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Iron and Water: My Life Protecting Minnesota’s Environ- The 2017 winner of the Solon J. ment by Grant J. Merritt (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Buck Award for the best article pub- Press, 2018, 208 p., Paper, $24.95). In 1855 the Merritt family lished in Minnesota History is Kim arrived in Minnesota. A descendant, Alfred, was one of the “Seven Heikkila, whose article, “‘Every- Iron Men” who tapped the state’s great mineral wealth in the Mes- body thinks it’s right to give the abi Range. More than half a century later, one of Alfred’s child away’: Unwed Mothers at grandsons, Grant Merritt, would lead the efforts to protect Lake Booth Memorial Hospital, 1961–63,” Superior from damage caused by mining. This memoir details appeared in the Summer 2017 issue. Merritt’s life’s work as an attorney, public servant, and environ- The judges lauded the way the article mental activist in forthright style, beginning with a brief overview of his family’s masterfully wove social history and discovering iron ore and building the mines, railroads, and docks to remove it and memoiristic elements, telling a com- their eventual defrauding by John D. Rockefeller. What follows is an account of Mer- plex story with broad appeal. ritt’s years in the halls of state politics and the trenches of activism in defense of Heikkila holds a PhD in American Minnesota’s North Shore and Lake Superior’s waters. His tenure as head of the Minne- studies. After teaching for more than sota Pollution Control Agency under Governor Wendell Anderson and his service on 10 years, she left academia to found the first board of the Minnesota Environmental Quality Council (see article on page her oral history consulting business, 164) take us behind the scenes of landmark legal cases and crucial moments in Minne- Spotlight Oral History. She is the sota history, particularly the Reserve Mining Case. author of Sisterhood of War: Minne- sota Women in Vietnam, published by Gunflint Burning: Fire in the Boundary Waters by Cary J. MNHS Press, and is writing a second Griffith (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2018, 336 p., book for the Press on the topic of her Cloth, $25.95). The Ham Lake Fire that began on May 5, 2007, in award-​winning article. Minnesota’s cherished Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness The 2017 Theodore C. Blegen was one of the largest wildfires in state history. The fire burned Award for the best staff-​written for two weeks and consumed 75,000 acres of forest and 144 build- article goes to Peter J. DeCarlo for ings. More than 1,000 firefighters rallied to extinguish the blaze, “Loyalty Within Racism: The Seg- at a cost of $11 million. Gunflint Burning is a comprehensive regated Sixteenth Battalion of the account of the dramatic events surrounding the fire from the Minnesota Home Guard During moment veteran camper Stephen Posniak (ultimately, the fire’s only victim) struck a World War I,” also published in the fateful match to the ensuing race to flee the fire or defend imperiled property to the Summer 2017 issue. The judges cited efforts of those who battled the blaze. Readers get a sense of being on the front lines the way the article used sources, of an epic struggle and its tragic aftermath. raised relevant questions, and helps us understand an important episode Cosmic Trip: Rock Concerts at the Minneapolis Labor in our history. Temple, 1969–1970, text by Christian A. Peterson, poster art DeCarlo holds a master’s degree by Juryj (George) Ostroushko (Minneapolis: Smart Set, 2018, in history and is a research historian 120 p., Paper, $35). From February 1969 to November 1970, an at MNHS. He is the author of Fort unprecedented series of music shows occurred in a stately Snelling at Bdote, published by MNHS building in southeast Minneapolis known as the Labor Temple. Press. Rising local acts opened for the likes of the Grateful Dead, the A committee of judges selects Byrds, Johnny Winter, Savoy Brown, and the Jeff Beck Group, the winners of the Buck and Blegen accompanied by psychedelic light shows modeled after those Awards, which were presented at the at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium. Posters designed by budding local artist Juryj 2018 MNHS annual meeting on Octo- Ostroushko were an essential element of the Labor Temple concerts. Influenced by his ber 18. This year’s judges were Kristin experiences living in Haight-­Ashbury during the summer of love (1967), Ostroushko Mapel Bloomberg, professor of wom- returned home to create colorful and accomplished posters using appropriated en’s studies and Endowed Chair in the images from published sources, his own illustrations, and hand-lettered typography. Humanities at Hamline University, Curator and writer Christian Peterson has assembled these ephemeral works of art in and David Mather, National Register a catalog including full-color poster reproductions, the history of the Labor Temple archaeologist in the State Historic as a venue, and an interview with poster artist Ostroushko—an important document Preservation Office—​and a past chronicling a vital chapter in the long and rich history of Minnesota music. Blegen Award winner. Minnesota

178 MINNESOTA HISTORY History editor Laura Weber completed sible to Native Americans for ceremonial across the board, both Native and non-​ this year’s panel, serving as a sounding and educational purposes. Native stakeholders repeatedly expressed board but not casting a vote. “This site is first and foremost a the importance of preserving and educat- burial ground with thousands of human ing the public about Grand Mound. It’s back—the​ Minnesota History remains still interred there,” said Joe MNHS acquired Grand Mound in Whatever 3: A Gathering of Histo- Horse Capture, director of Native Amer- 1970, opened a visitor center in 1976, and rians, again to be held at the American ican Initiatives at MNHS. “This decision operated it as a publicly accessible his- Swedish Institute. This year’s date is honors Native ancestors and ensures toric site until 2002, when budget cuts March 25, 2019. The Whatever is a respect for Native American culture and forced its closure. Since then, MNHS has dynamic and interactive coming together history.” continued to maintain preservation and of people who do Minnesota history, MNHS will continue to preserve security of the historic site. defined as broadly as possible. To propose the mounds while working toward a In fall 2018, the nearby McKinstry a session or to suggest a session, contact long-​range plan for the site’s future that Mound site—​which includes two burial Annette Atkins at [email protected]. includes the possible transfer of the site mounds dating to the same time period Find and follow the Whatever on Face- to a Native American tribe or tribes. as Grand Mound—​was transferred to book to keep up with developments. In the immediate future, MNHS will MNHS from the Minnesota Department research options regarding the future of Transportation. MNHS will develop a MNHS announced in late October of the site’s visitor center, and staff will mound management plan for both sites. that the Grand Mound Historic Site continue to work with both Native and will remain closed to the general public, non-​Native stakeholders to develop edu- Effective April 1, 2019, the single-​issue following the wishes of descendants of cational outreach opportunities to share price of Minnesota History will increase Native Americans who are buried at the the history of Grand Mound with the from $5 to $7 and four-​issue subscriptions sacred site. Located 17 miles north of general public. In community engage- will be $28, up from $20. The current International Falls, the site will be acces- ment discussions underway since 1974, prices have been constant since 1993.

letters

Many readers shared fond memories of Fuji-​Ya on the Mississippi. Thank you for your dedication to all aspects of our Minnesota Here are a few kudos . . . history. —​Dennis Johnson, Wayzata I want to thank you, and authors Kimmy Tanaka and Jonathan Moore, for the great feature article on Fuji-​Ya (Fall 2018). I have . . . and a few corrections fond memories of Saturday lunches there, in 1981, on rainy days. I found the article about Ms. Weston and her restaurants very I almost became tearful as I looked at the accompanying pictures! fascinating and so sad that at least a portion of her beautiful river- Memories came flooding back, of John, the teppanyaki chef, deftly front building could not have been preserved. On page 100, there cutting off shrimp tails and flipping them into his white chef’s shirt is a reference to “officials of the Burlington Northern Railroad,” pocket! Fuji-​Ya is now in Uptown, and still serves amazing food, which would have predated the construction and opening of her but that view of the Mississippi River though the 420 South First restaurant. I worked for a predecessor railroad to BN in 1969, the Street location was unforgettable. Sad to lose that. Northern Pacific. It was about June of 1970 when the merger of the History matters! Thank you. NP, the Great Northern, whose locomotive can be seen in the pho- —​Sandy Waterman, Vadnais Heights tograph on page 102, and the Chicago Burlington Quincy became Sincere, heartfelt thank-​you to Kimmy Tanaka and Jonathan Moore the Burlington Northern. So it may have been officials of the GN or for jogging not only warm memories but salivating taste buds. It NP she spoke with while trying to purchase the riverfront property. was so exciting to see this cover on my Wayzata library shelves. Oh —​David Schmidt, Inver Grove Heights dear—​the smells, the music, the floor mats, the attired waitresses, The correct spelling of the chef portrayed on page 107 is Nobuya the huge windows with waterfall-backed​ gray skies, and most of all Yokoyama. the tempura presentation and taste. To this day all I need to do is close my eyes, smell the aromas, and hear the sounds. I’m in Japan.

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From the Bound Volumes of Minnesota History

1919 ▪ 100 Years Ago The newspaper collection of the society has again proved its value to the people of the state. In the forest fires of last October the minutes of the Cloquet Board of Educa- tion from January 1917, to October 1918, were destroyed, as well as the publisher’s file of the Pine Knot, the town’s official paper. The society was able, however, to supply at small cost from its file of the Pine Knot photostatic copies of such of the missing records as were published in this paper. —​“Minnesota Historical Society Notes,” Vol. 3, No. 1, February 1919, p. 37

1944 ▪ 75 Years Ago The papers of Charles Fremont Dight, recently presented to the Minnesota Historical Society, touch upon many subjects of interest in the field of local history. . . . In the 1920s Dight’s passion for reform centered about the eugenic movement . . . his labors were largely responsible for the law of 1925 providing for the voluntary sterilization Curler striking defensive position, about 1925. MNHS collections. of institutionalized feeble-​minded. . . . Dight’s name was known in national eugenic circles. He wrote to Adolf Hitler in July, 1933, praising the German sterilization pro- THE ONLINE ENCYCLOPEDIA gram, and he received thanks for his friendly greeting. —​“Some Sources for Northwest ABOUT MINNESOTA HISTORY History: The Dight Papers” by Evadene Burris Swanson, Vol. 25, No. 1, March 1944, p. 62–64 MNopedia is an authoritative digital encyclopedia about Minnesota history ▪ 1969 50 Years Ago that provides current, reliable, and Dr. Theodore C. Blegen’s long and fruitful labors in the “house of history” (a phrase free information. he used) ended on July 18 with his death at the age of seventy-eight.​ For “Mr. Minne- sota History,” a title he richly deserved, the house offered many outlets. One was . . . Each week, we add new content at the University of Minnesota, where he . . . served as dean of the graduate school for and resources from knowledgeable twenty years before he retired in 1960. Another was at [MNHS], as assistant super- contributors across the state about intendent, then superintendent from 1931 until 1939. . . . Dr. Blegen’s retirement as a significant people, places, and events in research fellow for the society was announced at a reception only ten days before he Minnesota history. All content is aligned died. —​“Theodore C. Blegen (1891–1969),” Vol. 41, No. 7, Fall 1969, p. 335 with state education standards.

1994 ▪ 25 Years Ago CHECK US OUT! But rather than try to sort the so-​called facts from fiction, we might consider the • Browse topics and eras at interrelationship of history and legend. When we hear or tell or enjoy [legendary MNopedia.org north woods figure] Benny Ambrose stories, we might pause to wonder why they • Suggest a topic or submit an article; hold such power. What is their larger, even spiritual significance? . . . What elements email [email protected] for details of his story instruct, inspire, warn, or entertain those who could never hope or wish • Follow us on social media to live as he did? These are questions that good history and good storytelling can answer together. —​“Editor’s Page: Life into Legend: Stories of Benny Ambrose,” by Anne R. LEARN MORE AT MNOPEDIA.ORG Kaplan, Vol. 54, No. 3, Fall 1994, p. 139

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