Written by Phil Wala
1870 (July 26)
Salmon P. Chase, former Secretary of the Treasury, US Senator, Ohio Governor, and now Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, is in Minneapolis. And while here, he attended both the morning and evening services at Centenary Methodist Church, forerunner of Hennepin Church. You probably recognize Chase from his portrait on those $10,000 bills in your wallet.
1874 (July 23)
T. B. Walker, who will be a founding member of Hennepin Church, is having a mansion built on the southeast corner of Eighth and Hennepin. The Minneapolis Tribune reports details of this extravagant home.
1874 (July 29)
The troubles at Centenary Church continue to make headlines. For more details of this story, read Aspire! 150 Years at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, by Lori Sturdevant and Bobbie Keller, available this September. (Minneapolis Tribune)
1899 (July 24)
Hennepin’s eighteen-year-old “red brick church” building on the southwest corner of 10th is being refurbished. While that work is being done, Hennepin Church will have joint services with the First Baptist Church. Last summer, Hennepin hosted the First Baptist congregation while their building was being refitted. (Minneapolis Times)
1915 (July 25)
Hennepin Church members have an outing at the country home of church members Mr. and Mrs. Marion Savage. The Savages live about 15 miles south of Minneapolis, in the town named in Savage’s honor. (Minneapolis Tribune)
1928 (July 28)
T. B. Walker, business magnate, art collector, and founding member of Hennepin Church, dies at the age of 88. (Minneapolis Journal)
1931 (July 27)
In this clipping found in the church scrapbook, the Minneapolis Journal reflects on the passing of Elizabeth Wood Harrison, who taught a Sunday School class as Hennepin for over 50 years. The Harrison Room near the art gallery is named in her honor.
1932 (July 26)
Rev. Harold Ruopp of Chicago preached at Hennepin Church during the summer of 1932 while Pastor Raines vacationed. He was popular enough to bring back again in 1933 and 1934. When Pastor Raines was named bishop in 1948, Ruopp was asked to come back and serve as Hennepin’s seventeenth lead pastor. If this anecdote related by the Minneapolis Journal is any indication, his dry sense of humor may have contributed to his popularity.
1979 (July 29)
Rev. Calvin Hanson was associate pastor at Hennepin from 1971-1983. He went on to serve as pastor of Trinity UMC at Lowry Ave. and Taylor St. in NE Minneapolis, and then returned to Hennepin in 1992. In this photo, from around 1975, Hanson is seen chatting with someone who is still an active member of the church today. Can you identify her? In this July 29, 1979 message “Reflections at the Pond,” Hanson talks about a pond at the Koinonia Retreat Center that was a place of reflection for him.
1992 (July 26)
Rev. Daniel Brewer was associate pastor at Hennepin from 1992 to 1995. He was a native of Liberia who came to the United States following the outbreak of civil war in Liberia. This message, entitled “In God We Trust,” was the first sermon he preached at Hennepin.
