Star Tribune: 100 years ago, Wirth made his first visit
The June 22 edition of the Star Tribune reports on the 100 year anniversary of Theodore Wirth's visit to Minneapolis at the request of Charles Loring, beginning his long association with the Minneapolis park system. The paper's story is based on the following article, written by Joan Berthiaume and Ted Wirth.
100 years ago today, Theodore Wirth arrived by train at the Milwaukee Road Depot and set foot on Minneapolis soil for the first time.
Charles Loring, on behalf of the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners was actively pursuing 42 year old Theodore Wirth, who had a stellar personal and professional reputation. Wirth had designed and implemented many projects with the famous Olmsted Bros Firm and had personally earned international acclaim for his park design skills. In addition, Wirth had an educational background and experience in the fields of horticulture, engineering and park administration
From 1883 to that date the Board of Minneapolis Park Commissioners had never had a staff Landscape Architect. Charles Loring, represented a committee appointed by the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. The Park Board invited Wirth to Minneapolis and offered to pay Wirth's travel expenses so they could get his advice. In reality they were trying to convince Wirth to become our second Superintendent of Minneapolis Parks.
Once Wirth had seen the possibilities for design and development of parks in Minneapolis, he was unable to resist Commissioner Loring's offer. Theodore Wirth described his feeling this way -
"...when I bade Mr. Loring goodbye at the Milwaukee Station, I had about decided to remain in Hartford. Then, during my long journey home, the possibilities for utilization and development of those many attractive features - the lakes, the river gorge, Minnehaha Creek, and the hilly wooded country to the west - lingered constantly before my eyes, and a desire to have a hand in their development steadily mounted as I neared home."
The Board was to pay Wirth's travel expenses. The expenses submitted by Theodore Wirth for the trip from June 21-26, 1905, totaled $90. It was money well spent by the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners. In return for the investment, Minneapolis became the beneficiary of the number one park system in America.
There were some negotiations however. Before Wirth resigned from his secure position as Superintendent of the Hartford Connecticut Parks, the Minneapolis Board of Park Commissioners agreed -
1) Wirth needed a car and a driver to move him more efficiently around the city while he was designing and developing the park system. The Park Board agreed. Minneapolis had accumulated 1,810 acres of park acquisitions since they were established in 1883, however, little development had occured.
2) Wirth wanted to keep his devoted and efficient bookeeper, Christian A. Bossen. The Park Board agreed. Wirth brought Chris along from Hartford. Chris Bossen got the Park Board's finances in order as Wirth's assistant and when Wirth became Superintendent Emeritus in 1935, Bossen became the third Superintendentr of Minneapolis Parks.
3) One of the most well known of the many negotians was that the Park Commissioners agreed to build Theodore Wirth a home and office of his own design in a Minneapolis Park. (This was to replace the beautiful home that the City of Hartford had provided for him). The Park Board agreed. That home was built for Wirth in Lyndale Farmsted Park on the Corner of 40th and Bryant Avenue South. The historic Wirth Offices and Drafting Room in the House are the actual location where the entire Minneapolis Park System was designed or re-designed to the highest standards. Wirth, with the support of his board, tripled the size of the park system. This brought international acclaim to the Minneapolis Park System and by 1927 park planners from all over the world came to study the Minneapolis Parks.
Although the historic Wirth Home was actually (and still is) owned by the Park Board, Wirth continued living in his home until shortly before his death in 1949. At that point the home became an established benefit as the home for the succeeding Superintendents. Charles Doell lived there and so did Howard Moore, Charlie Spears and Robert Rhue. Then David Fisher objected to "living in a fish bowl" and abandoned the house in 1995. The succeeding superintendents, Mary Merrill Anderson and Jon Gurban have not lived there.
What is the highest and best use of a home with such a remarkable history? Through the efforts of the Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society the Theodore Wirth Home and Administration Building has been entered on the National Register of Historic Places. The Legacy Society has developed a program similar to those currently in place at the Stevens House and the Godfrey House. The Legacy Society has asked the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for an agreement similar to those at the Godfrey House and the Stevens House.
The Legacy Society's plan would open the historic Wirth Home as a service to the public at no cost to the Park Board.
A few travel expenses, a house in a park, a car and a driver in exchange for the most beautiful park system in America.
Minneapolis got a very good deal!
Call your park commissioner and ask them to support this Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society's Wirth House project.
Call the Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society if you have any questions about the Wirth House project. 612-925-4194
See you in the parks!
Joan Berthiaume and Theodore J. Wirth, (grandson of Superintendent Wirth) co-founders Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society