Minneapolis – Page 2 – Valerie's Voice

Aprons and Typewriters

Writing prompts help with memories, thoughts and ideas. Recently one such prompt made me think of two classes I took in junior high, which were grades 7-9 at Northeast Junior High School in Minneapolis.

One class was Home Economics – they no longer call it that – now it is called FACS: Family and Consumer Science.

I learned to sew in my 8th grade home ec class. I can’t remember the teacher’s name but I can picture her, and the classroom. Our first sewing project was a waist apron made from gingham check material. The color yellow comes to mind, and we had to sew on a pocket and embroider the pocket too.

This is not my old Singer sewing machine but it had similar iron work…I have a glass top on this iron frame and use it as a shelf to hold my colored glass pieces.

After that sewing class I was able to use those skills to sew a lot of my own clothes, mostly through high school. I would sew downstairs in our semi-finished basement on an old Singer sewing machine, using a knee pedal to control it.

I enjoyed walking up to Minnesota Fabrics in Apache Plaza and sitting on a stool at the high slanted counter, paging through the large pattern books to find the right design. Once decided, the patterns were in drawers underneath the counter. It was fun to look at all the fashions in the pattern books; Vogue, McCall’s, Simplicity to name a few I remember. After I picked a pattern I’d peruse all the fabric and select just the right material for my project.

It was fun and economical to sew back then, but I stopped sewing clothes and now use my table-top sewing machine for mending and occasional miscellaneous items: valances, pajamas and shorts for my two boys when they were young, and recently, an apron from some fun fabric I acquired in Africa. I am grateful for that home ec class in junior high. Sewing is a skill that has served me well over the years.

The other class brought to mind was my typing class. I was in 7^th grade. I can picture the classroom set up but not the teacher. I remember pounding out fff, jjj, etc., but I don’t remember if it was an electric typewriter. I don’t think so. Typing has been another skill that has served me well over the years. I continue to use it everyday.

My friend sent me this photo of her mother’s typewriter.

A fun typewriter story: we attended a wedding where an antique, non-electric typewriter was used to “sign” the scrolled paper as the guest book. We were standing behind some young folks who were confused…they didn’t know how to move it to the next line so we showed them how to use the carriage return.

Billy Graham

I saw this image on a billboard today. After hearing the sad news of Billy Graham’s death this morning, I was surprised to see this billboard already on display along 35W a few hours later.

Billy Graham was 99 years old. Today the world mourns his passing, yet celebrates the amazing life of this good and faithful servant of God. He was a powerful man of prayer, and a man of positive influence. He touched the lives of so many people around the world.

Here is a link to the official obituary for Billy Graham.

In 8^th grade my church youth group went to see the movie The Restless Ones, a Billy Graham movie. After the movie I went up to talk to a counselor, but half way there I got nervous and turned around. Years later, when Billy Graham came to Minneapolis in 1996, I went through counselor training for the Minneapolis Crusades so I was available for others if anyone wanted to talk after Billy Graham spoke. What an interesting twist.

My own two sons, and their youth group at the time, went to hear the evangelist. Afterwards kids were running to the bus when my youngest son accidentally ran into a fender and cut open his leg. We wrapped it, got on the bus, and kept his spirits up while we drove back to Northfield Hospital’s emergency room. He had several stitches that left a scar on his leg for many years.

I think I will always remember where I was when I heard the news about Billy Graham’s death; just as I remember where I was when JFK was shot, or when the planes flew into the Twin Towers in NYC on 911.

Minnesota’s Finest Spring Days

Some people quip we Minnesotans live for these amazingly, perfect spring days. After our winters we relish in temperatures of 65-75* and amazing, sunny blue skies. We get out of our houses and enjoy the great, big, beautiful outdoors. These days are definitely dreamy!

Over the weekend we went from spring in the forest (Nerstrand Big Woods State Park) to spring in the city (a walk around Lake of the Isles near downtown Minneapolis). There are so many beautiful evidences of spring and so many photos I wanted to take, but couldn’t because of logistics, but they are in my mind’s eye.

All seasons, but especially spring, has many shades of green. I’m grateful for so many shades of green…I can’t imagine the world with one…only one… shade of green.

The string of beautiful days have been just right for doing almost anything. I spent several hours Saturday cleaning out my own garden.

On Sunday we walked around one of several beautiful city lakes in Minneapolis. Many people were outdoors with us…walking, running, biking, boating, sitting, reading…it was wonderful to see. My husband and I also enjoyed looking at the beautiful homes that surround the lake.

We ended our time in the city visiting our son and his wife and our two and a half-week-old grand-daughter. Another spring beauty!!!

Young Quinlan Department Store

After we walked out of Macy’s Department store on Saturday afternoon, we continued down the mall to the majestic, limestone “Renaissance Revival” Young Quinlan building. When looking online for information to use in a previous post I discovered there is a “mini-museum” of Young Quinlan’s memorabilia in the building so we checked it out.

We entered the store, which is now Hudson Jewelers, on 9^th and Nicollet. It’s very beautiful inside, as well as outside, with a wide staircase leading to the mezzanine level that was a part of Young-Quinlan. We rode the elevator with the original “door handle” that I remember was operated by a white-gloved woman back in the day. We got off on the 2^nd floor where there were poster displays and cases filled with photos, boxes and old merchandise. The store opened in this building in 1925, the year it was built, and closed its doors for good in 1985.

My photo didn’t turn out well of this original door handle in the elevator.

Here are excerpts from the displays which we found very interesting.

“Minneapolis in 1894 was still a town on the edge of the prairie with a population of 190,000 people. Nicollet Avenue was lit with gas lamps and paved with red cedar blocks.

Two young and ambitions retailers, Fred D. Young and Elizabeth Quinlan, conceived the daring idea of opening an exclusive store for “ladies’ ready-to-wear.” At the time there was only one other store like that in the country, in New York City.”

“The building was designed by the renowned New York architect Frederick Lee Ackerman. It was built for the then-staggering price of $1.25 million.”

“Opening day drew a crowd of over 20,000 0people for Elizabeth’s “housewarming party.”

“The first day, they sold out of their entire inventory of coats, capes, mantles*, wrappers*, and gloves.”

“With its Old world grace and elegance, it quickly became a landmark in the heart of the city.”

*Mantle: a loose sleeveless garment worn over other clothes. Wrapper: an article of clothing worn wrapped around the body.

A French artist (Rateau) created a symbol for Elizabeth’s Minnesota business. Originally nude, the artist adorned the Lady with pearls to appease Elizabeth so a more modest Lady became Elizabeth Qunilan’s symbol. The plaque of the Lady can be seen on the Ninth & Nicollet Mall corner of the Young Quinlan Building.

I’m thinking I’m missing the old grace and elegance that we no longer find in the department stores in our shopping centers and outlet malls.

Macy’s in Downtown Minneapolis

We spent Saturday afternoon in downtown Minneapolis. It is not a frequent outing for us but my husband suggested we go visit Macy’s before it closes. It was a great idea. I have fond memories of the store. In high school, my girlfriend and I would often take the bus downtown for fun and explore Dayton’s, the name at the time, and ride the elevator to the 12^th floor to use the bathroom which seemed unique and elegant to us. We would have fun looking around on all the floors but not buying anything.

And for a short while I worked downtown Minneapolis and I would go to Dayton’s on my lunch hour so I had some familiarity with the store back then.

Always elegant Dayton’s/Macy’s…first floor.

I do remember buying my first purse at Dayton’s when I was in junior high. It was a navy blue, leather purse on Dayton’s first floor, just off 7^th street entrance. I’m pretty sure I paid $6 for it- which was a lot of money at that time. In my mind I can still see it on display. I have always liked purses so maybe that’s why it stands out in my memory.

On Saturday we parked in the 7^th street ramp, walked trough Macy’s shoe department to the elevators. I wanted to go to the 12^th floor to see the bathroom (I knew we missed eating at the Oak Grille since closed for good a month ago) but I didn’t know the 5-12 floors were closed off for good. So we got off the elevator on the fourth floor where there was a huge “garage sale” of all behind the scenes equipment and props…including those from the flower shows and Christmas displays. Everything was still expensive, even at the sale prices, but it was fun to look around.

These props greeted us as we got off the elevator on Macy’s 4th floor.

I was surprised to see how many people were shopping. We walked around the floors that were open to us and I took a couple of photos inside and out.

Although I never shopped there much I will miss Macy’s (still Dayton’s in my mind)…especially the flower show in the spring and the 8^th floor Christmas display.

“Jacob Marley” from my favorite Christmas story, The Christmas Carol.

The Nicollet Mall is under construction right now so the statue of Mary Tyler Moore was not in its usual place. The mall will never be the same again…hopefully something will move into the beautiful building that has been an anchor in downtown Minneapolis since 1902.

A Walk in the City

A portion of the route for Twin Cities Marathon

There is a different kind of energy that comes from walking in the city.

I like to hike or walk in parks and enjoy the quietness of the woods, and I like walking in our quiet neighborhoods in my small town but, over the weekend, I went for a walk in the city.

I really enjoyed walking around Lake Harriet on Saturday. It was another fabulous fall day in Minnesota with beautiful sunshine and blue skies with great wisps of white clouds. There were so many people enjoying the great outdoors. It was festive and energizing. There were young and old folks, biking or walking or running, pushing a stroller or wheelchair, or walking a dog/s.

The most unusual, but heartwarming sight, was two runners coming in our direction. They were running side by side but one was clearly leading the other. They wore fluorescent vests. One vest identified a runner assistant, or something on that order, and the other vest identified the runner as a blind runner, with assistant.

I don’t know if they were training for the marathon that was coming up the following day but it was a touching moment to know someone was taking time to help a blind person run. My heart was so happy to see this duo. I didn’t know this kind of service existed, but am glad to know it does.

Sunday was another beautiful day for thousands of runners in the Twin Cities marathon…