Marcy-Holmes

Minneapolis Historical has identified several interesting looking walking tours of Minneapolis neighborhoods.  A friend and I picked the Marcy-Holmes tour on a bright sunny late winter day for a walk-about.  The Marcy-Holmes neighborhood is the oldest neighborhood in Minneapolis, being part of "St. Anthony" until annexation in 1872.

Marcy - Holmes is on the left bank of the Mississippi, extending from the downtown area to Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota.  It is named for a politician, William L Marcy, and a jurist, Oliver Wendell Holmes.  The whys and wherefores for this combination escape me.

Minneapolis' Marcy-Holmes neighborhood

From the downtown US Bank Stadium light-rail station, we crossed the Mississippi on James J Hill's fabulous Stone Arch Bridge - check out my Bridges of Hennepin County post - and headed up the 6th Ave hill to University Avenue. Lo and behold, lining either side of 6th Ave between Main St & University are a series of bronzes commemorating the historic Marcy-Holmes district. I am embarrassed to say that even though I have biked up that hill dozens of times, I have never taken notice of the sculptures. A note to self: get off the high speed bike occasionally and walk around.



We resolved to find each of the actual "Gateway Sculpture" structures. Unfortunately, some of the bronzes depict buildings that are lost to history and we also missed a few, so another day is needed to complete the tour.

After perusing each of the Gateway Sculptures, we headed for University Ave.

First stop.  Shepherd Manufacturing  129 6th Ave SE
Built in 1884, this factory originally made broom handles.




Next.  Salvage Corps Fire Station #2  528 University Ave SE
Now the quite wonderful Alma Restaurant and Hotel.
 

Next. Woodbury Fisk Home  424 5th St SE
Built in 1869.  He married well.  His brother-in-law was John Pillsbury.



Next.  Octavius Broughton Home  511 4th Ave SE
Built in 1859. Octavius was one of the early lumber millwrights.


Next. Fred Smith Home  419 5th St SE
Built in 1904. Fred was a "printer's devil" for St. Anthony's "Falls Daily News"



Next.  Thomas Andrews Home  527 5th St SE
Built in 1866.  Thomas was a cousin of John Pillsbury and friend of Woodbury Fisk.  Hmm, I sense a theme here.


Next. Horatio and Charlotte Van Cleve Home  603 5th St SE
Built in 1858.  Horatio was a Civil War general, but Charlotte was the star of this family, breaking the stay-at-home norms for women in the mid 1800's.


Next: Peter Lees Home  629 5th St. SE
Built 1894.  Scottish immigrant. An ironworks mechanic who became General Manager of American Bridge Co.


Next: John Dudley Home  701 5th St SE
Built 1856.  John was a lumber baron and real-estate mogul.


Next: First Congregationalist Church  800 5th St SE
The original 1874 structure was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1886.



Crossing 35W bicycle and pedestrian overpass ...

Next: Earle Brown Home  925 6th St SE  {Editor note: an early "prairie-style home - now a frat-house if you can believe it}
Built 1903. Inherited money. His grand-father was a millionaire lumber baron.


Next: International Christian United Bible College 1501 University Ave SE
Built 1915.  Originally home to Minnesota Bible College, it now bears the moniker "DinkyDome" based on its proximity to Dinkytown.


If you'd like a deeper dive in the history of these Marcy-Holmes historical sites check out the audio commentaries for each of these - and more - on the Minneapolis Historical site. You will also find pointers to other interesting looking Minneapolis neighborhood walks - all on my to-do list.

And, pick a nice day and take the actual walking tour - you can see it all on a easy 3 mile jaunt.

Dave