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The Alley Online! www.alleynews.org The Alley on Twitter www.twitter.com/alleynewspaper Save the Date Nov. 16 | pg 8 NEWS & VIEWS OF PHILLIPS SINCE 1976 september 2012 • Volume 37, Number 8 “Repair” Reparation for 350* in “Potter’s Field” Sept 9th 1:30 PM BY SUE HUNTER WEIR On September 9, 2012, there Tales from Pioneers will be a dedication and remem- & Soldiers Cemetery brance ceremony for 350 people whose deaths passed more or SUE HUNTER WEIR less unnoticed in the early part 95th in a Series of the 20th century. They are buried together at the bottom of ing causes of “natural” deaths. the hill in the Potters Field at Accidental deaths were common, Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers especially accidents that occurred Memorial Cemetery. As Francis in the railroad yards. Deaths due to Phelan, protagonist of William “falls” were not uncommon. And, Kennedy’s Ironweed, viewed it, of course, alcohol was often a fac- they are neighbors, situated in this tor in accidental deaths. particular place since some time Many of the men died in charity This “Potter’s Field” lies in a remote corner of Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery and between 1914 and 1916. They are hospitals, and although hospital neighboring the South Transfer Station. It is home to 350 indigent people who were used the people whose remains were the administrators and the county cor- in medical research from 1914 to 1916 by the University of Minnesota Medical School. subject of study at the University’s oner attempted to locate relatives, anatomy program during those they were often unsuccessful. It photo by Clarasophia Gust years. The contributions that they was easy for men to get lost back “The hill had a nice flow to it that carried you down the grass…Being dead here would situate a man in place and time. It would give a man neighbors…” Ironweed by William Kennedy photo by Harvey Winje A simple tombstone of austere black granite at the extreme northeast corner of Pioneers and Soldiers made to medical research will in the days when there were no Cemetery marks the “Potter’s Field” resting place of 350 people. This marker of reparation cannot be acknowledged when a black drivers’ licenses, no social secu- identify and give proper acknowledgement of each life, but it does bear witness that a large institution granite marker, a gift from the rity numbers, no standard forms can acknowledge and begin to repair a previous injustice delivered by those in decision-making roles University of Minnesota, is dedi- of identification. The newspapers at that time. cated to their memory on Sunday, were full of stories about fami- September 9th. lies trying to locate missing rela- *“Repair: The Impulse to Restore Who are the people being hon- tives, wanting them to come home. ored? One hundred of them are Many families waited in vain for in a Fragile World” infants who were stillborn or who word from their missing husbands BY ELIZABETH V. SPELMAN, REPRINTED ers of all manner of human woes. to reweave what we revealingly died shortly after birth in one of the and sons. Nineteen of the men are FROM “REPAIR” BY ELIZABETH SPELMAN, Relationships between individuals call the social fabric. No wonder, city’s charity hospitals. Most of the identified only as “unknown man.” BEACON PRESS, 2002 and among nations are notori- then, that H. reparans is always rest were adult men who ranged Several others are elderly widow- The Human Being is a repair- ously subject to fraying and being and everywhere on call: we, the in age from 21 to 80 years old. ers who had no wives or chil- ing animal. Repair is ubiquitous, rent asunder. From apologies and world we live in, and the objects Many of them were immigrants, dren left to arrange for their buri- something we engage in every day other informal attempts at patch- and relationships we create are most from Scandinavia but from als. Regardless of who they were and in almost every dimension of ing things up to law courts, con- countries like Poland, Ireland and or where they came from, their our lives. Homo sapiens is also flict mediation, and truth and rec- Restore Macedonia as well. They tended remains were buried without fan- Homo reparans. onciliation commissions, we try see page 3 to be unskilled migratory workers fare or mourners at the end of each Perhaps the most obvious kinds “History, despite its who came to the city from min- academic year. This year, thanks to of repair are those having to do ing and lumber camps up north the University of Minnesota, they with the inanimate objects with wrenching pain, cannot be or from the harvest fields in rural will receive the acknowledgment which we surround ourselves— unlived, but if faced with Minnesota and the Dakotas. They that they deserve. the clothes calling out for mend- were men who were willing and The dedication and remem- ing, the automobiles for fixing, courage, need not be lived again. “ able to work in isolated areas as brance ceremony will begin at the buildings for renovating, the – Maya Angelou long as there was work to be done. 1:30. Following the ceremony, works of art for restoring. But our When the work ran out or when light refreshments will be served bodies and souls also are by their Repairs and reparation are about the winter set in, they headed back to and guests will have the opportu- nature subject to fracture and fis- future. Read more by Sue Hunter Weir in the city and tried their best, though nity to learn more about the history sure, for which we seek homely not always successfully, to fit in. of medical research in the early household recipes for healing and a reprint of a poignant, recent article on They died from any number 20th century and about the people consolation or, perhaps the expert Page 3, “…who is worth remembering of causes. Heart disease, cancer whose lives are being remembered. ministrations of surgeons, thera- and tuberculosis (known as the Please join us on this very special pists, and other menders and fix- and who is not…?” “white plague”) were the lead- occasion. Everyone is welcome. 2 Books-Words-Aud/Vid-Computer & Running Wolf The Alley Newspaper • September 2012 September Programs at the A Running Wolf View Franklin Library So Proud…an Amazing BY ERIN THOMASSON P.O. Box 7006 Minneapolis, MN 55407 Children’s Programs Feeling Editor’s Cell Phone 612-990-4022 Buttons & Micarta Chip Magic [email protected] Sat. Sept. 15, 2–3 p.m. Reg. BY TANYA BOYD www.alleynews.org req. begins Aug 18: online or Hi, Follow us twitter.com/alleynewspaper 612-543-6925. K-grade 6. Give My name is “We came into this world to give new life to recycled festival/ Tanya Boyd. I’m truth a little jog onward and to help event buttons. Micarta chips or from Mille Lacs our neighbors rights” countertop samples. Create a pin band of Ojibwa. Ann Greene Phillips (18__-1885) Wendell Phillips (1811-1884) of your inner self & a necklace I’m an intern at Board of Directors: Cathy Strobel, ID tag with fun and funky Running Wolf Fitness Center. President; Leon Oman, Treasurer; materials. Franklin I just wanted to share a little to work on my people skills and Sue Hunter Weir, Joan Hautman, Family Storytime Community Library about my experience working customer service! Dimpho Orion Senior Editor: Harvey Winje, Wed’s 10:30–11 a.m. Age 2 & 1314 E. Franklin Avenue at Running Wolf Fitness Center, With the flex work program [email protected]; up. Share books, stories, rhymes, New #: 952-847-2925 before I’m done working here. the goal is to complete a certain 612-990-4022 music, & movement with your I have been working here for 6 number of approved hours and Co-Editor and Designer: children. www.mplib.org months now and I really like it. I then move onto a paid position Jonathan Miller Kids: Read Book-See Movie Tues & Thurs: 12 - 8 pm never thought that I would get a or go to school. I’m upset about [email protected] Wed, Fri & Sat: To Advertise: Sat. Sep. 22, 2-4 p.m. Grades job! One day I realized I couldn’t leaving, but I know there are more [email protected] 3-6. Many books become 10 am – 6 pm depend on anyone but myself to opportunities out there for me! 612-990-4022 movies! Watch a movie & Complete program take care of me and my son. So I I made a lot of new friends and Alley Communications, a 501C-3, discuss book & movie. Call for calendar, visit, call, or was determined to find a job! But really learned about what it means Not-for-Profit Corp. publishes venue. how and where would I start? I to work every day. It has given The Alley. Donations are needed, www.hclib.org and news never had a job and I’m in my mid me direction to move on to what welcome, and Tax Deductible at www.hclib.org/pub/ Contributors to this issue: Teen Programs twenties! Then one day I went to I want to do. I plan to go back to Robert Albee, , A-Pod, Bridging 4-H Mentoring Club info/newsroom/ Mille Lacs Work Force Center to school and help others. Minneapolis, Cultural Wellness Tue’s Sept. 4–Nov. 27, 5–7 p.m. discussion of nonfiction books. see if they could help me find a Running Wolf Fitness Center Center, East Phillips Improvement Grades 6-12.