Hopkins Historical SocietyThe Hopkins Historical Society
The Hopkins Historical Society is a volunteer -based organization founded and incorporated
in 1972 to discover, preserve, exhibit and disseminate historical knowledge about the City of
Hopkins.
Our historical collection includes: Hopkins directories dating from 1907, Hopkins city re-
cords, Raspberry Festival memorabilia, oral history tapes, club records, yearbooks, genealogi-
cal information, military records, obituary notices, over 7000 photos and an exhibit of
Hopkins newspapers from 1925 to the present.
Our vast array of historical artifacts and records continues to enrich public understanding
and community pride in Hopkins living.
The Hopkins Historical Society museum is open to the public during specific hours and our
museum is always available by appointment.
Society volunteers hold our museum open and conduct research as requested by museum
guests.
Our volunteer board provides educational opportunities to the community by conducting
walking tours for school children, maintaining a Hopkins Historical Society website, offering
our 290 page Hopkins History Book and by hosting general meetings - open to the public -
on subjects of interest to everyone wishing to learn more about Hopkins History.
.Annually, we award old home proclamations and plaques to owners of treasured Hopkins
houses.
Our society offers historic walking tours of downtown Hopkins.
Board members are available to community organizations for discussions and presentations.
We continue to bring people together to tell their stories and exchange historical informa-
tion. All Sunday programs and informational meetings are open to the public and are video
taped.
Efforts are made to collaborate with neighboring historical societies in the exchange ideas
and information.
Our members are kept up to date with newsletters.
In 2011, the Hopkins Historical Society awarded each graduating senior a Hopkins history
book.
We will continue our mission to preserve and present Hopkins history in an informative,
accurate and enjoyable manner. We endeavor to make our history mutually beneficial to our
museum guests, educational institutions, businesses and community organizations fostering
pride in both our individual and collective heritage.
Revised January, 2012
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Winter 2012 HISTORICAL
Volume 4 SOCIETY
Issue 12 NEWS
33 -14TH AVE. NO. HOPKINS, MN 55343-9475 952-548-6480
IT"rZIIN
DIRECTORS
President -
Dean Empanger
952-938-8304 .
Secretary -
Jim Zdrazil
952-935-3884
Treasurer
Marlene Dvorak
952-938-7865
At Large
John Cooley
952-936-9844
At Large
Bob Miller
952-201-9745
At Large
Jerre Miller
952-938-5567
At Large
Mary Raabe
952-927-6945
At Large
Jennifer Timmers
952-938-3564
At Large
Axel Kornfuehrer
952-933-6742
FOUNDERS
Clint Blomquist
Adolph Sidla
James Shirley
Myrtle Bjorkland
Mary J. Heiges
Deloris Olson
Notes From the- Board
by Mary Raabe
Greetings to all our readers and members! We extend
our warmest wishes for a happy and healthy new year.
Happy 40th Anniversary to the Hopkins Historical Society! That's right - 40 years
It was in the spring of 1972 when Jim Shirley, then a zoning and planning
commissioner, asked Clinton Blomquist if he would organize a group of incorpora
tors. Clint readily agreed and asked Adolf Sidla to be first on the board. Mara
Heiges, Deloris Olson and Myrtle Bjorkland soon followed. Attorney Jerre Millet
offered to draw up the legal papers and the Hopkins Historical Society was born.
What a 40 years it has been! We have gone from occupying a tiny space in thr
Hopkins City Hall, to a house in the Hilltop area, to our present location in the
Hopkins Activity Center. Our Society continues to grow through increases
membership, new technology, volunteerism, museum donations and communit3
involvement.
We have come a long way bringing Hopkins history to life and I have a feeling thr
founders would be proud.
Since our last newsletter, we have hosted two Sunday meetings. In October, we awarder
Historic Homes status to Jeri and Leonard Coequyt for their beautifully restored home a
346 - 11th Avenue North Following the ceremony we heard a report from our new Cit;
Manager Mike Mornson. In November, we invited two veterans, Floyd Dahl and Merril
Burgstahler, to speak about their WWll experiences. Both meetings were very well -attender
and enjoyed by our members and guests.
Our biggest news from 2011 is the appointment of board members John Cooley am
Axel Kornfuehrer. John Cooley, featured in our spring newsletter, has served sins(
April. Our most recent appointment, Axel Kornfuehrer was appointed just las.
month. Read more about Axel inside this issue. We are thrilled to have these twr
gentlemen serving on our board.
U's membership time again. Keep our newsletter and meeting notices coming b,
returning the enclosed membership form. As 2012 begins, we thank you for beinj
a part of our work here. We love Hopkins history and nothing pleases us more that
sharing it far and wide.
Dean, Marlene, Jennifer, Jim, Jerre, Bob, John, Axel and Mary
The Hopldns Historical Society Board of Directors
PASTIMES
Headlines from the Hennepin County Review
50 Years Ago In Hopkins
• 24 years a policeman, Engner Johnson retires.
• Tremont Plaza addition and cafe in business - 24
units of the new Tremont Plaza Motel addition are
in use with 16 more to be ready in 2 weeks. A new
restaurant and cocktail lounge are also open.
• Traffic violations unit set to serve first time
speeding offenders. The violations unit will be
located on the 2nd floor of Hopkins City Hall.
• Snow birds warned of $8.00 tow fee. A snow bird
can be costly said the police chief superintendent.
75 Years Ago
• Post Office has bigger year in 1936 - $1254 gain in
receipts from 1935.
• Minneapolis Moline boosts annual payroll by
$75,000. Hourly workers get raises starting at 5
cents an hour. 1937 outlook termed bright.
• First National Bank installs 6 ton vault.
• Hopkins residents and merchants give freely to aid
Ohio and Mississippi flood sufferers. Over $400 raised.
Meet Axel Kornfuehrer
We are very pleased to announce the appointment
of Axel Kornfuehrer to our HHS board. Axel, a
Hopkins native and history enthusiast, will bring a
wealth of experience and expertise to our board.
Axel and his parents emigrated from Germany to the
US in 1952. With the exception of his first few months in
Minnesota and the years from 1959 to 1975, he has
made Hopkins his home on 15th Avenue North - in
the very house his parents bought in 1956.
Axel, a 1959 graduate of Hopkins High, became a US
citizen in 1957 at the age of 16. He credits the Hopkins
schools with allowing him to pass both the citizenship
language and history exams within 5 minutes. He
answered the questions so quickly, the examiner passed
him immediately and waved him out of room. His
parents were sure he had misbehaved and were
relieved to learn the examiner realized he need not
waste more time questioning Axel.
Along with his love of Hopkins, Axel brings to our board a
strong history background, teaching skills and experience in
information technology. After graduating from high school,
he spent 8 years pursuing his undergraduate degree from
Brown University and a masters from Princeton in
European History. He was employed at Alma college
as a history professor for 3 years. Since returning to
Hopkins in 1975 he worked for General Mills, the
Federal Reserve, and is retired from Medica.
Axel is married & the stepfather of 2 grown children. His
volunteer activities include the WWII History Round Table,
Twin City Aero Historians, Twin City Ancient Coin Club and
serving on the Hennepin Technical College advisory board.
Welcome aboard, Axel!
Recent Acquisitions
Jim Shirley - A written history of Frederick
Kenaston who served as president of Minneapolis
Moline and a ruler with 'Don Milbert Mayor of
Hopkins" printed on the outside.
Roger Pokorny - VFW America's Birthday pamphlet
and Hopkins map.
Harriet Ahlstrom, Daniels Photography owner -
negatives and proofs of Raspberry royalty and
confirmation classes dating from the 1970s.
Butch Johnson - Miniature display of 1887
Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company tractor
and miniature Minneapolis Moline tractor.
Tim La_yeux - Harley Hopkins school textbook "The
Firelight Book" of Prose and Poetry and Harley
Hopkins science text book. Both books are from the
mid 1940s.
Jim Hall - Color photos of Minneapolis Moline -built
airplane "Mobile Tow" built in 1950.
Patricia Blake - "Little black bag" carried by father
Dr. Allan Blake.
Jim Lewis - Justus Lumber apron.
Unknown Donors - 1988 Crime Prevention Fund
folder, 3 unused prepaid post cards - 1, 2, and 3 cents.
Ruth Jorgensen Doyle - Painting by brother Paul of
Jorgensen's Confectionery.
Frank Peters - Lamp, typewriter & Gettysburg print.
Robyn Richter - Super Valu snow board.
Ann Tatarka - Hopkins High class rings from 1934 &
1932.
Paul Olson - Anton Olson family photos from early 1900s.
Richard Neider - Neider family history information
for Neider family file.
Welcome to Our New Members
• Jan Schindler - Chanhassen
• Ralph Tulley - Edina
• Judy Arden - Minnetonka
• Peter Gresser - Hopkins
• Jeri and Leonard Coequyt - Hopkins
• Molly Cummings - Hopkins
• Elizabeth Johnson - Minnetonka
In Memoriam
As we say goodbye to 2011, we reflect on three deaths
that saddened and deeply affected our board. In
November, Glen Dvorak, 51 year old son of board
member Marlene Dvorak, died suddenly and unexpectedly.
Glen loved Hopkins and helped in the museum whenever
asked. He graduated from Hopkins High, worked in the
meat department at Cub Foods, collected Minneapolis Moline
toy tractors and lived in Hopkins most of his life.
In December, Floyd Dahl, the WWII POW who spoke at
our November Sunday, meeting died suddenly and
unexpectedly. Mr. Dahl won our hearts with his story
of his German prisoner of war camp experience. We were
very much looking forward to inviting him to speak again.
In November, Society member Jim Doyle also died
unexpectedly. Jim was husband of Hopkins native
Ruth Jorgensen Doyle of Jorgensen's "legs"
Confectionery. Jim was a Korean War vet and longtime
employee of Honeywell and Alliant Tech.
Our deepest sympathy to family and friends.
Year-end "Thank Yous"
From a most grateful board to the following visitors
and volunteers:
Dan Lap ham - Helping out with everything from
moving furniture to identifying photographs.
Joe Holasek - Hosting during museum open hours and
for sorting our sports and map collection.
Susan Ledbetter - For patiently and painstakingly
entering Clint Blomquist's vast catalog of museum
records into our computer.
Gene Wicklund - Keeping us up-to-date on all the
Hopkins 'doings' through his most enjoyable 'Hopkins
Hearsay' column.
Dennis Madden - Hosting during museum open hours
and for his fabulous home -brewed coffee.
Paula Beauchene - Updating our obituary file.
Don Schimmel - Continuing the detailed work of Jim
Kelley by maintaining and updating our local sports
records and statistical files.
Matt Waters - Chairing our Historic Homes Committee.
Jeff Ide and Bob Hirt - Whose detailed knowledge of
local history has answered many a puzzling question.
Lee Raabe - Without whose computer skills, calm
support & patient teaching, this newsletter would never be.
Hopkins Hearsay with Gene
Wicklund, Class of '49
Those great Hopkins schools -- what's new?
In the administrative area, PATTY JOHNSON is in her first
year as principal of the high school replacing WILLIE JETT
who is now with the St. Paul schools.
Also new, all Hopkins High students will have an
advisor who meets with them on Mondays. Additional
academic assistance is given on Thursdays and teachers
will continue with professional inservice. High school
enrollment this year is near 1900.
• Athletics: The boys and girls basketball teams are
off to excellent seasons. Girls hockey is off to a
good start with MARL MAN=,, CORBIN BOYD and NINA
ROGERS doing most of the scoring while ERIN OWEIL
plays goalie. In wrestling, TREY GoEMAN (182 lbs.)
and JAKE PRicE (113 lbs.) lead the way.
• Belated Sympathy to families and friends of
Hopkins residents: KENNETH DOLS; IRENE KELLOGG;
FREDERICK DELL; BRUCE WARD; RICHARD SORENSON;
HELEN TATARKA; MICHAEL DAVIS; MARY ELLEN JETTE;
JAMES TERWEDO, RICHARD BERG; MINNIE PHILLIPS; VERA
SCHOUVILLER; TOMMY OLSON; GLEN DVORAK; MICHAEL
TABER; LEROY FRANKENSTEIN; MARY LOUISE BURG;
RONALD TSCHIMPERLE; CHARLES AnKLEBY; ANDY
ANDERSON; BETTY KADLEC-HENDRICKSON
• Congratulations to: RICHARD D. POEY for winning
the ArtStreet's People's Choice Award for his
sculpture entitled "Like a Tree, Rooted in the
Earth."...Hopkins High School music teacher
PHILIP BROWN who won the National Young Choral
Director Award.
• From the Markham 'Hennepin County Review'
bulletin board -- "Leave well -enough alone!"
Question: According to our founder Clint
Blomquist, what was the most important
exhibit donated to our historical society?
See answer on last page.
Any comments, articles or
ideas for our newsletter?
Call any board member or
Mary Raabe
952-927-6945
Your input would be most
welcome.
Hopkins Historical Society
Dean Empanger, President
Newsletter published 3
times yearly
Editor: Mary Raabe
5425 Benton Ave.
Edina, MN 55436
952-927-6945
maryraabe@aol.com
�1
Answer: The Hennepin County Review. In a 2002 Hopkins Historical Society
newsletter article, Jin Shirley described how Clint thought the greatest contribution
to the Society was the Hennepin County Review dating as far back as 1925. Eugene
OBrien of the Review donated the newspapers in the early 1970s. We have both the
original copies and the copies on microfilm
Stop In to See Us
We are currently observing our winter museum hours. Our museum is open
on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9am to Noon. If you can't make
it during those times give us a call at 952-548-6480.
At Your Service
In October, we received a call from a party who had found a girls class ring
in the Shady Oak Beach area. The caller provided the year and the initials
"R. E." We found the only "R. E." in one of our year books and through a series
of phone calls we were pleasantly surprised to find the owner is Robyn Richter,
a volunteer for the Activity Center. All we had to do was walk down the hall!
We are pleased to report, owner and ring are happily reunited.
wwwhopl immnhistoricalsocietyorg Hope you are having a good start to 2012. Stay warm and be careful out
there. See you again in the spring - it's just around the corner! Well, almost.
Mary
Hopkins Historical Society
1010 - Ist Street South
Hopkins, Minnesota 55343-9475
FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED
Membership Renewal Inside
A o
It's That Time Again!!
Keep our newsletters and announcements coming, while
supporting the important work of the
Hopkins Historical Society.
If you are not already a member, you can use this form to
Join.
This will be your only notice. Please return membership form along
with a check for $10.00 made out to the Hopkins Historical Society
by February 29th. We have enclosed a return envelope for your
convenience.
Thank you!
.....................................................................................................................
Name
Address
Phone Number
The Hopkins Historical Society Annual Membership Form
e-mail
Please return with check for $10.00 made out to the Hopkins Historical Society and
send to our treasurer:
Marlene Dvorak, Treasurer
11222 Old Bren Road
Minnetonka, MN 55343
Hopkins Historical Society
Board of Directors
On May 10, 1972 the Hopkins Historical Society was incorporated as a non-profit corporation.
The incorporators were James Shirley, Myrtle
Bjorklund, Adolph Sidla, Jerre Miller, Clinton
Blomquist, Deloris Olson and Mary Heiges.
All of the Board members have been dedicated
volunteers of a working Board. Along with other volunteers, the activities of the Society are
performed by the Directors.
NAME
TERM
SERVICE
Deloris Olson 1972,
1990-1997
9
Adolph Sidla
1972-1975
4
Clinton Blomquist
1972-1995
24
James Shirley
1972-1973
2
Mary Heiges
1972
1
Jerre Miller
1972, 2007 --
Myrtle Bjorklund
1972
1
Margaret McHale
1973
1
Ethel (Dode) Wonson
1973-1982
10
Doris Empanger
1973
1
Dean Empanger
1974—
34
Vi Towle
1975
1
Alfred Larson
1976-1997
22
Grace Matchke
1976-1978
3
Grace Matchke
1976-1978
3
Stan Feltl
1976-1983
8
Dr. Frank Kucera
1976-1979
4
Reid Burns
1978-1992
18
John Hersman
1980-1981
2
Henry Pokorny
1980-2010
30
Elaine Filkins
1980-1983
4
William Matchke
1980-1982
3
John Hersman
1,980-1981
2
Lydia Irwin
1981-1982
2
Ardis McNally
1984-1995
12
Larry Gardiner
1984-1990
6
Lyman Hamilton
1984-1988
5
Mark Krafve
1984
1
Paul Makousky
1988-1989
2
Earl Weckman
1990-1991
2
James Zdrazil
1.991—
17
Marlene Dvorak
1992—
16
Therese Glatt
1996 —2006
11
Mary Raabe
1998—
998—Jennifer
JenniferTimmers
2004 --
Robert Miller
2009 --
John Cooley
2011 --
Alex Kornfuehrer
2012--