> Dyna Sluyter wrote... > In the depths of the great depression Governor Olson and the > Farmer-Laborites pushed a massive highway building measure through the > 1933 session of the state legislature. Included in that measure was the > designation and funding of Minnesota Trunk Highway 55, to stretch from > Hastings, across the graceful arches of the newly built Mendota bridge, > along the flour mills of Hiawatha Avenue, west on 6th Avenue North, and > following the Soo Line to North Dakota. Shortly thereafter demolition > of the slums in Bassett's Creek bottoms began in preparation for the > coming housing project. > > After Governor Olson succumbed to cancer in 1936 while campaigning for > the U.S. Senate the still under construction Minnesota Trunk Highway 55 > was named Floyd B. Olson Memorial Highway in his memory. Thus the same > Governor Olson who fought for the much needed good roads and jobs the > 1933 Highway Bill provided was memorialized by it.
Nokomis Library was built in 1932 along with others during that time period. Highway 55 was built through our area in 1933..any bells ringing out there or trees falling in the forest as to why Olson Highway needs to stay named with Floyd B Olson Memorial Highway and not with some other out of town name?! > Through the Republican administrations of the last few decades much of > Olson Memorial Highway has been all but abandoned. Beyond the Hiawatha > Avenue expressway and Light Rail Line, built largely at the behest of > DFLers, little improvements has been made. West of Glenwood the Olson > Memorial Highway appears to have received little more than some fresh > asphalt topping since it was first built by the WPA. I find it interesting that this is the road the TaxPayers League would want. Floyd B. represented just about everything that they do not. Or is that the point... What about County Road 42 out in Apple Valley..it was developed in the 80's...more in tune with a modern visionary. I believe some attention/action needs to be given to Olson Memorial...get some signs up stating for whom this road is dedicated to and why...don't destroy our history with a whim. dorie gallagher Nokomis > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
