Last week it was a brief trip southeast to Chicago, that toddlin' town. This week it's in the opposite direction, northwest to Minnesota's Twin Cities where I had made my living for some 23 years, with brief intermissions of two years in Africa and a year "on loan" to the feds in Washington, D.C.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are often lumped together, something like North and South Dakota, or Kansas and Nebraska. Indeed, the two states have many similarities in addition to long, dreary winters. Both states have their north woods, and productive farmlands in the southern parts of their states.
Both states have similar ethnicities, including tribal lands populated by Native Americans. German is the predominant ethnicity of both states. Minnesota is generally characterized as "Scandinavian." Indeed it is, but Scandinavians outnumber Germans only if by adding Norwegians and Swedes together.
Both states have communities originated by various ethnicities including Polish, Cornish, Czech, Swiss, and others, and towns bearing their respective names, such as New Ulm, New Berlin, New Glarus, New Prague, and others. Towns and rivers of both states bear French names, reflecting early French exploration: Pomme de Terre, St. Croix, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Lac Que Parle, Prairie du Chien, Faribault, Nicollet, are just a few examples.
Both states have some common political history, although recently having gone in divergent directions. Basic progressive, liberal traditions dotted with some conservative stalwarts characterize each state. In Wisconsin, "Fighting Bob" Lafollette comes to mind. More recent progressives would include the late Sen. Gaylord Nelson, founder of "Earth Day," former Sen. Russ Feingold, and current Sen. Tammy Baldwyn.
Minnesota Democrats of note surely include Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, current Gov. Mark Dayton, and Sen. Amy Klobachar and Sen. Al Franken.
Prominent Wisconsin conservatives would include the late Senator "Tail Gunner Joe" McCarthy and current governor, Scott Walker. Minnesota conservatives of note would include Congressman Walter Judd, who was a leader of the conservative China Lobby that urged continued military aid to Chiang Kai Shek.
More recent Minnesota Conservatives of note include former Congresswoman Michelle Bachman who, during the campaign of 2012, briefly led the Republican field of presidential candidates in Iowa.
In contrast to the more conservative Minnesota Republicans of late, with the exception of a few worthies such as Walter Judd, Minnesota Republicans of a few decades ago were moderate, even, dare I say, "liberal." Minnesota's Elmer Anderson, a prominent Republican of the 1950s, would easily be a Democrat of today, and surely not among the most conservative of them.
Justifiably or not, undoubtedly enhanced by Garrison Keilor of "The Prairie Home Companion," Scandinavians are reputed to be "cool and reserved," not prone to demonstrative words or actions. During memorial ceremonies of the late Sen. Gaylord Nelson a few years ago in Madison, Walter (Fritz) Mondale added a touch of levity by attempting to dispel that notion. He informed us that Sen. Nelson loved his wife so much that one time he almost got around to telling her so.
During the election of 1984, Mondale, the cool Norwegian, unfortunately in my view, never had a chance against the more effusive Irishman, Ronald Reagan. But hey, Fritz held his own state of Minnesota. That's better than George McGovern did with his home state of South Dakota during the election of 1972 against Richard Nixon.
When I first arrived in Minnesota in 1967, the Foshay Tower was the tallest building in the Cities. Today it is dwarfed by many modern skyscrapers. Minneapolis has tended to go more for avant-garde architecture, while St. Paul attempts, with some success, to integrate new buildings into the context of classical and Victorian styles.
Early on, St. Paul developed as the furthermost upriver transshipment point on the Mississippi River, further navigation impeded by St. Anthony Falls. Minneapolis developed as a grain milling town, using St. Anthony Falls as a source of power for the mills.
Competition between the cities was exemplified by the old American Association baseball teams, the St. Paul Saints and the Minneapolis Millers. With the expansion of the cities and professional sports, both cities built facilities with which to attract franchises.
Fruitless rivalry between the cities was settled with characteristic Minnesota common sense upon the simultaneous arrival of professional baseball and football teams in 1961. With its move to Minnesota's Twin Cities, the Washington Senators baseball team became the "Minnesota Twins," obviously encompassing the entire state and both cities. The new NFL franchise became the "Minnesota Vikings," again encompassing the entire state, and reflecting the state's Scandinavian heritage.
Professional basketball and hockey teams adopted the same sensible strategy. The Minneapolis Lakers, now the Los Angeles Lakers, were the last professional franchise to use the name of one of the cities.
The Twin Cities Metropolitan Statistical Region, once consisting of only five counties, is now officially the "Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area," encompassing 19 counties, including two in Wisconsin, the nation's 14th largest MSA.
So, millions of people in the area, and what happens? I finish lunch in a Perkins Pancake House, with old pal Tom and am checking out. A woman also checking out looks at me as if she recognizes me. I don't immediately recognize her.
"Are you John?" In a state of near shock, trying to figure out what goes, I see the guy standing right beside her - none other than old tennis playing pal, Horst. I had not seen or heard from him in 18 years. Millions of people in the Cities, and here is Horst, checking out of Perkins at exactly the same time I am.
Since I had last seen him in 1997, what circuitous paths the two of us have taken in those 18 years, only to accidentally bump into each other once again.
The Twin Cities, such a populous and interesting place, and yet, it can be such a small world.
- John Waelti's column appears every Friday in the Times. He can be reached at jjwaelti1@tds.net.
Minnesota and Wisconsin are often lumped together, something like North and South Dakota, or Kansas and Nebraska. Indeed, the two states have many similarities in addition to long, dreary winters. Both states have their north woods, and productive farmlands in the southern parts of their states.
Both states have similar ethnicities, including tribal lands populated by Native Americans. German is the predominant ethnicity of both states. Minnesota is generally characterized as "Scandinavian." Indeed it is, but Scandinavians outnumber Germans only if by adding Norwegians and Swedes together.
Both states have communities originated by various ethnicities including Polish, Cornish, Czech, Swiss, and others, and towns bearing their respective names, such as New Ulm, New Berlin, New Glarus, New Prague, and others. Towns and rivers of both states bear French names, reflecting early French exploration: Pomme de Terre, St. Croix, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Lac Que Parle, Prairie du Chien, Faribault, Nicollet, are just a few examples.
Both states have some common political history, although recently having gone in divergent directions. Basic progressive, liberal traditions dotted with some conservative stalwarts characterize each state. In Wisconsin, "Fighting Bob" Lafollette comes to mind. More recent progressives would include the late Sen. Gaylord Nelson, founder of "Earth Day," former Sen. Russ Feingold, and current Sen. Tammy Baldwyn.
Minnesota Democrats of note surely include Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, current Gov. Mark Dayton, and Sen. Amy Klobachar and Sen. Al Franken.
Prominent Wisconsin conservatives would include the late Senator "Tail Gunner Joe" McCarthy and current governor, Scott Walker. Minnesota conservatives of note would include Congressman Walter Judd, who was a leader of the conservative China Lobby that urged continued military aid to Chiang Kai Shek.
More recent Minnesota Conservatives of note include former Congresswoman Michelle Bachman who, during the campaign of 2012, briefly led the Republican field of presidential candidates in Iowa.
In contrast to the more conservative Minnesota Republicans of late, with the exception of a few worthies such as Walter Judd, Minnesota Republicans of a few decades ago were moderate, even, dare I say, "liberal." Minnesota's Elmer Anderson, a prominent Republican of the 1950s, would easily be a Democrat of today, and surely not among the most conservative of them.
Justifiably or not, undoubtedly enhanced by Garrison Keilor of "The Prairie Home Companion," Scandinavians are reputed to be "cool and reserved," not prone to demonstrative words or actions. During memorial ceremonies of the late Sen. Gaylord Nelson a few years ago in Madison, Walter (Fritz) Mondale added a touch of levity by attempting to dispel that notion. He informed us that Sen. Nelson loved his wife so much that one time he almost got around to telling her so.
During the election of 1984, Mondale, the cool Norwegian, unfortunately in my view, never had a chance against the more effusive Irishman, Ronald Reagan. But hey, Fritz held his own state of Minnesota. That's better than George McGovern did with his home state of South Dakota during the election of 1972 against Richard Nixon.
When I first arrived in Minnesota in 1967, the Foshay Tower was the tallest building in the Cities. Today it is dwarfed by many modern skyscrapers. Minneapolis has tended to go more for avant-garde architecture, while St. Paul attempts, with some success, to integrate new buildings into the context of classical and Victorian styles.
Early on, St. Paul developed as the furthermost upriver transshipment point on the Mississippi River, further navigation impeded by St. Anthony Falls. Minneapolis developed as a grain milling town, using St. Anthony Falls as a source of power for the mills.
Competition between the cities was exemplified by the old American Association baseball teams, the St. Paul Saints and the Minneapolis Millers. With the expansion of the cities and professional sports, both cities built facilities with which to attract franchises.
Fruitless rivalry between the cities was settled with characteristic Minnesota common sense upon the simultaneous arrival of professional baseball and football teams in 1961. With its move to Minnesota's Twin Cities, the Washington Senators baseball team became the "Minnesota Twins," obviously encompassing the entire state and both cities. The new NFL franchise became the "Minnesota Vikings," again encompassing the entire state, and reflecting the state's Scandinavian heritage.
Professional basketball and hockey teams adopted the same sensible strategy. The Minneapolis Lakers, now the Los Angeles Lakers, were the last professional franchise to use the name of one of the cities.
The Twin Cities Metropolitan Statistical Region, once consisting of only five counties, is now officially the "Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area," encompassing 19 counties, including two in Wisconsin, the nation's 14th largest MSA.
So, millions of people in the area, and what happens? I finish lunch in a Perkins Pancake House, with old pal Tom and am checking out. A woman also checking out looks at me as if she recognizes me. I don't immediately recognize her.
"Are you John?" In a state of near shock, trying to figure out what goes, I see the guy standing right beside her - none other than old tennis playing pal, Horst. I had not seen or heard from him in 18 years. Millions of people in the Cities, and here is Horst, checking out of Perkins at exactly the same time I am.
Since I had last seen him in 1997, what circuitous paths the two of us have taken in those 18 years, only to accidentally bump into each other once again.
The Twin Cities, such a populous and interesting place, and yet, it can be such a small world.
- John Waelti's column appears every Friday in the Times. He can be reached at jjwaelti1@tds.net.
