Former Minnesota Vikings player Karl Kassulke, resident manager Brian Johnsen, and others celebrate following the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Blair Johnsen, resident manager at the Meridian Apartments, raises his arms as he rolls through a paper banner at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Archibald Mark Chisholm (1864-1933) and Lillian Cummings Chisholm house at 1832 East Second Street was given to the Duluth board of education in 1935, and converted to the A. M. Chisholm Memorial Children's Musuem which had been established in 1931 at the Salter School. The building was modified again to serve as a home for boys in this photograph. The museum changed its name and relocated to The Depot in downtown Duluth.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
David Wihriala walks through a paper banner at the ribbon cutting ceremony for his new residence, the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
David Wihriala, former Minnesota Vikings player Karl Kassulke, Susan, and Blair Johnsen pose for the camera at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Evelyn Jernerg, President of United Cerebral Palsy - Duluth Area, awards a door prize to Scott Anderson, the first resident of the Meridian. They are at the Normandy Inn, attending the dedication celebration for the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
State Senator Florian Chmielewski speaks to people gathered for the ground breaking ceremony for the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
United Cerebral Palsy board member Goldie Karon stands in a doorway, speaking to others in the room, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Helmi Lammi, Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy - Duluth Area and Grace Jennings, Chairperson for the UCP Housing for Handicapped Committee attend the ground breaking ceremony for the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Helmi Lammi, Executive Director of United Cerebral Palsy - Duluth Area throws her hands in the air as she breaks through a banner at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A sticker showing the International Wheelchair Symbol is pasted on what appears to be the back of a truck topper in the parking lot at the Meridian Apartments. The 39-unit Meridian Apartments, developed by United Cerebral Palsy, opened in Duluth in 1978 and offered barrier-free living for people with disabilities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Biographical Information: Tripp was a farmer from Belgrade in Stearns County. She was a protest leader and a candidate for Governor in 1978. Subjects discussed: Learning about the powerline project. Involvement in Keep Towers Out, Counties United for a Rural Environment, States United for a Rural Environment, and Coalition of Rural Environmental Groups. Reasons for the opposition-routing of line; health and safety concerns. Working with state government-personnel; Governor Perpich; legislators. Hearing process. Citizen's advisory committee. Underground wiring as alternative. Lawsuits. Mediation sessions. Confrontations. Energy needs for the future.
Biographical Information: Koudela was a farmer from Alexandria, Douglas County. She was president of Save Our Countryside. Subjects discussed: Initial involvement with powerline controversy. Background in community involvement. Learning about the powerline. Save Our Countryside-history of; how it differs from other organizations; finding resources for information on line; communicating with cooperatives and CPA-UPA; membership; role as president. Counties United for a Rural Environment. Working with the media. General Assembly to Stop the Powerline-reason for; structure; organizing. Role of Governor Perpich. Impact of legal system on movement. Status of the line and opposition. General Accounting Office investigation. Impressions of working with state government. Tripp campaign. Women as visible spokespersons in controversy.
Biographical Information: Nelson had been a resident of Glenwood, Minnesota since 1964. He became Pope County attorney in 1966. Subjects discussed: How he became involved in powerline issue. Role in hearings. Sheriff Emmons and enforcement of court order. Calling the national guard. Reasons for confrontations between farmers and utility companies. Impression of present situation. Role of governor. The media.
Biographical Information: Berg was born and raised in Traverse County. He lived and operated a farm in Chokio, Stevens County. From 1973 through 1976 he served in the State Senate. Subjects discussed: Background; role in Senate and involvement with powerline controversy; Environmental Quality Council; eminent domain; legislation process; why powerline controversy began; 1973 siting law and the resulting problems; meeting with power companies and communicating potential problems; health and safety concerns; position over controversy as a politician; solutions to controversy; and concluding remarks.
Biographical Information: Anderson was President, board of directors of Cooperative Power Association. He was a farmer in Litchfield, Meeker County. Subjects discussed: Background. Impact of powerline on the area. Structure of Meeker Cooperative Light and CPA. Relationship of CPA with UPA. Mid-Continent Area Power Pool. Events leading to the Powerline project. Choice of a DC line vs. a AC line. Determining the need for more power. Opposition to the line-anticipating; reaction to; meeting with leaders. Financing the project. Vandalism and the subsequent costs. Effectiveness of hearing process. Being grandfathered out of siting process. Health and safety issues. Science court. Lawsuits. Use of security guards. Handling of controversy by the media. Government Accounting Office study. Future needs for energy. Impact of controversy on future powerlines. Mankato line. Establishment of and reaction to Rural Electrification Administration.
Biographical Information: Fjoslien was a native of Brandon, Minnesota and he owned and operated a farm nearby. He was elected to the state legislature in 1972. He also served on numerous committees including the Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and the Education and Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee. Subjects discussed: Background; result of 1973 legislation; viability of eminent domain; responsibility as a legislator to represent constituents; effect of powerline controversy on constituents; usefulness of confrontation in current situation; governor's role in issue; and the difficulty of the powerline as a political issue.
Biographical Information: Pick was a native of Wisconsin. She moved to Minneapolis in 1975 to attend school and work. While attending school on and off, she taught in special programs for emotionally disturbed children, worked in the theater, and with the tenants union. She became involved in the powerline controversy and moved to Lowry in 1978 to work in the issue full-time. Subjects discussed: Background. Becoming involved in the controversy. Media-image produced regarding issues; newspaper vs. TV coverage; relationship of media to protesters and to utilities. Relationship of current movements to involvement in previous groups. Health and safety issues. North American Coal Co. and realtionship to UPA and CPA. Government Accounting Office investigation and possible recourse for opposition. Cooperative as representative of the people. Routing of line and siting law. Political involvement by opposition. Reactions of residents to outsiders involvement. Role in struggle. Purpose of confrontations. Science court. Legal defense record-court record; decision by jury vs. judge; grand jury investigation; supreme court decision. Security methods instigated. Darrell Mulroy and utilities. Easement compensation. Effect of line on people. Effectiveness of how opposition was organized. Future of powerline controversy. Future energy needs.
Biographical Information: The Rutledges were farmers in Lowry, Minnesota. They were members of the opposition groups Families Are Concerned Too and Save Our Countryside. Subjects discussed: Learning about the powerline project. Becoming involved in the controversy. Involvement with Families Are Concerned Too. Issues in controversy-changes in; section lines; health concerns. Science court. Involvement of legislature-Power Plant Siting Act. Reaction of power cooperatives to opposition. Reasons for confrontations. Governor's Anderson and Perpich. Court involvement. Necessity for line. Power needs-necessity for line; alternatives. Working with the government. Role of the media. Implications of powerline issue for more lines. Living with the powerline.
Biographical Information: Jacobson was the public relations manager for United Power Association. Subjects discussed: First involvement with powerline project. Role as public relations manager when Jacobson first joined UPA. Public hearing proceedings-the first signs of opposition; outcome of the meetings. Opposition to line-landowner's vs. non-landowners; impact of movement on the building of current and future powerlines; impact of vandalism. UPA-reaction to opposition; West Coast trip; attitude towards the need for public relations; current public relations strategy and effectiveness. The powerline project-determining future electricity needs; planning project; procedural problems involved because of Power Plant Siting Act; informing landowners; obtaining easements; routing line; tower placement. Relationship between UPA and CPA in use of public relations. Media coverage of the controversy. Mankato line. Reasons for rates increasing-energy crisis; farmers using electrical equipment. Role of legislators. Governor Anderson. Governor Perpich-mediation sessions; science court; law enforcement. Legal aspects of controversy-court injunction, moratorium; three judge panel; Supreme Court hearings; lawsuits. Meeting with organizations. Impact of controversy on job and personal life. How the project would be done differently if they were to do it again.
Biographical Information: Olson earned a degree from the University of Minnesota in international relations. While he was in graduate school, he became involved in the anti-war movement of the 60s. He was a potter and taught pottery in a neighborhood craft program. He was an opponent and protest organizer of the powerline.
Biographical Information: Hirsch was a professor of Physics and chairman of the Science and Mathematics Divisions, University of Minnesota at Morris. Subjects discussed: How he became involved in the powerline controversy. Hearing process-involvement with; effectiveness of. Environmental impact of line and Corona discharge. Commonwealth Associates report. Monitoring ozone levels produced by line. The effect of electric fields on plants and animals. West Coast trip. Science court. The possibility of an underground powerline. Need for line. Usefulness of research on powerline, especially for scientific community. Impact of controversy on farming community.
