Description
Just north of Minneapolis and along the Mississippi River stretch the fertile prairies that attracted French Canadians and New Englanders in 1852. Originally called Brooklyn Township, Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center grew as settlers cultivated farms and marketed their produce. One-room schoolhouses evolved into the largest and finest schools in Minnesota while fast-growing industry and commuting replaced the small family farms. The story of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, as told through pictures, old-timer memories, and yellowed newspapers, reveals the lives of loggers, potato farmers, war heroes, and everyday people who found their dreams and quietly raised their families. Over the years, neighborhoods and fashions change as the people continue to take pride in their community's rich history.
About the Author: With a passion for writing, Pat Snodgrass received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in writing from Vermont College. As the descendant of Minnesota's territorial pioneers, along with a love of history, Pat works at the Anoka County Historical Society and serves as president of the Brooklyn Historical Society. She coordinates the Brooklyn Historical Society subcommittee publishing a series of books on Brooklyn's participation in the Civil War. Today Snodgrass, her husband, Randy, and Luke, their Portuguese water dog, live on Twin Lake in Brooklyn Center, next door to Randy's childhood home.
