Written by Phil Wala
1874 (September 13-16)
The feud in Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church wasn’t just an internal church matter —it was the gossipy subject of headlines in all the local newspapers. This will continue for another full year before a group of Centenary members break away to start Hennepin Church. What was behind the “Centenary War”? Find out what our research has discovered in Aspire! 150 Years at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, on sale beginning September 28. (Minneapolis Tribune, Minnesota Gopher)
1891 (September 11)
The Minneapolis Tribune correctly predicts that associate pastor Frederick O. Holman will eventually replace Dr. Otis Tiffany as Hennepin’s pastor. But it will happen much sooner than expected. What the “dickey birds” didn’t know is that Dr. Tiffany had only six more weeks to live.
1895 (September 13)
According to the Minneapolis Times the “equipage parade” promises to be a “swell and stylish” affair for Minneapolis society. Among the participants will be a hay wagon carrying the Hennepin Choir under the direction of Thomas Taylor Drill.
1900 (September 16)
Hennepin pastor Dr. C. B. Mitchell preaches on a topic that would not age well. And on Friday night, Rev. J. W. Heard (son of Hennepin’s second pastor, C. M. Heard) will use the stereopticon for an alliterative presentation of his vacation slides. (Minneapolis Times)
1912 (September 15)
The Minneapolis Journal looks back at how much Lowry Hill has changed since 1886. To find out what else our research discovered about what was then known as “Lowry’s Bluff,” including an amazing photo of what the church neighborhood looked like before the landscape was drastically altered, read Aspire! 150 Years at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, available September 28.
1916 (September 16)
Associate pastor Gilbert Stansell, who has been serving as Hennepin’s acting pastor during Pastor Gillies’ year-long medical leave, calls for an end to segregation between white and black Methodist churches, a position strongly opposed by the southern branch of the Methodist Church. It will be 21 years before Border Methodist Church becomes the first black church in Minnesota to leave the all-black Lexington Conference and join the Minnesota Conference. Meanwhile, the new sanctuary at Lyndale and Groveland is nearing completion, and the pipe organ is being installed. (Minneapolis Tribune)
1929 (September 14)
An aerial photograph shows what Hennepin Avenue looked like before freeways were built. In the upper right corner is Hennepin Church. In the lower left corner in the Scottish Rite Temple, formerly Fowler Methodist Church. (Hennepin County Library)
1932 (September 12)
Hennepin Avenue Church takes an early step towards ecological awareness. In 1929, Hennepin Church was, like a majority of buildings at the time, heated by coal. Concerned about the environmental impact, the church found a way to both control the smoke and reduce costs. The Minneapolis Journal shares the story as part of its campaign to clean up the air in Minneapolis.
Circa 1954
Among the archived reels of 16mm film we recently had scanned was one showing scenes of a junior high camp. (The 1954 date is just a guess, based on the license plate of the Willys Overland station wagon.) The film runs eleven minutes, has no sound, and contains a mixture of black-and-white and color clips.
Watch the film:
1962 (September 16)
A sleeve of black-and-white negatives found in the church archives reveals images of a 1962 high school picnic, part of Hennepin Church’s University of Life program. Let us know if you recognize anyone in this photo!
1985 (September 11)
Former Miss America Vonda Kay Van Dyke, and now wife of Hennepin pastor Dr. David Scoates, sings the national anthem before a Minnesota Vikings game, and apparently blesses the team with a win. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
1996 (September 15)
Rev. Jonathan Leonard (shown here in November 1980) was associate pastor at Hennepin Church for 21 years, from 1968 to 1989. In 1996, he returned as a guest preacher to share the message “Keeping in Touch with Hope.” The service also featured a recognition of 50-year members. Listen to Rev. Leonard’s message here: