Tombstone of Edwin Barnum, Civil War veteran from Company L of the 1st Regiment U.S. Veteran Engineers; died in 1911, age of 73 and buried next to his infant daughter, Ella Loretta Barnum, who had died in 1867. Mr. Barnum’s brother, George, Civil War veteran, Company F, 3rd Minnesota Infantry, buried in the family plot next to their mother, Hannah Barnum.

By Sue Hunter Weir

Walter and John Carpenter, War of 1812; Edwin Barnum, Civil War; and to all men and women who ‘gave the last full measure of devotion” in service to America

On May 28, 2012, Americans will pause to pay tribute to the men and women who have died in war.  It is a tradition that goes back to 1868 when General Logan issued his General Order #11 which set aside one day a year for remembrance.

At Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, we have other reasons to be grateful to the veterans and their families and friends.  They are the people who, more than any others, are the reason that the cemetery exists today.

After the City Council voted to close the cemetery to future burials in 1919, the remains of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 people, including many veterans, were moved to other cemeteries.  But there were some families who refused to have their loved ones moved, and families of veterans were among the most vocal in their opposition.

One such family was the family of Edwin Barnum. During the Civil War, Mr. Barnum served in Company L of the 1^st Regiment U.S. Veteran Engineers; he died in 1911 at the age of 73 and was buried next to his infant daughter, Ella Loretta Barnum, who had died in 1867.  Mr. Barnum’s brother, George, also a Civil War veteran, served in Company F, 3^rd Minnesota Infantry, and is buried in the family plot next to their mother, Hannah Barnum.

Edwin Barnum’s widow, Mary, was asked to remove the remains of her husband and daughter in 1922.  By the time that she received that notification, she had remarried and was living in Blue Lake, California.  Since she was elderly and in poor health, she referred the matter to her step-daughter, Caroline Clemens, daughter of Edwin Barnum.  Mrs. Clemens’ response to the cemetery’s superintendent was swift and unambiguous.  She wrote:  “Under no circumstances will I permit the moving of my father’s body…You have no legal right to remove a single body until the cemetery has been [regularly] condemned as cemetery property by the City of Minneapolis.”  In her response, Mrs. Clemens hit upon an important distinction, one that was central to preserving the cemetery.  The City Council had not “condemned” the cemetery but had only “closed it to future burials.”  She went on to say:  “I forbid you to touch the bodies,” and forwarded a copy of her letter to a Hennepin County District Judge.  As it turned out, she did not need to take legal action–the City of Minneapolis purchased the rights of the Layman Land Company and assumed responsibility for maintaining the cemetery in 1927.

Edwin and George Barnum are just two of the veterans who will be honored on Memorial Day.  At 9 a.m, in honor of the 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812, the Minnesota Chapter of the U.S. Daughters of 1812, will pay tribute to Walter and John Carpenter, brothers, who served in the War of 1812.  At 10 a.m., a traditional Memorial Day observance, the 144th in the cemetery’s history, will take place.  At 1 p.m., there will be a talk about the cemetery’s history followed by an optional walking tour.  Please join us.  All events are free and open to the all.

We want to continue to share the great success stories from our Running Wolf members. So here is Sal’s story!

Salvador Pacheco lives and works in the Phillips neighborhood and said that he heard we were re-opening the Running Wolf Fitness Center in the neighborhood. So in September he went to NACC and got his fitness exam for the free 6 month membership. He discovered through that he had high total cholesterol of 236. He was determined to set goals to improve that through dietary changes like not using butter and eating high fiber oatmeal and the toughest of all quitting a steady diet of Pepsi. He wanted to improve his overall health so after changing his diet and working with the NACC Dietician-Shannon and lowered his cholesterol by a whopping 100 points in about 6 -8 weeks!

He also started his membership at Running Wolf Fitness Center November 1st. Sal came every morning right at 10am when Running Wolf opened and set goals with the trainer-Q and when he started he stated  that he could only do about 5 minutes tops on the Nustep (Recumbent bike). However, he was determined and starting working out on the other machines, treadmills and bike and then tried the Elliptical and felt because he had both knees replaced- one in 2004 and the other in 2007 that the Elliptical was less stress on his knees and yet let him get a good cardio workout. He worked with balancing the workouts with the food he was eating. He stated that he is frustrated with his idea he calls “conspiracy theory” to keep people unhealthy by making the healthy food more expensive and bad food cheap and easy to get. But he is eating healthier and truly seeing the benefit!

Page2- Sal continues to work on cardio and weight training to maintain muscle while losing weight. He now does a routine that he calls the “Conan” It is working at the highest setting on the Elliptical and does increments of 20 minutes or goes about 1 hour and also does the weight training. He burns about 1300 calories in that workout!

Today as we re-evaluated his baseline fitness numbers. We are excited to report that:

Sal’s weight at the beginning was 235 and is now 183- total weight loss is 52 pounds since November 1st!

Body fat was 35.1 and now is 21. 5

BMI was 31.5 and now is 28.8

Waist circumference was 43 and now is 32

Blood pressure was in the hypertensive range at 152/77 and now runs about 130/68. He also reports his resting heart rate is now 51.

Sal also reports his cholesterol is better from the 236 to 185.

He says that it is important for him to set measurable and realistic goals. Such as his first goal was first weight loss from 235 to 208 and then by new years to be at 200 and final goal is to be 175 –his Marine Corp boot camp weight. He is at 183 only 8 pounds away from that! So his fitness numbers are all in a healthy range.

He reports that at age 52 he feels so much better then he has in a long time and the Running Wolf Staff is happy to say, Way to go Sal! So for more information on how to get healthier please come and join us at Running Wolf Fitness Center!

By Rev. David Spong*

A “pillar”… for 146 years

Augustana Lutheran Church, a pillar in the Swedish and Lutheran community for 146 years, is relocating to 1900 11th Ave. South. Church-members and friends will process to their new location on Sunday, May 6, where they will have their initial worship. Augustana will make this their new home in what has been the base for Community Emergency Services, a food pantry, shelter, and office for community outreach.

C.E.S. is a ministry Augustana Lutheran Church initiated 41 years ago to minister to the needs of feeding the hungry and caring for people in this neighborhood. It was in 1971 that Minneapolis businessman, Russell Lund came to Augustana Church and approached Pastor Berg saying in effect, “I’d like to give some money to help low income people in crisis situations.” In 1978 Augustana Church contributed $50,000 matched by Russell Lund to buy the Emmanuel Methodist Church on 11th Ave.

Pastor Mark Peterson, director of C.E.S., stated, “We had worship space in this former Methodist Church that was underutilized. We are primarily a service center. We have space that will accommodate worship and fellowship for Augustana Church.”

“Set Your Hands to Unfinished Tasks.” Says, Pastor Berg, in his 102nd year 

The final worship service for Augustana at the 7th St. and 11th Ave. will be on Sunday, April 29, with Pastor William Berg preaching. Rev. Berg, who was pastor at Augustana from 1965-1980, will address the congregation on the theme of, “Set Your Hands to Unfinished Tasks.” Pastor Berg says, “There is still much work to do in this community. There are still people who are concerned. God’s amazing grace is needed in our day especially.”

Ann Carlson, a member of Augustana, commented that Community Emergency Services is the child of Augustana. Now the parents are moving in with their child. C.E.S. is near to our hearts. Our space is too big for us. This has been an important part of our ministry. Augustana has been a servant church for 146 years and this provides a new opportunity for both of us. C.E.S. has been providing ‘bread for the body.’ Together we can provide the ‘bread of life.’”

“Hope Community Church has bought our old building and we are excited for them to be the new owners. We feel good about their ministry in that place. Now it is a new day for us.”

Life for 130 Year Old Religious Edifice goes on.

In a history of Augustana, Doris Spong wrote these words: “It was in 1882 that Augustana Church built their sanctuary at 7th and 11th Avenue. It was possible to build this great edifice which seated 1175 persons at the amazingly low figure of $23,219.75, due to generous cooperation and volunteer labor. The architecture of the building was affected by the American influence. The characteristics of the Augustana sanctuary which is a copy of the Blasieholm Church in Stockholm, Sweden, are similar not only to such early Augustana Synod churches erected in Denver and New York, but also to such churches as Marble Collegiate in New York City. The organ was located behind and above the pulpit and altar. The balcony surrounded the entire nave. This provided a clear and unobstructed view of altar, pulpit, and choir.”

“Stability and extension of the spiritual ministry were direct results of the building of this church. Augustana became the meeting place for synodical conventions, conferences, and other occasions, such as evangelism meetings, memorial services and other church gatherings. Augustana has served as host to Swedish Archbishops and royalty. Thus Augustana played a vital role in the work of the church at large.”

“Now, it’s a new day.”  “…On a journey…and we have hope…”

Pr. Berg went on with his comments as he was thinking about the future, “Who would have dreamed this relocation would ever be happening? Now, it’s a new day.” Dr. Berg seemed undaunted that Augustana would be a strong force in serving this community well into the future.

Questions still abound for this congregation in this time of transition as Ann Carlson asks, “How well will this relocation work? We really don’t know. But we are on a journey and we have hope and we believe God is calling us to a new day.”

* Rev. David Spong is a Lutheran Pastor whose father, Rev. Bernard Spong, was pastor of Augustana Church from 1957 to 1965.

“Oh the Places You’ll Go!” With Spring comes Graduation-Commencement Processions. Commencement for this family, this Spring is best described in Dr. Seuss’s book, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” Naomi Mohammed, mother, student, and Welna Hardware “Locksmith,” fosters a sense of worth and validation in her 5 children. Together they parlay that into spiritual, academic, and worldly success. All of the women of the family graduate this Spring from their respective schools. Pictured left to right: backrow, Naomi and Emelie (St. Kate’s University, StP.); front row, Nathan, Abby (DeLaSalle), Marissa (Hope Academy, Mpls.), and Andrew.

by Lauretta Dawolo Towns, Banyan Community Coordinator

In some ways, theirs is an unlikely story from East Phillips. In other ways, the story represents what many Phillips families experience everyday – socioeconomic hardship. Naomi Mohammed, the beloved keymaker at Welna ACE Hardware, is a single mother of five fantastic children. Five out of six people in the Mohammed household, including Naomi, are graduating – they have truly beaten the odds.

Naomi grew up in the Phillips neighborhood of the 1950’s and 60’s along with three sisters and two brothers at 25th St. and 17th Ave. “Everybody knew everybody in this neighborhood,” she reminisced. She attended Holy Rosary Grade School, now Little Earth Neighborhood Early Learning Center, and then attended Regina High School, an all girls Catholic School where PICA Headstart currently resides at 42nd St. and 4th Ave. Naomi started working at age 16 in the renowned Sears Roebuck building at Chicago Ave. and Lake Street, the current site of the Midtown Exchange.

At age 23, Naomi entered a non-traditional field for a woman: carpentry. “I liked working with my hands, getting a tangible result…I could see what I did,” she said. Naomi’s parents didn’t expect her to go to college. Instead, she was expected to get married and have children. And that’s what she did. She got married at age 25, and one year later she had her oldest son Nathan.

Naomi tried to do things differently in her own marriage: “I expected more of a partnership. Instead, it was stressful, awkward and one-sided.” She didn’t want to be the kind of wife her mother was: shy, quiet, and impartial. “My mother was religious, strict, never communicated her problems…She didn’t question anything. Then I came along…asking ‘why’…and ‘let’s change things’. In high school, she began to embrace my outspokenness and admire it. I became the voice,” she explained.

Eighteen years and five children later, Naomi divorced her husband. “I kept thinking, I’m a doer, not a quitter. But I could no longer do all the giving while someone else was doing all the taking,” she said. At the time, her kids ranged in age from 4 – 17. Naomi’s ex-husband left town, leaving her all of the responsibility for the children and there was limited support from extended family. Nonetheless, her parenting philosophy was simple: participation and trust. “Everyone had to participate…if there was grief, we had a family meeting…retaliation wasn’t allowed. We also trusted each other. I told them they can trust me to provide and I trusted them to reciprocate,” said Naomi. She taught them to tell the truth up front, to be responsible to each other, and direct cause and effect. “If the dishes aren’t done, then I don’t cook dinner,” she said rather practically. “You have to foster in them a sense of worth. I was open enough in conversation that they knew where I stood,” she added.

Throughout the years, Naomi has kept her family anchored in the neighborhood. She is a devoted parishioner at Holy Rosary Catholic Church and has served for many years at the annual Spring Festival. She is also a familiar face at Welna Hardware store on Bloomington Avenue, where she has been employed since the late 80’s. “I love my customers…it’s like a community, a small town within a big city. We know each other’s business…like Cheers, only Hardware,” she said with a smile.

The diversity of the area is a big reason why Naomi stayed here to raise her family. Phillips is traditionally home to many Native American, African American, and Latino families. “I love this neighborhood. It’s a balanced assortment of people, like a bag of jelly beans…the languages…the foods… [My children] have an ability to communicate well with a variety of people. They converse comfortably because they are comfortable with themselves,” she explained.

College after high school was always encouraged in the Mohammed household and at another community institution, the Banyan Community. “The benefits of being part of the Banyan were close proximity, consistency, and career exploration. I had back up, assistance, and reinforcement other than me,” said Naomi. “I met Naomi at Welna Hardware in the Fall of 1990 when we moved into the neighborhood. I was getting some hardware for my ‘new-old house’. Over the years, we have maintained our friendship while getting keys cut at Welna, and raising our children as they attended school and Banyan events together,” recalls Joani Essenburg, Executive Director of the Banyan Community. Where Naomi planted the seeds, the Banyan watered them. It was there that the Mohammed’s got the academic assistance they needed, as well as family-oriented activities, and mostly importantly, the opportunity to attend college preparatory high schools like Holy Angels for Nathan and DeLaSalle High School for the other four children.

“When Nathan graduated from high school, we started college at the same time,” Naomi recalled. “He went to the University of St. Thomas to study business and I started with one class at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). I really didn’t think I could handle any more than that.” Naomi didn’t know what class to take; she just started. “I think it was a math class,” she said. Naomi received her Associate’s degree in 2009 in Liberal Arts from MCTC, and then transferred to St. Kate’s. Nathan wanted to contribute financially to the household so he applied for an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) position at the fire department. He didn’t get the position but it did peak his interest in medicine. Soon, Nathan transferred to Inver Hills Community College for the paramedic program, and then graduated from Century College at the top of his class. He is now the Health Education Coordinator at Health East in St. Paul.

“I admire [my mother] for all the hard work and effort she put into raising us…and I’m proud of her not being on [financial] support…some people abuse the system. She did without it,” said Naomi’s middle daughter, Abby. Hard work, persistence and vision have turned into five graduates from a family who knows about struggle, adversity and difficulty. But they also know about perseverance and resilience. “This is a huge relief, a big deal, and the kids are proud of all of us… [especially] me for sticking with it,” said Naomi. “I admire Naomi’s determination for her children and for herself as she completes her college degree. Congratulations Naomi! The entire Banyan Community is proud of your accomplishments,” adds Essenburg. “I think she’s amazing. She’s a heroine designated to save our family,” says Naomi’s youngest daughter, Marissa.

5 GRADS: 

Nathan graduated from Century College

Andrew Mohammed received a massage therapy license in December 2011;

Abby Mohammed is graduating from DeLaSalle High School and plans to attend St. Kate’s in Fall 2012;

Marissa Mohammed, the youngest,  is graduating from 8th grade at Hope Academy (2300 Chicago Avenue) and will attend DeLaSalle in Fall 2012;

Emelie Mohammed will receive a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Latin from St. Catherine’s University

Naomi will graduate with the same class on May 20th at St. Catherine’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Women’s Studies.

By Joyce Wisdom

Meetings about street cars in Mpls. are happening at various levels of policy making.  [See pg 12; “Make Places..Visioning Streetcar Station Workshop].

The Twin City Rapid Transit Company opened the Lake Street Station in 1910.  It was one of six car-houses for the Mpls/StP. system.  In 1920 TCRT had 530 miles of track, 1,021 streetcars & 238 million riders. Lake Street Station housed 180 streetcars and 500 employees: motormen and conductors,, mechanics and cleaners and a few office workers. The station ran 24/7. Twice a day the number of streetcars doubled for rush hours. The system was dismantled in 1954 in favor of buses.  The Lake Street Station was demolished. The land was redeveloped as Hi-Lake Shopping Center.

Good news: Before and After photos & history at 62 such Historic places on Lake Street  beginning late June 2012;  Watch for Lake Street Council’s “Museum in the Streets.”  It will be very exciting and informative.

As this year’s MayDay Parade flows into Powderhorn Park culminating its trek since 1 PM along Bloomington Avenue from 26th Street to 34th Street; “Blooming Town” will miraculously emerge on the ball fields at the end of the Parade in Powderhorn Park. “Blooming Town” created by Southside residents and supported by In the Heart of the Beast Theater,  is a hands-on space for learning, action, and community collaboration around moving our community beyond dependency on dirty energy. Join us for:

Activities on growing food, energy solutions, and sustainable transit

Get support taking action yourself

Dialogue with neighbors on ways to create solutions locally

Join teams who are taking action in the neighborhood

Blooming Town is part of the broader MayDay theme of the transition beyond fossil fuels.

Today’s economy relies on abundant fossil fuels – oil, coal and natural gas – to produce our food, clothes, homes, medicine, transportation and more. We are using more fossil energy and finding less. What remains is lower quality, harder to get, more expensive, dirtier, and more dangerous. Dirty energy hurts the health of our community, drains our financial resources, and threatens the local and global environment. Transitioning away from fossil fuels means learning to live well while using less energy, developing renewable energy sources like solar and wind, and making our communities more self-sufficient and adaptable. This transition is being led by local communities across the world.

In summer 2011, local transition town groups and individuals, with In the Heart of the Beast Theatre, proposed that MayDay 2012 be a grand unleashing of local transition. Transition town was named as the Festival theme and community volunteers created teams to share ways to join the transition movement with MayDay friends. These teams are working on energy, food and compost, and transportation. Please join us in the build process of the parade, through Blooming Town, and after the parade by as we enact the future imagined at this year’s May Day.

By Harvey Winje

In the Heart of the Beast’s MayDay Parade and Festival, hallmarks a new Spring season and the month of May which is full of other wonderful events in the neighborhoods surrounding Powderhorn Park, the destination of the Parade and the site of the Festival of Life that will draw tens of thousands of people on Sunday May 6th.

The Parade and Festival – originated to help unite the neighborhoods surrounding Powderhorn Park – has now,  broadened becoming a unifier of individuals, groups, and organizations city-wide, an icon of the City of Mpls. nationally, and, this year, embellished by including the local “Transition Town” movement as an “umbrella” theme that advocates for a more sustainable, oil-independent place to live in South Minneapolis and across the globe.

The hundreds of people creating the Parade and Festival have chosen their focus from  HOBT “Avalon” Lobby Story Board and auditorium/workshop workbench banners spelling out the Parade’s Title and Parade Scene Themes.   As workshop participants have been invigorated, so, too, will Parade participants and Parade watchers be transfixed and transformed by MayDay 2012.

In any other part of town the MayDay Parade and Festival would eclipse other activities through the month.  In the BackYard Neighborhoods of Central, Corcoran, East Phillips, Little Earth, Midtown Phillips, Phillips West, Powderhorn Park, and Ventura Village the vitality and height of celebration and activities continues throughout the month invigorated by this “Kick-Off” to Spring and catalyst for community in our community.

See Pages 6 & 7 for an “Abridged” Guide to the 2012, 38th Annual MayDay Parade and Festival of Life And where   Parade Title and Scene Themes are listed and explained.  Bring it and the announcement of other events with you all month long.  Have a great month of May!  May your enjoyment of the month only be exceeded by peacefulness for you in this turbulent time.

Parades, processions, celebrations, & community gatherings.

Occupy May 1

American Indian Wellness Fair

Cinco de Mayo: 4th & Lake 27th, Bloomington & Lake, 27th & Lake

Grand Re-Opening: Phillips CC

Mother’s Day, the bringers of all life: LE Pow- Wow

Graduation commencements: All schools

Season Return: Midtown & Midtown Exchange Farmer’s Markets

Memorial Day:  Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery celebration

Theatre:  El Taller; “Theatre of the Oppressed Forum style”

And MORE!

After six straight years of monthly breakfasts for people with diabetes, friends and loved ones, the Native American Community Clinic (NACC) is handing this service over to A Partnership Of Diabetics (A-POD) who will be moving the feast to the Phillips Community Center (PCC), 2323 Eleventh Avenue South. According to A-POD’s Robert Albee, “This has been a time-honored tradition for folks along Franklin Avenue and in Phillips who are diabetic. The wonderful tradition will continue with NACC initially leading the monthly presentations and planning the food selections. We see this as a hand-off, not a take-over!”

With the Grand Re-Opening of the PCC on Saturday May 12th, all of the PCC tenants will be in place and finally the vision cast as a wellness-oriented service and recreation center will be clear. There now will be the opportunity for guests to come to breakfast, stay for exercise downstairs at Running Wolf Fitness Center or sample an open A-POD Meet-up next door to the dining room. Either way, guests will get a better glimpse into how the greatest progress for diabetes self-management in the State of Minnesota is taking place right here in the Phillips Community of Minneapolis. Eventually the swimming pool will be open as well for even greater possibilities for exercise.

Dining Room doors will be open at 8:30 AM for breakfast with presentations beginning at 9:15. This gives everybody time to socialize while having breakfast, which will continue to be available until 9:30. Doors will be closed at 10:30 to provide time for Waite House to prepare for free daily lunches. The general public is invited to participate in this meal, which begins service at 11:30 AM.

A Partnership Of Diabetics is a member of, and funded in part, by the Backyard Initiative of Allina Health and Novo Nordisk, a Danish insulin manufacturer.