Our History
History of the Hopkins Historical Society
By Jim Shirley, Founder, written 2002
Vivian Blomquist with a portrait of
her and her husband, Clint in 1997
The Hopkins Historical Society first emerged out of a city of
Hopkins Zoning and Planning Commission meeting in 1972. As a new
appointee to the commission, I remained after the meeting to chat
with Clint Blomquist, who was the city staff person assigned to
the commission, and Jerry Miller, who was with the law firm of
Vesely, Otto and Miller, city attorneys. My grandfather, Albert
Cooper, was the first police officer in Hopkins, Clint’s father
was an early merchant, and Jerry’s roots go back to Peter Miller,
pioneer settler in Hopkins.
It wasn’t long before we began to reminisce about the earlier times
in Hopkins and a suggestion was made that we ought to do something
about preserving the history of the community. Jerry offered to do
the legal work of incorporating a Hopkins Historical Society if
I would organize a group of incorporators. Clint knew that Adolf
Sidla was interested in Hopkins history and would be willing to
help. With that, the Hopkins Historical Society emerged.
Dean Empanger, past president of the society, and Mary Heitges,
then Hopkins librarian, were instrumental in collecting oral history
reports from sons and daughters of the early settlers and citizens
of the community. Deloris Olson, Henry Pokorny, Alfred Larson and
others soon got word of the society and became early supporters
and were active in the growth and success of the organization as
it developed. After his retirement from the city, Clint Blomquist
worked endlessly to gather, identify and catalog data and artifacts
that boosted the society to where it is now, 30 years later.
According to Clint, the greatest historical contribution to
the society was old copies of the Hennepin County Review from
1925-1961. Eugene O’Brien of the Review donated the newspapers to
the society in the 1970s. These copies have served as invaluable
references for history buffs young and old.
Originally, the society was given space in the Hopkins City Hall
basement where Clint Blomquist and Mary Heitges developed a catalog
system still in use today. Eventually, when a city-owned house at
2020 4th Avenue North became available, Clint along with the board,
jumped at the chance have their own space. The house worked pretty
well from a space standpoint, but it was too far away and few people
actually knew where it was. Then in 1980, the City Council granted
space to the society in the new Activity Center (formerly the band
room of South Junior High), where we are located today.
Photographs
The museum holds thousands of vintage and newer photos of people, places and things dear to all Hopkins-philes. One special file contains black and white photographs of each home in Hopkins street-by-street from 1954.
We have begun a project to scan many of these photographs, and we will be making many of them available for viewing here on this website. If you like what you see, please consider stopping by the museum to see our complete collection, or make a donation to the Hopkins Historical Society to support our work. Thank you!
If you have photographs of the Hopkins area, old or new, consider donating them to the Historical Society for future generations to enjoy. If you want to keep the originals, we will happily make copies for our museum.
City of Hopkins
Schools
Businesses
Transportation
Recreation & Entertainment
Disasters
Minneapolis Threshing Machine - Minneapolis Moline
title="a Minneapolis Moline tractor" />
Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, later Minneapolis Moline, was the major employer in Hopkins for many years. The Hopkins Historical Society houses many MTM and Minneapolis Moline artifacts. These include:
- Books and magazines
- Film library of conservation movies produced by Minneapolis Moline
- Models and MM-logo items
- Vintage photographs
Other Links
For more information on Minneapolis Moline:
Membership
The Hopkins Historical Society extends a heartfelt invitation to all our neighbors, western-suburbanites, local history buffs and scholars to join the ranks of our membership.
For only $10 in tax-deductible yearly dues, you can become a member of the Hopkins Historical Society.
If you would like to become a member of the Hopkins Historical Society, please contact Mary Raabe or call us at 952-548-6480 for more information. Be sure to include your name and full mailing address.
New or renewing members receive our quarterly newsletter, free or discounted research assistance, and a calendar of events and meeting announcements. The society newsletter contains many interesting articles and features about Hopkins and surrounding communities, its heritage and its people. Throughout the year the Hopkins Historical Society hosts speakers on a variety of topics. Members receive notification of all events, times and places. Please call 952-548-6480 for more information.
Planned Gifts
Remember the Hopkins Historical Society in your will. The society suggests remembering someone special by making a gift in his or her memory to support the Hopkins Historical Society.
Programs
Hopkins Historic Homes
Hopkins is home to hundreds of beautiful older homes
The Hopkins Historic Homes Project was started in August 2000 to document the histories of the old homes and neighborhoods in Hopkins. It was quickly determined that Hopkins had over 450 homes that were 75 years old or older, and 138 of those homes had hit their centennial. One of the Project’s primary goals is to recognize these old homes and their wonderful histories by awarding a proclamation and plaque. Possible candidates are brought to the attention of the committee who then send out a history survey to the homeowners. The committee then reviews each survey to choose the recipients for the yearly award.
Anyone can contact the Historical Society or send us the address of a home that is 75 years or older.
- History Survey Form — You will need to complete a history survey (pdf, 173k) of the house to assist the committee when making their final selections. The history survey is designed to provide historical background on the home and the neighborhood.
- Due Date — Submissions are due by September 1st. Homes selected will be awarded their proclamations and plaque in late October.
For more information about proclamation requirements or if you have questions about the Historic Homes Project, please send a note to Historic Homes.
Hopkins Through the Years
A book about the community of Hopkins
Hopkins, Through the Years is a comprehensive portrayal of Hopkins history from the 1800s to 2002. The 230-page, black and white book features pictures, maps, personal testimonies and
concludes with a nostalgic walk through Hopkins, then and now.
For just $20.00, our book can be purchased directly from the Historical Society. Please call 952-548-6480 to arrange a purchase time or for an additional shipping fee, we can ship our book directly to you.
You may also buy a copy at Driskill’s Grocery in Hopkins, located at 25-11th Avenue North.
To order your copy of Hopkins, Through the Years, please send a check payable to:
Hopkins Historical Society
1010 - 1st Street South
Hopkins, Minnesota 55343
The price is $25.00 (includes shipping and MN sales tax)
Please be sure to include your name and full mailing address!
Collections
- Hopkins City and Business — Early records of jailhouse rolls, court dockets, accounting ledgers, diaries and many other documents trace the civic and economic development of Hopkins.
- Books
- Public Records — Tax information, land acquisition and usage papers, school enrollment and attendance, newspapers
- Paintings
- Photographs — The museum holds over 5000 vintage and newer photos of people, places and things dear to all Hopkins-philes. One special file contains black and white photographs of each home in Hopkins street-by-street from 1954.
- Furniture —A fine collection features school and company desks, chairs and beautiful oak cabinetry.
- Sculpture — Pieces dating from some of Hopkins’ first churches
- School Memorabilia — This includes many local trophies and awards, and Hopkins school yearbooks dating from the 1920s and ’30s on up.
- Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, Minneapolis Moline Plant and Office — The museum contains many fascinating artifacts from one of Hopkins’ best-known employers through the 1950s and 60s.
- Wartime — Wartime holdings include many WWII artifacts.
- Religious — Hopkins is and has been the site of many places of worship.
- Video — The society has transferred 16 mm film to video. Come in and watch films from the archives of the society.
- Audio — Many aspects of Hopkins life are preserved at the society in the words of local families on audiotape. The society holds over 100 audio-taped memories of its citizens.
- Printed materials — volumes held by the society include city records, Hopkins telephone directories dating from the 1930s to the present, local Women’s Club records from 1908 through the 1980s, vintage maps of the community as far back as 1854, obituary and other vital statistics records (some on microfiche), 1960-present.
- Family Memorabilia — Scrapbooks, sheet music, family genealogies and photographs. Read the 1872 diary of George M. Burnes - a year in the life of a young Hopkins farmer.
- Newspapers and Magazines — include Hennepin County Review (once a local newspaper published in Hopkins), 1925-1961, Sun Sailor Newspapers, 1969-, Life and Look magazines, Saturday Evening Post.
- Other Links — History of the Hopkins Westwind Concert Band
Events
Meetings and Lectures
The Hopkins Historical Society holds general meetings on the 4th Sunday of selected months at 2:30pm. at the Hopkins Activity Center. These meetings and other local events are taped and available for viewing at the Historical Society. Announcements, a description of upcoming programs and any meeting date changes will be posted prior to all general meetings. Please see our home page for the latest information.
City of Hopkins
History
The first settlers of Hopkins arrived in 1852; however, the roots of the town begin in 1887 with the building of the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, later called Minneapolis Moline. Minneapolis Moline once employed most of the Hopkins residents. The West Minneapolis Land Company was also founded in 1887 and was formed to build housing for the Minneapolis Moline factory workers.
In 1893, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners received a petition signed by 41 residents, asking that the village be formed. Following an election, the community was then incorporated as the village of West Minneapolis.
The original village was comprised of three square miles, and it has been enlarged by annexation to its present size of about four square miles. The population at the time of its incorporation was 1,105; today, there are 17,145 people living in Hopkins.
In 1928, the name of the village was changed to Hopkins - for Harley H. Hopkins who was among its first homesteaders and was the community’s first postmaster. The first mayor was Harley Hopkins’ son, Chester L. Hopkins.
On January 1, 1948, the village became a city upon adoption of what is called the council-city manager charter.
Hopkins has always had a core business district, and in the center of that early business district was Hopkins City Hall at 8th Avenue North and Mainstreet. Completed in 1912, it housed the city’s police and jail in the rear portions, and city offices, library and meeting room upstairs. The fire station was on the main level, and the firefighters used horse drawn rigs. The building was remodeled in 1940 to accommodate more fire trucks.
That fire station was torn down in 1965 after a new City Hall, Police Station and Fire Station were built at 1010 1st St S. The current City Hall and Police Station were remodeled in 1990 and the Fire Station was remodeled in 1994.
In the summer of 1982, the city and its Public Works Department accomplished the challenge of building a city garage on a small area, using as many of the existing structures as possible, doing it within a $475,000 budget, and doing it without disrupting city services.
Adjacent to the Public Works facilities is the Hopkins Pavilion, which was built with money from a 1989 park bond referendum. The facility opened in December 1991. It is now one of the premier facilities of its kind in the Twin Cities area, and is used for soccer, lacrosse, in-line roller hockey, skating and ice hockey.
The Hopkins Activity Center, a multipurpose community facility, opened in January 1981 at the site of the former South Junior High School. A variety of programs for people of all ages are offered at the Activity Center. It was renovated in 1990, and the facility includes a gymnasium, meeting rooms and kitchen. The Hopkins Historical Society, which was started more than 24 years ago, also is located in the Activity Center.
The Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet, opened in November 1997. The Arts Center stands as a focal point for arts, culture and entertainment in the Hopkins community, the Twin Cities metro area and the region. It is a community-gathering place where young and old can enjoy high quality, multi-disciplinary cultural arts programs and community activities. The Arts Center includes a theater, a visual arts gallery, multipurpose spaces for rehearsals, community activities and small performances, a visual arts classroom, a dance studio, and kitchen facilities for serving catered food.
It addition to its facilities, the City of Hopkins is home to the annual Raspberry Festival. The first festival was organized in 1934 by a group of community business people who were concerned that the Hopkins economy and community needed a boost. This festival is one of the largest in the state.
Education
Hopkins School District 270 is the public school system serving the City of Hopkins. Three of its seven elementary schools are located in the city, including Katherine Curren, Alice Smith and Eisenhower. In addition, the School District’s early childhood, family education programs are housed in its Harley Hopkins Family Center, which is located in southeast Hopkins. Access to a number of social, county, community and School District outreach programs is available through the Hopkins Area Family Resource Center, which is located on Hopkins’ Mainstreet.
Historical Facts
| 1852 | - | First settler arrived |
| 1862 | - | First school, Burnes, built |
| 1887 | - | Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company built |
| Nov 27, 1893 | - | 1168 people incorporated the Village of West Minneapolis |
| Dec 9, 1893 | - | First Council elected |
| 1899 | - | Streetcar arrived in Hopkins |
| July 7, 1928 | - | Village name changed to Hopkins |
| 1929 | - | Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company becomes Minneapolis Moline |
| 1934 | - | Hopkins business people organized the first Raspberry Festival |
| Dec 2, 1947 | - | Hopkins became a city through the adoption of a city charter |
City Facts
The city of Hopkins, located 13 miles from Minneapolis, is about four square miles in size. The larger, west suburban communities of Minnetonka, St. Louis Park and Edina surround it.
Hopkins is about 98% developed with little remaining vacant land. It has been in a redevelopment mode for a number of years, and that will continue as city leaders look for ways to maintain, preserve and improve this historic community.
Population
In 2003, the City’s population was 17,145 people.
Services & Fees
Effective August 1, 2007, fees will be charged for some research
services performed at the Hopkins Historical Society. For most
members’ requests, these fees are small or do not apply. Museum
admission is still free. See the table below for details.
| Ready Reference Policy | No Fee |
| Applies to any questions that can be answered by a staff member in person, by phone or by email in five minutes or less. |
|
| Research Fees | |
| Research assistance fees are collected in advance and are non-refundable regardless of results. Payment by cash or check payable to Hopkins Historical Society. |
|
| Self-research during open museum hours | |
| Members | No Fee |
| Non-Members | $5.00/hr |
| Commercial Enterprises | $10.00/hr |
| Self-research by appointment | |
| Members | $5.00/hr |
| Non-Members | $10.00/hr |
| Commercial Enterprises | $20.00/hr |
| Research assistance during open museum hours | |
| Members | $10.00/hr |
| Non-Members | $20.00/hr |
| Commercial Enterprises | $30.00/hr |
| Research assistance by appointment | |
| Members | $15.00/hr |
| Non-Members | $30.00/hr |
| Commercial Enterprises | $40.00/hr |
| Additional Fees | |
| Photocopies | $0.25/ea |
| We reserve the right to refuse to copy material that is too fragile, does not fit the copier or infringes on copyright laws. |
|
| Paper copy from microfiche | $0.25/ea |
| Computer photograph copies (color or B/W) | $1.00/ea |
| Emailing of photos (scans at 300 dpi only) | $10.00/ea |
| Copies of photographs | Ask for quote |
| Photograph reproduction fees are collected in advance. Copies of photographs require two weeks processing. |
|
Home
Museum Summer Hours
The Hopkins Historical Society Museum will be open by appointment only from Friday, May 30 through Wednesday, September 3, 2008. Please call 952-548-6480 for an appointment to visit the Museum.
New! Red Owl CD
An updated version of The Red Owl Story, by our local Red Owl historian, Norbert Lucas Jr., is now available on CD. The new CD version is over 240 pages and includes a pdf format file of the original printed book plus many new photos of past Red Owl presidents and products. Cost is $16.00, plus shipping if applicable. To get your copy, pick one up at the museum or call 952-548-6480.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in being a volunteer for the Hopkins Historical Society, we want to talk to you. Please contact us, or call 952-548-6480.
Attention 60s, 70s and 80s Hopkins Grads
The Hopkins Historical Society wants to preserve your artifacts, especially photographs, for future generations. If you or someone you know graduated or grew up in or around Hopkins in the 1960s, 70s or 80s, please consider donating originals, copies or digital scans of Hopkins-town photos to the Historical Society’s museum. Other hometown vintage mementos or small items are also welcome. Send us a note from our website, call or stop by the museum and we would be glad to talk to you about donating.
Fee Schedule for Research Services
Effective August 1, 2007, fees will be charged for some research services performed at the Hopkins Historical Society. For most members’ requests, these fees are small or do not apply. Museum admission is still free. Please see our services and fees page for details.
1872 Diary of George M. Burnes
Read the 1872 Diary of George M. Burnes online - a year in the life of a young Hopkins farmer.
The 1872 diary of George M. Burnes II, a member of one of the first Hopkins area settler families, recounts the daily events in the life of a 25-year-old farmer. (Because George’s cursive writing is difficult to read, the diary is transcribed.) The entries are short and to the point, but taken as whole they give a rather vivid account of life in Hopkins just a few years after the Civil War.
Historic Homes
Just love your old Hopkins-area house? Apply for local historic status! It’s easy. Click here for a printable application, stop by the Hopkins Historical Society, or call 952-548-6480 and we will assist you. Awards are given each October.
Hopkins Through the Years
Take a tour of home town memories and see Hopkins history come alive in this special look at Hopkins starting from the 1880s. Available now.
Exhibits/On Display
- Home and Farm Hundreds of fascinating clothing and household items, tools and equipment provide a glimpse of life in Hopkins from the early 1900s to mid-twentieth century.
- Architectural Remnants Many pieces in the museum reflect the varied and interesting architectural past of Hopkins. The centerpiece of the collection is the beautiful stained glass window from the stately former landmark Dow House.
- Raspberry Festival Memorabilia Nothing says Hopkins quite like its annual Raspberry Festival. The museum’s displays showcase the festival’s many fun events and make you feel like you’re there.
Sponsors
The following sponsors have contributed generously to the Hopkins Historical Society and have made this web site possible:
- City of Hopkins, Minnesota — General operating and technical support
- Indermaur, Inc. — Technology consulting and implementation
The Hopkins Historical Society welcomes the support of donors and members. Please click here for more on the benefits of society membership.
About
The Hopkins Historical Society
Since its founding in 1972, the Hopkins Historical Society has been dedicated to preserving the history of the Hopkins community, acting as a resource center for over 5000 photographs depicting historical Hopkins, including county fairs, the annual Hopkins Raspberry Festival, local schools and economic development.
The Hopkins Historical Society documents, preserves and classifies historical records, interprets material unique to our local history, gathers artifacts and materials to exhibit the story of Hopkins and serves as community historians to children and adults.
Visitor Information
Museum Location
View Larger Map
33 14th Ave N
Hopkins, MN 55343
952-548-6480
Hours of Operation: September - May
Thursdays 9:00 a.m. to noon
For other dates and times, please call 952-548-6480 for an appointment to visit the Museum.
Admission: FREE
Board of Directors & Officers
| President | Dean Empanger | 952-938-8304 |
| Treasurer | Henry Pokorny | 952-935-5878 |
| Secretary | Jim Zdrazil | 952-935-3884 |
| Marlene Dvorak | 952-938-7865 | |
| Jerre Miller | 952-938-5567 | |
| Mary Raabe | 952-927-6945 | |
| Jennifer Timmers | 952-938-9061 |
Sponsors
The following sponsors have contributed generously to the Hopkins Historical Society and have made this web site possible:
- City of Hopkins, Minnesota —
General operating and technical support - Indermaur, Inc. —
Web site design, implementation and hosting, consulting
Hopkins Historical Society members provided additional support with special thanks going to: Bev Ewing, Mary Raabe, and Suzette Steppe
The Hopkins Historical Society eagerly welcomes the support of donors and members. Please click here for more on the benefits of Historical Society membership.
Contact
Comments and suggestions about this web site are always welcome. Please send a note to our webmaster.
Farms
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Raspberry Festival
