News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Thursday December 25th 2025
First Minneapolis Library start-up money donor, Dr. Kirby Spencer, trusted and cared for by Armstrong English
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- Kirby Spencer, an eccentric, reclusive dentist and philanthropist who trusted and was tended to by Armstrong English, a “good natured and hard working man” with varied talents including chimney sweep for the City of Minneapolis.
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- Photo: Kirby Spencer”'s house on Washington Avenue in the 1860”'s.
By Sue Hunter Weir
Dr. Kirby Spencer, one of Minneapolis”' first dentists, is generally credited with providing the money to start Minneapolis”' Athenaeum* which functioned as the city”'s first public library. Eventually the Athenaeum evolved into the Minneapolis Public Library and more recently into the Hennepin County Library. His was one of the early burials in Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery and even though he was later disinterred and reburied at Lakewood, he remains one of the cemetery”'s most written about residents. Another man, Armstrong English, who most likely has never been written about, took care of Spencer in the weeks and months before he died. English and two of his infant sons, both infants, are still buried in Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery.… Read the rest “First Minneapolis Library start-up money donor, Dr. Kirby Spencer, trusted and cared for by Armstrong English”
Still Empty, After All These Years!
Olympic size pool built with Model City money in 1974 that”'s future is in the throes of budgetary/politico squalor. The question remains; “Will it all be money down the drain?”.
by Robert Albee
City Pages published an Erin Carlyle piece on September 9th in 2009 featuring me standing in an empty pool complaining about the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board allowing the Phillips Community Center (PCC) building to close and residents also losing access to the only indoor swimming pool in the community. Although the story was about “redlining” and inequities in Park Board spending allocations, the PCC pool itself still stands empty. This despite the fact that the building itself reopened three years ago.
A non-profit, Minneapolis Swims took the initiative and agreed with the Park Board, that it would raise the necessary capital to rebuild the pool and oversee its operations in service to the community. During the next few years, various proposals were assembled suggesting three options, ranging from a $2.5 million rebuild to a $8.5 million total redevelopment that would include two pools and a specialized diving well.
At its July, 16th meeting, the Administration & Finance Committee of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) voted to approve Resolution 2014-250 which read: “Resolution Authorizing Actions to Proceed with Development of the Phillips Community Center Aquatic Facility with the Intention the the MPRB Will Construct and Operate the Facility Upon the Commitment and Board of Commissioners Acceptance of Necessary Capital Funds by March 31, 2015.”… Read the rest “Still Empty, After All These Years!”
“We are Midtown Phillips” hits the streets
By Patrick Cabello Hansel
St. Paul”'s Lutheran Church and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theater (HOTB) are hitting Midtown Phillips streets in a big way, reaching out to neighbors to engage them in action for their community. With funding support from Midtown Phillips Neighborhood Association, Inc. (MPNAI) and others, artists and youth leaders are energizing residents and business people to transform the visual impact of the community.
Focus is creating two Arts Avenues: Bloomington Parade Route and the Green Arts Pathway on 15th Avenue. Thru summer and fall you will see new art popping up in various places, new boulevard gardens and plenty of celebrations.
Projects:
Art Cart: The HOBT Art Cart will be touring Phillips on Thursday afternoons, 12-3pm distributing free art materials and arts activities to youth. Look for HOBT artists and youth apprentices towing the yellow and orange burley on the Avenues of the Arts- Bloomington Ave. and 15th Ave. and possible detours to find young artists all over Midtown Phillips.
Photography exhibit: “We Are Midtown Phillips” Exhibit will gather images of the people of Phillips at work, at play, in service, in daily life. Send ideas that young artists can photograph to Stpaulscreate@gmail.com… Read the rest ““We are Midtown Phillips” hits the streets”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
