Written by Phil Wala

1875 (November 13)

Three weeks after the first session of the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Episcopal Sunday School, a meeting was held at the home of Collins Hamer. At the meeting, a letter was written to Centenary pastor Rev. S. McChesney declaring that 76 individuals were withdrawing their memberships from Centenary Methodist Church. Immediately thereafter, the following resolution was adopted:

“Resolved. That we the undersigned do hereby form and constitute ourselves into a new Methodist Society to be connected with the Minnesota Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Minneapolis, Nov. 13, 1875”

The 86 people who signed this resolution (10 others in addition to the 76 who came from Centenary) became the founding members of Hennepin Avenue M. E. Church. The original hand-written entry can still be found in the church archives.

1882 (November 10)

Hennepin Avenue Church served a Friday evening supper in their building on 10th and Hennepin. As was typical of most church suppers in those days, the main items on the menu were oysters and ice cream. 

1894 (November 10)

In an article in the Minneapolis Times, new Hennepin pastor Rev. E. L. Watson offered his opinion on the big issue of the day in Methodist circles: whether or not card-playing and theater-going should continue to be forbidden. While Watson advised against such vices, he felt that it should be a personal decision, not an enforced mandate. 

1918 (November 11)

The front page of the Minneapolis Tribune heralded the end of the World War. 

2000 (November 12)

The play “From Generation to Generation,” a dramatic presentation of the history of Hennepin Church, was performed. The play was written and directed by the long-time proprietor of the Old Log Theatre, Don Stolz, who also appeared in the play. Narrators were Rev. Rod Wilmoth and Ginger Sisco. The rest of the cast is identified in the program, to which I have added a few footnotes reflecting more recent research into church history. A video of the drama, retrieved from VHS videotape, can be viewed below.