|
You'll find here additional information about the texts used in "Illustrated Tales," including such bibliographic data as I have. Use your browser's back button to return to the page you were on before this one. There are also two series of pages with more detail about the postcards and stereoview images. "Narrative of an expedition to the source of St. Peter's River, Lake Winnepeck, Lake of the Woods, &c. &c." performed in the year 1823, by order of the Hon. J.C. Calhoun, Secretary of war, under the command of Stephen H. Long, Major U.S.T.E. Comp. from the notes of Major Long, Messrs. Say, Keating, and Calhoun This excerpt is from volume one, chapter 7. Major Stephen Long of the US Army was an accomplished expedition leader and explorer when he travelled to Minnesota in 1823. His expedition was to follow the Minnesota River (then called the St. Peter's River) up to its source, then follow the Red River from its source north to survey and help establish the border with Canada. The expedition was supposed to be a scientific survey. So it's hard to understand why they underestimated the drop of the Falls by more than 10 feet. The party included a zoologist and, because there was not yet any way to take photographs, an artist. They carried various scientifical insruments; surely they could accurately measure how high the Falls is. They probably had a barometer, for pete's sake. I'll forgive them for not knowing that Minnehaha Creek begins as the outflow for Lake Minnetonka. At the time, it was known but apparently was not talked about. Minnetonka had been discovered by two boys who'd gone off on an expedition of their own, and who did not have permission to leave the military reservation on which had been built Fort Snelling. One of these kids was the fort commander's son, so the whole incident seems to have been discreetly not mentioned. The Ice Wigwam of Minnehaha The writer tells us that this adventure happened in 1856. At the time, Minnesota was not yet a state. And I've never yet found another mention of this "old Indian legend" of the ice wigwam of Minnehaha. I think the author just made it up, moreso since he doesn't actually explain what this "legend" is. The frozen falls do form a wigwam shaped ice pile some years, as the pictures show. "Floral home; or, First years of Minnesota. Early sketches, later settlements, and further developments" by Harriet E. Bishop. Published by SHELDON, BLAKEMAN AND COMPANY, No. 115 NASSAU STREET, New York; 1857. "Lake Minnetonka has an outlet ..." comes from chapter XXX1 of this, an entire book of early Minnesota pioneer memories. It was in print before statehood, so is a rare resource for the curious and historically-minded. Harriet herself said in the preface: "In this volume the aim has been to present the reader with a truthful picture, so far as words can be signs of ideas, of the beauties and rare advantages of this Floral Territory. And the most important object of its publication will be secured if men and women of sterling worth, are, by it, induced to identify themselves with the interests of this youthful empire, and labor to make it the first state in our glorious Union." "The Drive of All Visitors" is chapter XXXII of "Floral home." Harriet certainly took to her new city; her writing is filled with complementary descriptions. Just calling her book "Floral home" says a lot. This chapter offers up all sorts of research questions. Just where was Groveland, midway between St. Paul and Minneapolis? Was it near the current-day nursery and greenhouse businesses just north of the Fairgrounds? And where was Cheever's Tower? I recall reading somewhere else that it costs a dime to climb it, but that's all I know about it. The road to the Lakes from Minneapolis would have been Hennepin Ave., which followed an old Indian trail from the Falls of St. Anthony to Lake Calhoun. I've no idea who the poet the Rev. Dr. Phelps was. Was Phelps Field on 39th and Chicago named for him? His lines: "Our country's crown and center reflect the enthusiam of the time for Minnesota Territory. People flocked here in the period from the 1850s to the 1870s. Harriet Bishop's descriptions of early life in Minnesota included quotes from other sources. The section called "Upper Mississippi Scenery" in chapter XLIII is quoted directly from the magazine "Putnam's Monthly." She doesn't name the author; perhaps he had no by-line. Me, I want to read the "Putnam's" article on bringing the railroad to Minnesota. And I'd love to know more about this group of 2,500 sightseers, too. "The Ladies' repository: a
monthly periodical, devoted to literature, arts, and religion" Every demonination, even the mysterious "Methodist Episcopal," had one of these general interest publications, seems like. I guess these were the days when the church community was the center of many people's lives. And there weren't a lot of magazines, nor even a lot of books, and no electricity to light up people's homes at night. The era of being able to use the evening hours for entertainment was still decades away at this point in history. Minnehaha gets mentioned repeatedly in "The Ladies' repository." I suspect publications like this one as riding, even building, America's rising tide of affection for "Song of Hiawatha." ..." this enchanted spot"...an untitled, unattributed piece found in vol. 26, iss. 8; August, 1860. A Day at Minnehaha, found in vol. 20, iss. 11; November, 1860. Written by Rev. Prof. E. E. Edwards. I don't know who Reverend Professor Edwards was. I don't even know how to address him. But he does appear again in other Minnehaha Falls-related works. Laughing Water: another mention of Minnehaha with no author or title from vol. 21, iss. 10; October 1861. This piece does mention a view of the Falls of Minnehaha as published in November, 1860. That image is available right here. Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society. These collections are reprints of publications from the MHS. They can include early pamphlets written by Minnesota's founding fathers and earliest leading citizens. There are also reprints of addresses to the Society's members, which seem to tend toward historical review. As Minnehaha Falls or Minnehaha Park gets mentioned here and there, I've included short quotes from the collected publications. "...not water enough for a mill..." from Volume 10, Part 2. Read at the monthly meeting of the Executive Council, March 14, 1904. By Edward A. Bromley. |
