Written by Phil Wala
This week we share some more clips from the 80-year-old color movie film found in the church archives. This time, the clips highlight music at Hennepin Avenue Church in the early 1940s. There is no sound, but you will see singing at a University of Life meeting, Mildred Nye directing the youth chorus, and Thure Fredrickson directing the choir from the organ. Fredrickson was organist, choir director, and minister of music from December 1928 to September 1965 – a remarkable 37 years! Watch below to travel back in time and see Hennepin Avenue Church as it was 80 years ago.
1896 (March 3)
After eight years as director of the Hennepin Church choir, director Thomas Taylor Drill steps down to take a new position in Chicago. During his time at Hennepin, Drill recruited talent to increase the size and talent base of the choir, and to showcase their vocal artistry outside the church walls. So great was his influence, that in the larger community, the Hennepin choir was more commonly known as “Thomas Taylor Drill’s Chorus.” (Minneapolis Tribune)
1898 (February 26)
Fowler Methodist Church dedicates the Fowler Chapel, the first phase in the construction of its building at Franklin and Dupont, on Lowry Hill. Worship services will be held in this chapel until 1907, when the second phase of construction will be completed – the construction of the much larger sanctuary. In 1911, the Fowler and Hennepin Avenue congregations will merge, and meet together at this location while the new building at Lyndale and Groveland is under construction. (Minneapolis Journal)
1924 (March 2)
Radio broadcasting is still a new phenomenon, but Hennepin Avenue Church is an early adopter of the technology. Today, the church bulletin announces that for the month of March, Hennepin’s Sunday evening services will be broadcast over the Twin Cities’ first full-time, full-power commercial broadcasting station, WLAG. Later this year, the station will be sold to the Washburn-Crosby Company,¹ which will change the call letters to WCCO.
¹ now known as General Mills
1932 (February 27)
Dr. Richard Raines has been pastor for a year-and-a-half, and attendance at Hennepin Avenue Church is growing – so much so that the church needed a plan to handle overflow crowds. In an innovative use of technology, an amplifier feeds loudspeakers in the art gallery, where those who can’t find a seat in the sanctuary can at least listen to the service. (Minneapolis Journal)
1962 (March 3)
In March 1962, winter was still going strong in Minnesota, and young people from the University of Life gathered for a day of outdoor activities. Here are a few scenes pulled from a sleeve of black and white negatives found in the church archives.
