Gallery of Loss and Light: Part 5

By HARVEY WINJE

Part 5 is about the loss of trust and how nominal—in name only—titles of people, positions, and institutions cannot be assumed to be trustworthy; even though sometimes well-intended. Hopefully these episodes and anecdotes can shed light for the community going forward. How can we as individuals pivot from disappointment to opportunity; from strength to strength?

Who Was in the Room?

Decisions about property of Messiah Evangelical Church Congregation, MELCC, were probably made by key leadership members and pastors. Only five such members are briefly described below to help imagine what transpired over decades leading up to the demolition of the 1908 and 1954 buildings.

Mr. Charles O. Johnson

Charles Johnson became a copy boy at age ten, Minneapolis Daily News reporter as a high school student, Minneapolis Star sports editor at 22 years old, and Star and Tribune sports editor after a 1941 merger until retirement in 1968.

He was highly influential in establishing professional sports in Minneapolis. He mentored writers like Halsey Hall and Sid Hartman and took them on trips to persuade wealthy team owners in other states, sometimes flying in the airplane of the owner of the Star Tribune, John Cowles. The Cowles family lived at 2318 Park Avenue in the Tenny Mansion from 1939 until 1983–the last resident of mansions on Park Ave.… Read the rest “Gallery of Loss and Light: Part 5”