the alley Newspaper | News & Views of Phillips Since 1976

Jude the Dude

Written by editor on 01 September 2022

By MARY ELLEN KALUZA

This alley issue features Jude Daniel Anikpo. He was recommended by Sha’Vontie’s (see June alley) mom. Jude and his mother graciously agreed to meet with me. Our conversation didn’t follow the usual Q & A format. Jude came with his portfolio of drawings and writings, and our meeting became more a presentation of his art. I got to see the breadth of Jude’s talents. He explained the symbolism of objects in his drawings, using remarkably sophisticated vocabulary. His mother told me that a favorite excursion is going to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, where he impresses her with his perspective of different pieces.

Jude is nine years old and going into the 4^th grade. He was dubbed “Jude the Dude” by his maternal grandfather who sadly died last year. He liked the idea of using that for the title to honor his grandfather. Jude also wanted to be sure to include his middle name after his paternal grandfather in Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa.… Read the rest “Jude the Dude”

2615 Park Avenue: Celebrating 75 Years of Cooperative Living

Written by editor on 01 September 2022

2615 Park Avenue in the 1950s / Photo courtesy Minnesota Historical Society

By Becky Gazca, Walt Weaver, and Lou Tiffany Welter

How many of you have driven by this building on the corner of Park Avenue and 26th Street and wondered what it was? In front of the American Swedish Institute, “2615 Park” was built in 1929-1930 filling an empty spot in the neighborhood landscape. It was the dream of our founders and builders, Carl Anderson, Gustav Nelson, Andrew Rydell and Gustav Rydell, to build the most luxurious and elegant apartment building in this neighborhood.

“Financing for the construction of 2615 was obtained by the financial skin of our teeth in 1929. The architect most often credited for creating the plans was Martin G. Lindquist. The construction firm was the Anderson-Nelson Company, owned by Carl Anton “C.A.” Anderson and Gustav “Gus” Nelson, both recent Swedish immigrants. Originally designed to be ten stories high, plans were scaled back to six stories thanks to The Great Depression. 2615 was to be a “residents” hotel but with all of the amenities of a typical “transient” hotel. Owned by a group of businessmen, it was managed by the Anderson-Nelson Company with C.A.’s son, Lars, acting as garage attendant, office manager, maintenance man, switchboard operator, boiler tender, and grounds keeper for its first twelve years.… Read the rest “2615 Park Avenue: Celebrating 75 Years of Cooperative Living”