Written by Phil Wala
1875 (October 24)
A notebook in the church archives contains this 150-year-old hand-written record of the first meeting of a new Methodist society in Minneapolis:
Sunday, Oct 24, 1875
Met at the “Friends Meeting House” today at 2½ P.M.
Opened with singing and prayer.
Voted that this School shall be known and designated as “The Hennepin Ave. M. E. Sunday School.” …
Total number present 102.
Collection $10.07H. O. Hamlin
Sec’y
A news clipping in the church scrapbook (source unknown, but possibly The Evening Mail) states: “It is already demonstrated that the new school has a useful field of operations before it, and that a strong Methodist church will grow out of it.”
1891 (October 24)
Exactly (to the hour) sixteen years after the first meeting of the Hennepin Avenue Sunday School, Hennepin’s seventh pastor, Dr. Otis H. Tiffany, died. His death occurred on Saturday afternoon, and the Minneapolis Tribune reported on Sunday morning that there would be “no services whatever” at Hennepin Church that day.
1894 (October 27)
The Minneapolis Times scores an interview with the newly-appointed pastor of Hennepin Church, Rev. Edward L. Watson, who is surprised by the attention. The article describes him as “a pleasant little man about 30 years of age.” (He was actually 34, making him Hennepin’s second-youngest pastor, second only to Richard Raines, who was 31 on his arrival.)
1916 (October 22)
Methodism’s “finest church” is dedicated, and both the Tribune and Journal provide extensive front-page coverage in the Sunday newspapers.
It was estimated that over 8000 people attended some portion of the Sunday activities. To see a copy of the program for the dedicatory period from October 22 through November 2, which includes a history of the church up to that point, click the image below:
