Those Amazing Hopkins Women
by Mary Raabe
first published in 2019
When the ladies of Hopkins decided in 1908 to make their town a better place in which to live, they were well capable of getting the job done.
-Clint Blomquist, Hopkins Historical Society Founder
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Imagine for a moment how Hopkins might have looked in 1908. With its growing population of almost 3000 and the Minneapolis Threshing Machine company employing 800 workers, houses, stores and services were springing up everywhere. With this rapid expansion, not much attention was being paid to cleanup and beautification. The main street of Hopkins had become a collection of abandoned daily history. Boxes, old cans, rubbish and makeshift spittoons adorned the sidewalks.
Three Hopkins women, Emma Anderson, Phoebe Nash and Minnie Truman, recognized a need to spruce up their young village and founded the “Hopkins Improvement League.” They recruited six more women, rolled up their sleeves and went to work. In the words of Clint Blomquist they “didn’t just talk about it, they did it." Flowers and Cleanup
Photo from HHS archives.
Their first mission was to clean up main street. They procured new spittoons and instructed the men to “use them or else”. They directed business owners to unclutter the sidewalks. They planted flowers and trees. They even cleared a vacant lot where Kiddywampus is now, built a bandstand, bought playground equipment and presented Hopkins with its first public park.
In 1911, Phoebe Nash with her love of flowers, planted a garden, seen at the left, in front of the Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company. She maintained this garden for many years, carrying two buckets of water to her flowers every morning Opened City Library
By 1912, the women were on the move and pretty much unstoppable. Their next project was to establish a public library in downtown Hopkins. Enlisting the help of Maria Sanford, University of Minnesota English professor, plans moved forward to open a library on the second floor of the new city hall. The women stocked the shelves with 800 books they had collected door-to-door in Hopkins. Combined with financial donations from the business community, they had their library. That library existed until 1972, when it joined the Hennepin County Library system.
1920 photo of City Hall showing "Hopkins Library" sign over the door. Photo from HHS archives.
Helped Those in Need
By 1915, league membership had grown to 30 and the time had come to address the public welfare needs in Hopkins. Rummage sales to raise funds were held in the building below on 8th Avenue South, owned and occupied by one of the earliest and most notable Improvement League members, Dr. Catherine Amelia Burnes. Doc Kate worked closely with area churches to identify those in need and she never charged those who could not pay.
Photo from HHS archives.
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Another early member, Alexina Wade, handled much of the footwork. Allie Wade would personally take youngsters who were without shoes to Nelson’s Footwear in Hopkins and the Improvement League would quietly pay the bill. The women handed out food, clothing and funds for heating oil and eye glasses. It is impossible to know all that was done for the citizens of Hopkins in those early years because no names or records were kept. They just “took care of things.”
Built Women's Center
From 1907 to 1962, the Hennepin County Fair was held in Hopkins attracting thousands of guests every year. The members of the Improvement League saw a great need for women to have a place to rest and relax. With just $3.00 in their treasury, they launched a county-wide campaign to raise funds. As a true testament to the resourcefulness of these wonderful women, they raised $1000 in only six months. Their building was built and ready to go by the opening of the 1917 Hennepin County Fair. This building existed as a women’s center for 30 years. It had a rest room, an assembly room, a living area with a fireplace, a kitchen and a nurse in attendance. One can only imagine the comfort afforded all who entered.
Sewed Clothes, Raised Funds, and Folded Bandages for the War Effort
In 1916 the winds of war were blowing and by 1917, the United States had entered the Great War. Hopkins sent 270 young men to serve and the women geared up in solid support. The Improvement League became the Hopkins Chapter of the American Red Cross. They cut and folded thousands of bandages, knitted over 1500 sweater vests and sent 200 comfort packages over seas. The Improvement League received official recognition for “exemplary contributions to the war effort”. In fact the sweater vests were so well made, they were used as pattern samples for other Minnesota towns.
While the War effort took much of their time, it did not stop their work in the community. In the late 1910s, they set up ‘Story Hour’ at the library, held a first recognition tea for the Hopkins teachers, insisted on more child-friendly movies at the Royal Theatre and formed the first PTA. They sewed garments for the Glen Lake Sanitorium, raised funds for Hopkins City Band uniforms, founded a baby clinic – and still, while doing all that – they managed to put up curtains in the library. They even sent Agnes Nash, to speak with the pool hall and tavern owners about their clientele loitering on the streets. And to the surprise of the women, it worked. Canned and Preserved Vegetables During the Depression
 League President Agnes Blake served on the City Garden Committee. Photo from HHS archives.
In 1929, the Great Depression hit Hopkins hard. Minneapolis Moline, with its 1300 workers had virtually shut down and families were going hungry. In an effort to help its citizens, the City planted a large vegetable garden that covered several blocks starting on 5th Avenue North. This garden, maintained in part by the Improvement League, produced vegetables canned by the women. According to the Improvement League minutes: “None of those vegetables or sauerkraut was ever turned down.” It was food and this was the Depression. As Mayor Joseph Vesely said “It kept body and soul together in Hopkins.”
WWII Efforts
It seemed the Great War and the Great Depression were hardly over when the US entered WWII. This time Hopkins sent 400 young men and women and the Improvement League geared up once again. The women started another Red Cross sewing and knitting unit, they folded bandages, raised money for war bonds, sent hundreds of care packages and helped Hopkins residents plant their Victory Gardens. After the War, the women sent layettes to war devastated Norway and donated to European relief organizations. And all during this time, they continued to help the needy.
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A Name and Direction Change
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In 1947, the Hopkins Improvement League officially became the Woman’s Club of Hopkins and these dedicated and hard-working women had their photo taken.
Front row L to R: Alice Feudner, Marian Zastrow, Angeline Souba, LaVilla Shirley, Bertha Moore, Mrs. Louis Boeglin, Middle Row: Mattie Anderson, Augusta Winter, Mrs. Jap Brewer, Mrs. H. G. Siemering, Alexina Wade, Lillian Franklin, Elizabeth Peterson Last Row: Maria Severson, Nina Burns, Jean Meng, Berdie Chalgren, Anna C. Borland, Margaret McHale, Olga Kelley, Emma Bachman, Mrs. F. O. Peterson, Ada Lindahl, Marie Anderson, Sigrid Johnson, Isabel Hamilton, Stella Olson, Clarice Coddington. Photo from HHS archives.
With this name change came a directional change reflecting a broader role in the Hopkins community. With the birth of public works and the expansion of county welfare systems, the one-on-one assistance once provided by the woman’s club was now the responsibility of local government and community agencies. Their mission shifted to volunteering within these community agencies, donating financial support and providing scholarships to deserving female graduates of Hopkins High School.
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Campaigned for a Downtown Park
 Jeanette Blake at a City Meeting. Photo from HHS archives.
During these later years, the women still found time for beautification and civic improvement. One of their biggest projects was the founding Downtown Park. In 1973, Woman’s Club president Jeanette Blake launched a campaign for a new park. She worked tirelessly over many years to see this park was built. Jeanette Blake lobbied the park board, the city council and wrote letters to Hopkins residents. Finally in 1979, Hopkins completed its beautiful new park - Downtown Park – only existing today because of the efforts of Jeanette Blake and the Hopkins Women’s Club.
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Their Work Continues
In 2008 The Women’s Club celebrated its 100th anniversary. Pictured here are twelve past presidents in attendance that day. Left to Right: Dorothy Reese, Ardelle Wenzel Linc, Jeanette Blake, Margaret Walsh, Peggy Rolfe, Ethel Perbix, Joy Brinwall, Ruth Jorgensen Doyle, Marjorie Olson, Marge Carstens, Joan Bye, Dorothy Pavelka. Photo from HHS archives.
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In 1923, Mrs. R. J. Mayo finished her year-end president’s report by saying, “We were always busy and we were always happy.” Almost 100 years have passed since Mrs. Mayo wrote that report, but her words ring true today. The work of the Hopkins Women’s Club continues to thrive and grow. The organization currently donates monetary gifts and countless volunteer hours in support of Feed My Starving Children, Teaming up for Teens, Empty Bowls, Resource West, ICA and Sojourner Women’s Shelter. College scholarships are awarded annually to Hopkins High School graduates.
With reverence, honor and appreciation the Hopkins Historical Society recognizes these amazing women who, in |
1908, found each other, banded together, and made it their sole mission to see that Hopkins was a fairer and better place to live. Their distinguished past has laid a solid foundation for the work and the vision of today’s Hopkins Women’s Club.
It is impossible to list all the accomplishments of the Hopkins Women’s Club. There are far too many. But this we know – Life in Hopkins, 111 years later, continues to be enhanced and enriched by these amazing women who still roll up their sleeves and give so generously of their time and talents. |