. Spear . University of Minnesota Press, 2010.

2. Matheson, Jack. “Spear, Allan Henry (1937–2008).” MNopedia. Accessed May 04, 2019. http://www.mnopedia.org/person/spear-allan-henry-1937-2008.

3. Your Rights Under The Minnesota Human Rights Act. PDF. Minnesota Department of HUMAN RIGHTS, May 2013.

4. Services, Minnesota Senate Media. YouTube. May 12, 2013. Accessed May 04, 2019. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P6J3rJgyq0.

      

Theodore Wirth House 1905-1915

Theodore Wirth House 1905-1915

The Theodore Wirth House, which was constructed at 3954 Bryant Avenue South in Minneapolis, is colonial revival style house completed in 1910. Having stood for nine years longer than a century, it is a nationally and locally historically recognized house though at the time of its groundbreaking it was not without controversy. To understand the conflicts surrounding the construction, some background is needed.

Theodore Wirth was a parks superintendent who was responsible for nearly tripling the acres of publicly owned park land in Minneapolis. The Theodore Wirth house was built on Bryant Park land using public funds from the city of Minneapolis. Wirth was attracted to the post in Minnesota with an agreement, one which he enjoyed in his former career in Connecticut state parks. Among the concessions made in 1904 to lure him from his previous post was the construction of a home for Wirth on public land so that he may act as a caretaker of the new city parks lands. Though the home and it’s location anuihnd funding would prove to be controversial, the major argument ensued due to one simple problem above all the others. There was no written record of the agreement! There were legal challenges which nearly doomed the house. Finally, due in part to additional land being donated for the purpose by James J Hill and Thomas Lowry along with a positive decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court, the project was cleared to begin.

The Theodore Wirth House was the residence of Theodore Wirth from 1910, through his retirement in 1935, until 1945. Today, on a hill above a park and ballfields, continues to stand the sturdy stucco sided home which begins to show its age. Today is home mainly to offices for the parks and recreation board, though many parks superintendents have resided there over the years. Through the squabbles of the past was constructed the building acting as the center for the enduring parks department of Minneapolis.

Akre, John, director. Thedore Wirth’s History Book and Historic House Tour. YouTube, YouTube,

4 Dec. 2011, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HN3gAqq_PE.

Roberts, Kate. Minnesota 150: the People, Places, and Things That Shape Our State. Minnesota

Historical Society Press, 2007.

“Theodore Wirth House.” Theodore Wirth House – City of Minneapolis, 7 Feb. 2019,

http://www.minneapolismn.gov/hpc/landmarks/hpc_landmarks_bryant_ave_s_3954_theodore_wirth_house.

Walker Art Center

This exhibit will show how the Walker Art Center has influenced local Minnesotans thanks to its educational programs that it has hosted since its founding in 1940.

Walker art is located here. It is located in a very active area in the Twin Cities. Since its founding in the forties, it has been a major supporter of local artists and a invaluable educator. This exhibit focuses on the Walker from 1940 to 1990.

In the 1940’s the Walker held classes to teach people how to make art. In the 50’s, the focus changed to helping people interpret art. In his thirty year tenure as director of the Walker, Martin Friedman lead many education programs, such as the 1968 Walker-Bryant Art Workshop, the Walker’s first community-based outreach program for teens. Friedman took pride in hosting a variety of diverse exhibits, hosting artworks so people could learn more about the rapidly changing art world. In 1984, the Walker art lab was founded, which was a studio classroom.

This image is of a class being held at the Walker in 1940.

There are specific examples of the Walker being used for education. The above image is of a sculpting class being held in 1940, the first year of the Walker, showing that the Walker has been committed to education since its very first year. We know that the Walker shifted its focus from teaching art to teaching people how to interpret art. In the book, Walker Art Center: Painting and Sculpture from the Collection, Martin Freidman talks about creating a diverse array of exhibits showcasing all different types of art, both local and international. There are even instances of local school children being taught by local artists who have been supported by the Walker. This 1979 newspaper article describes how an artist who has had talked about his Indian poetry at the Walker has visited schools and helped educate and support young people.

Overall, the Walker art center has had a strong history of educating local Minnesotans with it education programs ever since its very first year. Today, it still continues to be a important educator of the arts to many people.

Sources

“Education & Public Programs.” Education & Public Programs. Accessed May 03, 2019. https://walkerart.org/about/education-public-programs.

“A History of Place: Open Field.” Walker Art Center. Accessed May 03, 2019. https://walkerart.org/magazine/a-history-of-place-open-field. (source for image)

“WALKER ART CENTER TIMELINE.” Walker Art. http://media.walkerart.org/pdf/WAC.PR.Timelineupdate.pdf.

“Walker Map.” ArcGIS. Accessed May 03, 2019. (http://arcg.is/1X1evm)

“Martinson Rewarded Prize.” The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Cass Lake), May 1, 1979. https://newspapers.mnhs.org/jsp/viewer.jsp?doc_id=mnhi0061/0BZ11K5H/79050101&query1=&recoffset=0&collection_filter=All&collection_name=b0e780ce-3f60-4737-9502-3c5861d696ca&sort_col=relevance&cnt=0&CurSearchNum=9&recOffset=0.

Friedman, Martin. Walker Art Center: Painting and Sculpture from the Collection. New York: Rizzoli, 1990.

Clara Barton on Bryant Avenue

These exhibits demonstrate that Minnesota has historically been a leader of education , and with Clara Barton school as a good example. Clare Barton school is a good example because it has been recognized by the state also they get aware of the white house. Clare Barton school has been found a long time ago but still going good as new. It may look and feel new but the Clare Barton school is filled with rich history.

            My first source is  about how long Clara Barton school been running. The Clara Barton school had their centennial day in 2016. The Clare Barton school has been open since late may 1852 . Clare Barton school has been recognized By the Minnesota state government.

Minnesota state legislature. “Clara Barton open  school centennial day.” Minnesota state legislature.  Accessed 5/8/2019. https://barton.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/barton_proclamation.pdf

In my second  source, it shows how this school has been chosen to the nation’s best elementary school. Clara Barton school was selected one of the top schools in 1988 then principal  get invited to Washington, D.C., in that fall to receive “flags of excellence.” President Reagan has conducted a ceremony in 1988 at the White House.

“Seven of Minnesota’s elementary schools are chosen as being among nations best.” Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities, (May 19, 1988): 03B. NewsBank. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EFE489A81D341F2.

In my third source, it’s a photo of a Superintendent Visiting a Barton School. Dr. Raymond G. Arveson, meets with students at Barton School.
“Superintendent Visits Barton School.”  Hennepin county library. Photograph. 1976. Accessed 5/8/2019. https://digitalcollections.hclib.org/digital/collection/p17208coll14/id/1562/rec/1

In this source from the physical book, it talks about who the school been named after. Clare Barton was strong woman. She stared taking care of her brother as a young age. And ever since than to the time she died she was helping people. She was brave woman who even use to put herself in dangers to help people. She use to go help the military while the war is going. she did so many thing for this country. she is the founder of red cross. She use to nor take NO for an answer to bring red cross to united states took her 9years finally she win and bring them to united states. And at the age of 60 where most the people got retire Clare Barton become the  president of red cross. Clare Barton died 1912. Even though she died before this school was founded the founders named after Clare Barton  because they wanted to draw inspiration from  her intelligence, caring, and bravery for the student.

Woodworth, Deborah, and Baxter, Leon. Compassion : the Story of Clara Barton. Plymouth, MN: Child’s World, 1998.

            My last source is talking about how the school is willing to help their student and understand more.so they are making something called open education resources (OER).  Clare Barton school is practicing open education resources  school. Which is new way of trying to understand the students more.  open education school is required the teacher to expand and update what their method in order to keep up with the  new applicant being placed on them.

Littlejohn, Allison, and Nina Hood. “How Educators Build Knowledge and Expand Their Practice: The Case of Open Education Resources.” British Journal of Educational Technology 48, no.2 (2017): 499–510. doi:10.1111/bjet.12438.

 I believe that my sources support my thesis because I have enough information on how the school is good example to Minnesota state.  Without my sources I wouldn’t  have thesis. In my first source it proves the age of the school and how it’s still running fine. My image shows an example of an intelligence, civilized students who are listening and respecting  their visitor. My newspaper article shows how the school wins on being one of  the top school in the Minnesota state.  

1723 Bryant Ave N, Minneapolis, North church of the Ascension

The Bryant Avenue North church of the Ascension
The church was first founded and build in 1903 by mainly
Irish American immigrants and it was the home for many Catholic
immigrants coming from Ireland.
The church was run by Father Alexander Christie and during his leadership there
was a push to ban alcohol. which in turn made him very unpopular with the majority of the
people that he had under him being from a German and Irish decent and
alcohal was a big part of there culture and daily lives.
where the church stood in 1903 there used to be a smaller church that they used
as there place of worship but a decade before father Jermiah Harrington
desided to pull the “old” building down and errect the church that father Alexander
presented over. Father Jeremiah Also desided to add on new additions to the

church which included an “Ascension club, an Ascension school, and a Rectory”.
He later also established a Covenent there. This church was very important because it was the
meeting place for many Irish People since at the time the Irish weren’t that welcome in the
United states and this became a meeting place where they could all feel safe and where they could congregate
with one another.

Bryant Square Park

Bryant Square Park has been apart of the Minneapolis since 1907. The historic park, Bryant Square Park, greatly benefits children who live near in vicinity through their physical and mental wellbeing. In the early days of the parks existence, there was not much at the park. The year 1911,

1803 Bryant Avenue

This exhibit will demonstrate that the building at 1803 Bryant Avenue known as Ascension Place/Haven House has been a significant place to meet the housing and educational needs of two groups of women.

From 1932 to 1982 the site of 1803 Bryant has met the unique needs of women. During the 1930’s this area sometimes referred to as “Old Highland,” Ascension Church, the Ascension Club, and the Ascension School. The convent now known as Ascension Place was built to provide housing for the growing number of sisters teaching at the school. It was in 1948 that two previously built houses were demolished, and Ascension Place was built as a convent to house 32 sisters.

It would seem that the period of the 1930’s through 1950’s was a time of growing population. With post World War 1 and World War 2 families settling and growing their was a need for churches and schools. The convent allowed the sisters to live near their school and be a part of the community they served. However as the number of parishioners diminished in the 1960’s and 70’s, perhaps because of families moving to the suburbs fewer sisters were needed at the school.

In 1981, again under the vision of the Catholic Church the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, responded to the needs of women by changing the mission to provide transitional housing. Women in need of a place to live as a result of domestic abuse homelessness and chemical dependency now had a place to live. It continues to operate today as an independent non-profit organization meeting the needs of complex issues facing women.

Sources

1803 Bryant Avenue. Minneapolis. Minneapolishistorical.org/items/show/8
 
Millett, Larry.  Twin Cities Then and Now. Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1996.

 http://www.placeography.org/images/5/53/Tdlindberg–1803_Bryant_Ave_N_building_permit.pdf

 https://www.havenhousing.org/ascension-place

 http://www.placeography.org/images/7/71/Tdlindberg–Ascension_entry_from_1980%27s_Walking_Tour.pdf

Link to Timeline https://cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3/latest/embed/index.html?source=1-c7qUeYfwmBdd4oeAeH-tUAkNu-fv462orUqjqhMm4k&font=Default&lang=en&initial_zoom=2&height=650

Gluek Mansion on Bryant Ave.

Savannah Joyce

Minnesota History 1133-10

May 9th, 2019

Bryant Ave Project

Gluek Mansion

The Gluek Mansion was built in 1902 and was home to John G. and Minnie Gluek. The house was designed by William H. Keyan. “The John G. Gluek House marks the transition from the popular Queen Anne style of architecture in the nineteenth century to a “colonial” or Neo Georgian form that became fashionable in the early twentieth.” The Gluek family made a big impact on Minneapolis by their mansion and their Brewing company.

John Gluek was a german immigrant, who was a second generation brewer. He founded Gluek Brewing Company in 1857 on the banks of the Mississippi and he was the secretary treasurer for the family business. Their business grew dramatically and soon became one of the biggest beer distributors in the Midwest.

After starting the family business he decided to move across the the river and build this house. This house is a  two story mansion is kitty corner from Mueller Park off of Bryant Ave in Minneapolis. Although the mansion was built so long ago in 1902, the still have many of the details intact such as the original ice box; pictured on the right.

Behind the house there is a two story carriage house with stables for horses and hay that fed them. This carriage house is significant because is it know of its amazingly fancy hay storage doors and has been named “Fanciest hay storage doors in the Twin Cities. It comes as a huge surprise it has only been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1990 and not longer. Larson goes on to say “”It’s not anything like one would expect from a Georgian house. The staircase goes off to the side rather than the grand central stair that you would expect in a Georgian house, and the ornament goes back and forth between sort-of proper Georgian neoclassicism and the progressive design that William Kenyon was getting into.””

Unfortunately neither John or Minnie were able to enjoy their house to long and grow old together because they got in a bad car crash in 1908 and both died instantly.

The Gluek’s left the house to their only child, Eugene, who was only 13 years old at the time. Eugene lived there until 1939 when they decided to sell the mansion to a real estate investor Henry Bowman because they wanted house of their own for their family. Now the house has only been sold twice in its enturnity. The first time it was sold to a family member named Henry and Tessie Bowman in 1939 and Tessie lived in the house from 1939-2006. She made an effort to make very few alterations to the house because of the history connected to the house and he love for collector objects. The second time it was sold to Gary and Evelyn Hill, they have lived in the neighborhood for 10 years and had three kids of their own.  The Hill family are becoming the new owners of it and hoped to move in soon when they bought it in 2007. First they had to modernize the current condition of the house but retain as much of its original design as possible so they can live there with their three children. One thing that must remain everytime the home is sold is the kitchen “This is just amazing to see a kitchen remaining from a turn of the century house. One of the things that allowed it to remain is that it was large for its period. This is a good-size kitchen, the kind of kitchen that came in when the lady of the house, in this case Minnie Gluek, got into cooking herself and it wasn’t just a place where the maid would hang out. Buying this house took a lot of effort on their part, Evelyn says “the condition of the house is an opportunity and a challenge.”  This house has not been touched ever so in a lot of situations it is not safe to life in or be in until further dealt with, but Gary Hill’s goal is to do a lot of the stuff himself and make it livable for him and his family. They plan to live there for a long time because its “their legacy and their family home.”

City of Minneapolis, “National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form,” 1983. August 4, 2011 http://www.minneapolismn.gov/hpc/landmarks/hpc_landmarks_bryant_ave_s_2447_john_gluek_house_and_carriage_house

1. Thomas, Dylan. “A Slice of Wedge History.” Southwest Journal, 1 June 2016  www.southwestjournal.com/focus/neighborhood-spotlight/2016/06/a-slice-of-wedge-history/.
2. Bickal, Jim. “New Life for the Gluek House.” Minnesota Public Radio News, 16 Mar. 2007, www.mprnews.org/story/2007/03/15/glueckmansion.
3. Brandt. “Gluek’s History Here Predates the City.” Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 3 Nov. 2012, www.startribune.com/gluek-s-history-here-predates-the-city/173127951/.