Hopkins Historical Society

Henry Pokorny and Hopkins

admin — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 03:57:43 +0000

A tribute to Henry Pokorny, former Hopkins Historical Society Board Member
Henry Pokorny was a part of Hopkins his entire life. The Hopkins Historical Society has put together a few photographs that follow Henry in Hopkins from his school days, to his army stint, to his homes, his business and his civic life.

One side of Henry Pokorny Junior's beginnings

Henry Pokorny Senior, posed with Hlavacek's Band in Hopkins, @1915. Henry Sr. is standing in the back at far left. The band members are posed near the Minneapolis Sewer Pipe Works building (right background) on the Hennepin County Fairgrounds. This is the 2011 location of Hopkins' Central Park.
Henry's neighborhood

As a child, Henry Pokorny lived across the street from St. Mary's Catholic Church, at 50-6th Avenue South. This church site is now occupied by the two-story LOON apartment building, and Henry's childhood house is still there.
Tornado Hit

Here is a view of Henry's Hopkins neighborhood after the tornado of June 2, 1925. It shows the intersection of 6th Avenue and 2nd Street South. The large white frame house is 58-60 6th Avenue South, and the house just to the left of it (with the grain elevator shown just above it) is 50-6th Avenue South, owned by Henry Pokorny Sr. Henry Jr. was just over 1 year old at the time of this photo and rode out the storm with his mom in the basement of the house.
Henry's Morning Kindergarten Class, @1929

Henry's Morning Kindergarten class posed outside the South Junior High school building @1929. Henry is standing in the top row, second from the right. Also pictured are: Caswell Zajicek, Clarence Perbix, Helen Kvam, Russell Olson, Audrey McCauley, James Lundquist, Donald Osterberg, Douglass McDonald, Lois Nash, Willard Zipoy, Muriel Nelson, Elizabeth Milbert, Jack Horner, Florence Nylin, Elizabeth Lucas, Gil Jenstad, Douglas Shonka, Stuart Skogland (bottom row third from right), Alfred Schmidel, and Elizabeth Nickodym.
Henry's 7th Grade Class, 1936-1937

Henry is standing in the top row, fourth from the left. Also pictured are: Sara Lou Anderson, Harry Bauman, Harold Berg, Chuck Bruhn, Dorothea Dodge, Irene Dostal, Walter Farber, Lucy Gilman, Ed Glynn, Ruth Grochow, Elaine Hall, Jack Horner, Marj Jeffords, Glen Jeneke, Gil Jenstad, Jerry Johnson, Clara Jurish, Alice Kimmer, Helen Kvam, Eleanor Larson, Elizabeth Lucas, Eunice Matushka, Audrey McCauley, Dorothy McClure, Doug McDonald, Lois Nash, Elaine Nelson, Jean Nelson, Muriel Nelson, Neil Nelson, Betty Nickodym, Florence Nylin, Russ Olson, Donald Osterberg, Miss Palmer, Clarence Perbix, Arnie Ryba, Doug Shonka, Dick Sipprell, Marian Skarlid, Stewart Skoglund, Russell Soulen, Sverre Werness, John Zajicek, and Ed Ziegler
Henry Enlists in WWII, 1941

Here is Henry as he was in the U.S. Army at that time, age 17.
Pokorny Plumbing business

The West Minneapolis Gas Works building shown here was located on 2nd Street South between 6th and 7th Avenues, facing the MTM plant. The lot on which this building sat was eventually used as part of the Pokorny and Sons Plumbing business.
Henry's first house

This home at 611-2nd Street South was the former West Minneapolis Gas Works building. In this 1956 photo, the building had been converted into a private home. The lot on which this house sat was eventually used as part of the Pokorny and Sons Plumbing business. At the extreme left in this photo is part of a small house with a picket fence purchased after WWII by Henry Pokorny, Jr.
Pokorny Plumbing and Heating Company

623-2nd Street South, 1956
221 Herman Terrace

Home of Henry and Arlene Pokorny and family,1956
New construction plumbing service of choice

Here we see the house at 237 Campbell Drive being built with a Pokorny Plumbing & Heating truck in the driveway, 1956.
City hall ground-breaking

City Councilman Henry Pokorny (at left) attends the ground-breaking ceremony for Hopkins' new city hall, January 29, 1964. Also pictured are Councilman J. Hanley, Mayor Don Milbert, Reverend Heuser, and R. Harriman. Mayor Milbert is just breaking ground with the shovel.
At city hall dedication

City Councilman Henry Pokorny (center) at new city hall dedication, January 16, 1965.
Big Doings in Central Park

Mayor Henry Pokorny is all smiles with this architectural drawing of the new Central Park shelter October 20, 1966; also pictured: Al Edstrom and Dick Wilson.
I'm Just Here for the Fish

Pokorny Plumbing & Heating van in front of the Legion Hall, 1968: Henry made no secret of being a fan of the American Legion's food, especially the walleye. This photo shows his fondness for the Legion went way back.
Photo Archivist - 1944 Jeep

Henry took many photos of things of historical interest and donated them to the Hopkins Historical Society. These are just a few: The first Jeep made for the U.S. Army by the Minneapolis Moline Company in 1944. This Jeep was driven in the 1987 Raspberry parade as part of the Hopkins centennial celebration and is shown parked on the side of the road in east Hopkins, probably near the parade route origin.
Photo Archivist - 1920s Steam Tractor

Henry took many photos of things of historical interest and donated them to the Hopkins Historical Society. These are just a few: A man standing and driving several passengers on an early 1920s steam tractor built by Minneapolis Moline, @1987. This tractor was displayed in the 1987 Raspberry Festival parade as part of the Hopkins Centennial celebration.
Photo Archivist - Hopkins House

Henry took many photos of things of historical interest and donated them to the Hopkins Historical Society. These are just a few: The demolition site of the Hopkins House, March 2002. This hotel was located at 1511 Highway 7 in Hopkins. This view shows the portion of the hotel that was salvaged (the multiple-story portion) and used to construct the condominiums developed on this site. The A-frame portion of the building was the main entrance to the hotel and was demolished in the redevelopment.
Photo Archivist - Fire

Henry took many photos of things of historical interest and donated them to the Hopkins Historical Society. These are just a few: The side of a brick building damaged by fire in the upper portion near the windows, dated July 22, 2003. This is the area of a Hopkins fire that took place @2003 in a business called The Bed Shop at 1010-1012 Mainstreet. Notice that painted in yellow and blue are the words "Dahlberg Ford." Dahlberg was the name of the owner of a Ford auto dealership that used this space as its used car lot in the 1940s, 50s and 60s.
Henry presents Clint Blomquist with a framed photo, 1995

When the Hopkins Historical Society honored founding member Clinton Blomquist in 1995, Henry happily presented his friend with a framed photo of Clint and his wife, Vivian. This photo hangs in a prominent place at the front entrance of the Hopkins Historical Society's museum.
Henry and his wife Arlene, 1995
Meet and Greet March 2010

Henry attends a local HBCA (Hopkins Business and Civic Association) event with featured speaker Jerre Miller and his brother Bob Miller, both also former Hopkins mayors.
Meet and Greet March 2010

Henry attends a local HBCA (Hopkins Business and Civic Association) event with featured speaker Jerre Miller and his brother Bob Miller, both also former Hopkins mayors.
Henry Pokorny, Jr., 1924 - 2010

In Remembrance, Henry Pokorny

admin — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:09:02 +0000

Henry Pokorny, Jr., 1924 - 2010

It is with deep sadness we say good bye to our dear friend and colleague, Henry Pokorny. Henry died at Methodist Hospital on December 16, 2010 at the age of 86.

Henry grew up in a house on 6th Avenue with his parents and siblings. It was into the basement of this house that his mom carried the toddler Henry to escape the famous tornado of 1925. While still in school, he began working at Pokorny Plumbing, the company his dad Henry Sr. founded in 1922. When WWII broke out he persuaded his dad to let him leave school to enlist at the young age of 17. After the war he returned to his father’s business and to marry his best gal Arlene Miller of Excelsior.

In WWII, Henry served in six countries and four campaigns including intense battles in Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes and the Rhinelands. Henry never talked much about his wartime experiences but we know he was awarded the American, European, African and Middle Eastern Service Medals, the Distinguished Unit Badge and a Belgian medal.

Henry served the Hopkins community in many ways, but most notably for three terms as mayor from 1969 to 1975 and as city councilman from 1961 to 1969. He also served two terms on the city charter commission. He can best be remembered as always thinking to the future while keeping the greater good of Hopkins in mind. Throughout his years, Henry fought hard to make sure Hopkins kept its small town flavor yet providing an appealing area where business could prosper.

Henry and Hopkins

Henry Pokorny was a part of Hopkins his entire life. The Hopkins Historical Society has put together a few photographs that follow Henry in Hopkins from his school days, to his army stint, to his homes, his business and his civic life. Click here to view the photos.

In the late 1970s, Henry joined the Hopkins Historical Society after visiting his friend Clint Blomquist, our founder. Clint put him to work sorting through some boxes and he was hooked. Henry served on the board for over 30 years, 22 years as treasurer.

For those fortunate enough to have worked with him, Henry was a mentor, role model, teacher, historian, but most of all, a friend. He will always be remembered as the one to whom we would go for guidance and wisdom to carry out the work of the board. There was hardly a Hopkins subject about which he could not offer a pertinent fact or memory.

It was an honor and a privilege to work with Henry. He was a strong, gentle man who was admired and loved by all who knew him. The Historical Society and Hopkins itself is a better place because of Henry.

Henry was preceded in death by his wife Arlene (Babe) and survived by sons Paul (Jill) and Larry (Nancy), granddaughters Sara, Robyn and Catherine, siblings John Roger and Marge. His funeral was held with military honors on December 29, 2010.

— by Board Members Mary Raabe and Jennifer Timmers

Meeting – November 14, 2010

admin — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:17:26 +0000

If you missed Mr. Vesta’s talk, a DVD will be available
in the museum for viewing.

2010 Historic Homes

admin — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:10:38 +0000

On October 24, 2010, the Hopkins Historical Society gathered for the annual presentation of its Hopkins-area historic home awards. This year’s recipients were Jessica Manz, of 15th Avenue North, and Gayle Chmel Barker, of 11th Avenue North. Following the awards, Dick Brubacher presented a program on his experiences as Hopkins City Manager from 1958-1968.

Matt Waters introducing the 2010 historic homes awards
as the meeting gets underway.

Jessica Manz talks about her house on 15th Avenue North
as Matt Waters looks on.

2010 Historic Home: 225-15th Avenue North in 1956

2010 Historic Home: 225-15th Avenue North in 2010

Gayle Chmel Barker accepts her historic home award
for her house on 11th Avenue North from Matt Waters.

Meeting attendees.

2010 Historic Home: 309-11th Avenue North in 1956

2010 Historic Home: 309-11th Avenue North in 2010

Mr. Richard Brubacher, special speaker for the day, talks
about his days as Hopkins’ city manager in the 1960s.

Mary Raabe, historic homes awards event organizer.

2009 Historic Home

admin — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:52:25 +0000

On October 18, 2009, the Hopkins Historical Society gathered for the annual presentation of its Hopkins-area historic home award. This year’s recipient was Dan Broberg of Minnetonka. His home, at 11606 Minnetonka Mills Road, was built in 1895 by Winslow Holasek.

In 2009

Jerre Miller presents 2009 Historic Home Award
to Dan Broberg

Dan Broberg answers questions about his home

Jerre Miller introduces guest speaker
Gene Herzan, who spoke on the history
of the Shady Oak Cemetery

Joe Holasek, Nancy Holasek,
Matt Waters, Dan Broberg

Photo display of the
2009 Hopkins Historical Society
historic home

Hopkins High School – 100 Years of Educational Excellence

admin — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:36:47 +0000

Hopkins High School will celebrate 100 years of educational excellence on December 8th and 9th, 2008.

All community residents, alumni, and friends are invited to attend a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Hopkins High School scheduled for 4:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Monday, December 8, and Tuesday, December 9, at the school, 2400 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka.

The event will feature displays of historical memorabilia, decade-by-decade photo collages, and tours of the award-winning programs and cutting-edge classroom technology in the current facility. A free pasta dinner will be available in the school dining room until 6:30 p.m. A winter Gala Concert at 7:00 each night will feature the Hopkins High School orchestras, bands, and choirs. Ticketing for the Gala Concerts is separate and seating is limited.

Hopkins High School was founded in 1908 in downtown Hopkins as the first high school serving the western suburbs. It moved to a new state-of-the-art building on Highway 7 in 1955, which closed as a high school in 1982. The current Hopkins High School on Lindbergh Drive in Minnetonka was completely remodeled in recent years for 21st century world-class learning.

Contributions of memorabilia are from the Hopkins Historical Society and Hopkins High School Archives.

For more information, visit Hopkins Public Schools’ website at www.hopkinsschools.org, or call 952-988-4024.

2008 Historic Home

admin — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:53:57 +0000

In 1956

In 2008

The Hopkins Historical Society has chosen the duplex at 117-119 8th Avenue North to receive historic homes status for 2008. This large two-story home was built in 1920 and features original Douglas Fir paneled doors and other natural woodwork. Owner Rick Brausen says he is surprised how the woodwork avoided the paint brush all these years!

Rick Brausen accepts historic home
award at the Hopkins Historical Society
museum. The meeting was held Sunday,
October 19th at the Hopkins Activity
Center, 14th Avenue North and 1st Street.