‘Miscellany’ Archives
“The Alley” Goes to Harvard Law School, Cambridge & Old South Hall, Boston “Spirit of Phillips” to be experienced by its Cartoonist and Editor from Phillips
By Harvey Winje, Editor, The Alley Newspaper Fifty-nine years ago, as a young boy growing up in Phillips, my parents enrolled me at Wendell Phillips Junior High School on 13th Avenue and East 24th Street where housing stands now north of the Phillips Community Center Pool and Gym. To the best of my recollection, no one ever told us who Wendell Phillips was or why the school was named from him when it was built in 1926. The only reference to Wendell Phillips that I can remember is that a picture of him hung in the front lobby of the school. Forty years ago, I spotted a book titled Prophet of Liberty: the Life and Times of Wendell Phillips by Oscar Sherwin in a used book store where a dollar and a half bought me the explanation not given at our junior high school. The life of Wendell Phillips opened a whole new endeavor of study for me of mid-19th century history. By learning about the namesake of our community, I was also able to link our community”'s [...]
Open Letter about Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery and Sue Hunter Weir
As I have gotten to know Sue over the years, I can not even begin to describe how impressed I am with what a great historian, member of our community, and friend Sue is. Sue has such a passion for the cemetery. It may seem like a very niche interest, but Sue has a talent for researching the lives of those Minneapolitans who have come before us and translating them into stories that we may “get to know” these great people in a way that is not communicated through granite. It is inspirational to know someone who “gets it” that life is about putting your energies toward that which you are passionate about. One of my great self indulgences (when I can find time to be by myself) is to go to the Midtown Global Market, grab a bite to eat, grab an Alley newspaper, and loose myself in one of Sue”'s articles about someone who lived in our city 100+ years ago. In particular, Sue brings attention to those who lived rather common, or sometimes even [...]
Open Letter: Phillips”' youth petition helped create the new Stewart Park Soccer Field
In 2009 the Park Board held a public meeting at Stewart Park to gain input from the community on possible athletic field improvements at the park. The East/Midtown Phillips Youth Soccer teams attended in force. They came prepared with nearly 800 signatures on petitions requesting a new soccer field in the park. With funding help from the Hennepin County Youth Sports Grant program and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, that dream became reality. On May 19th, 2011 a beautiful, state of the art soccer field with artificial turf and field lighting was dedicated with the first Barbeque of the season. The celebration included face painting by Park Staff, Juggling and Balloon magic by William Bradshaw of Fun Time Functions and comments by Park Board Commissioner Scott Vreeland and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. Two youth who were at the 2009 public meeting presented McLaughlin and Vreeland soccer balls signed by many of the young petitioners. The highlight of [...]
