‘Alley Gallery of Loss’ Archives
Get Dick Bancroft!
Dick Bancroft, Storyteller, July 21, 1927 ”“ July 16, 2018 COURTESY OF BANCROFT FAMILY BY LAURA WATERMAN WITTSTOCK Dick was born in St Paul, MN on July 21, 1927 to parents who were both industrious and creative, and they wanted their son Dick to be the same. He shoveled walks and did many other chores for nickels, following his father”'s admonition of saving half of what he earned. Along the way he learned to care for farm animals and milk cows. But these were chores. Dick had ideas and wanted to express them in images. As a child, Dick earned a small plastic Kodak camera. He began to take his own pictures. They were no more than two inches square, but they were so cherished, that he had them in his collection at life”'s end. There were pictures of the family, the dog, and the car. But Dick wanted more than that. Above all, he wanted a real camera. At that time his family subscribed to the magazine “LIFE,” with its brilliant pictures of famous [...]
Our DAD, Virgil Welna
By VIRGINIA M. MAGNER He unlocks the door and cranks down the awning. Then turns on the lights. A new day is dawning. It”'s eight o”'clock sharp; all merchandise in its”' place. For the next 10 hours he”'ll keep a steady pace. Serving the needs of the young and the old. And listening with his heart, I have been told. Down creaky stairs, he heads for the basement. To a child”'s eyes, it is a place of amazement. Wood beams on the ceiling and limestone for walls. And whiffs of machine oil I do recall. (more…)
Virgil Welna 1929-2018 Vast legacy by quintessential storekeeper and community elder
Virgil Welna has heard the last bell signaling another person to meet and serve By JENN WELNA Born on March 24th, 1929 in Holdingford, MN to Alphonse (Al) and Anna, Virgil (Virg) Welna was one of six children. When he was in 8th grade, his family moved from their large house in the small town to a two-bedroom apartment in the Phillips neighborhood to ensure that each of their children could find a job and go to college. Upon his arrival in Minneapolis, Virg worked two jobs to pay his tuition to DeLaSalle High School: in the fruit department at the local grocer and at Dalsin Hardware where his father was the manager. (more…)
