‘Tales from Pioneers & Soldiers Cemetery’ Archives
Plaque”'s theft is a historically large loss and a petty thief”'s gain
TIMOTHY McCALLSoldier and Pioneers Memorial Cemetery since 1858 had new fence and pillars erected in 1928-29 and plaques soon after as a gift from the Minneapolis Cemetery Protective Association”'s (MCPA) Auxiliary. Someone stole a piece of the City”'s history. It happened on Aug. 30 or 31st, most likely during the night. One of the two bronze plaques that graced the pillars on either side of the Lake Street gates was stolen. The thieves were trying to steal the other but must have been interrupted. Some of the stone that held the plaque was chiseled away but not enough to loosen it. The fence and pillars were erected in 1928-29 and the plaques added either at the same time or shortly afterward. They were a gift from the Minneapolis Cemetery Protective Association”'s (MCPA) Auxiliary. The Auxiliary was a group of women from the association”'s membership who raised funds for many of the structures that have been identified as contributing resources in the [...]
Louis Borck, aspired for 100 years, contentment, no worries
Tales from Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery BY SUE HUNTER WEIR 160th in a Series Louis Borck wanted only two things in life””he wanted to be left alone and he wanted to live to be 100 years old. The first, he believed, would help him reach the second. It didn”'t quite work out that way. On February 27, 1912, Borck found himself in court trying to prove that he did not need a court-appointed guardian. He was born in Germany in 1833 so he was about 79 years old when neighbors asked officials in the welfare department to help him. That”'s when he told the judge that his only ambition was to live to see his 100th birthday. After that birthday, he said, “I do not care what they do with me.” And it was in the courtroom that he laid out his rules for a long life: “That you live by yourself. Eat only once or twice a day. Always be contented. Never worry.” (more…)
