Theodore Wirth
Two men, 1 woman charged after alleged attempt to sell pieces of bronze figures as scrap metal BY SHANNON PRATHER Pioneer Press
To those who meandered through Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis, the discovery of six lifelike bronze sculptures was a surprise and delight. For two men and a woman, the three-dimensional art looked like little more than easy money, police allege. Pioneer Press
At the February 7, 2007, Park Board meeting, Joan Berthiaume, co-founder of the Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society, spoke during open time to bring to the attention of the Park Board commissioners what appeared to be the distruction of the historic Wirth House's original fireplace. Joan reported that neighbors of the Wirth House had contacted her on Tuesday to tell her that they had observed construction workers at the Wirth House removing construction debris from the house, including the fireplace mantle, which was dumped into a dumpster.
Superintendent Gurban was absent and no other staff member stepped forward to give a clear explanation of why the dismantled mantle had been deposited into the dumpster. It apparently was eventually retrieved, but questions remain:
Who is responsible for the dismantling of the mantle and what else from the Historic Wirth House is disappearing into the dumpster? And why is the Legacy Society's request to use the house to honor the history associated with the house still stuck in committee?
The Theodore Wirth Home and Administration Building, National Historic Site will be open on Saturday, July 15, 2006. The Historic Wirth House is at 3954 Bryant Avenue South in Lyndale Farmstead Park. The program at Noon will be followed by tours until 4PM. Grandson, Theodore J. Wirth will be present for these tours.
In an article subtitled "Theodore Wirth's grandson wants his granddad's former home turned into a museum for park history" journalist Conrad Wilson writes:
In his letter to the editor, grandson Theodore J. Wirth describes his grandfather's contributions to and love for the Minneapolis park system. An excerpt follows:
» One hundred years ago this month, a 42-year-old Swiss-born landscape architect from Hartford, Conn., stepped off the Pioneer Limited #1 at the Milwaukee Road Depot -- and was promptly informed that the Minneapolis city parks system he had agreed to head as superintendent was badly in debt.
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.
Last Wednesday's (March 16) Park Board meeting was a sad one for those who value our Minneapolis Parks' unique history and the use of the Wirth House as an interpretive center.
I was at the meeting and watched in amazement at how skilllfully Commissioner Bob Fine, with the assistance of Board President Jon Olson, orchestrated the demise of the interpretive proposal by unnecessarily sending it into committee where it will be neglected and die.
A speech by student Harry Huberty to the Minneapolis Park Board at the September 1, 2004 regular meeting
"Thank you, Commissioner Young, for that wonderful introduction. My name is Harry Huberty. I live in the Macalester Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul. I'd like to speak about the future of the Theodore Wirth Home and Administrative Building.
"FOR RENT: Historic three-story, 5,000-sq.-ft. 1910 mansion surrounded by scenic Lyndale Farmstead Park. $750 per month includes electricity, water, maintenance. Available Sept. 30. Call Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board for details.
The Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society's Wirth-While Weekend, Part II, will be telecast on MTN cable channel 17 at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 1 by the Citizenship Chronicles weekly cable show. It's definitely "Wirth" watching.
If you were unable to be at the Theodore Wirth statue unveiling ceremony on June 19, you now will have the oppportunity to see it on video. The Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society's Wirth-While Weekend, Part I, will be telecast on MTN cable channel 17 at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 1. It's
The Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society's Wirth-While Weekend, which celebrated Theodore Wirth and the development of the Minneapolis park system, took place this past weekend (June 18 to June 20).
The highlight of the weekend was the unveiling of a bronze statue of Theodore Wirth, a generous gift to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the people of Minneapolis by donors Mr. and Mrs. John Richter and other Legacy Society supporters.
The Wirth-While Weekend festivities celebrating the unveiling of the Theodore Wirth statue on Saturday begin this evening with a welcoming banquet for members of the Wirth family hosted by the Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society, and open to the public and park lovers. There is still room at the banquest if you have not yet made your reservations. Call Kate at 207-6287 if you wish to come.
There was once a time when Minneapolis children couldn't play on the grass in their city's parks.
Not for baseball. Not for picnics. Not for kickball.
Then came Theodore Wirth, and he changed everything.
The Minneapolis Parks Legacy Society is a non-profit charity whose mission is to preserve, protect and interpret the rich history of the Minneapolis park system.
Here's the text of an interesting document about an event at the Minneapolis Club. It was signed by more than one hundred Minneapolis business leaders:
This Luncheon today is given in honor of Theodore Wirth by his friends as a public recognition of notable and enduring services to the City of Minneapolis.
