Old Army photos unearthed at History Center (video)
Few charities have been around longer than The Salvation Army – 150 years. After being founded in 1865 in London, England, The Salvation Army went on to invade Minnesota in 1886 – the same year Karl Benz patented the automobile and the London Times published the world’s first classified ad.
What else was life like back then, and in what ways did The Salvation Army serve?
The Minnesota Historical Society has answers. The society owns a collection of at least 140 archaic photographs depicting old-time Salvation Army activities in Minnesota.
“We’ve had (the photos) represented in the collection at least as far back as the 1920s, if not further,” said Jennifer Huebscher, an associate curator at the St. Paul-based center.
The nostalgic photos illustrate all kinds of Salvation Army services: a maternity hospital for unwed mothers, men’s rehabilitation programs, bell ringing, youth summer camps, food shelves, music ministries (pictured, right) and much more.
At least one of the photos shows an open-air meeting, a hallmark Salvation Army activity of yesteryear in which staff and officers stood on street corners to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the masses.
The first such meeting in Minneapolis was held Aug. 6, 1886 by a Salvation Army officer named Captain Evans, standing on the corner of Hennepin Avenue and North First Street. Local resident Ednia Sidney Williams attended the meeting and wrote about her experience in the Aug. 8, 1886 edition of the Minneapolis Tribune.
“God grant (that) the good captain and his zealous followers may stir our city with their songs and words,” she wrote. “Certainly we are not winning such complete victories alone; we need reinforcements for our army of salvation. Let us stand by this modest captain as part of our loyalty to the Great Captain.”
The society obtained the photos through a variety of sources:
- Photographers from the Works Progress Administration shot and donated their photos in the 1930s
- The Star Tribune and Pioneer Press, and their various incarnates during the 19th and 20th centuries
- Individual donors
- The Salvation Army itself
After perusing the ages-old photo collection, one can’t help but conclude that, ironically, The Salvation Army of Minnesota hasn’t changed much in 129 years. We still operate rehabilitation programs, youth summer camps, food shelves, music ministries, and much more. As for that maternity hospital, it’s still standing, and has been converted into a youth housing facility.
“One thing is for sure – giving in Christ’s name never goes out of style,” said Major Jeff Strickler, Twin Cities Salvation Army commander.
Feel free to view the photo collection yourself. While you’re at it, snoop around the rest of the Minnesota Historical Society’s website for all kinds of interesting nuggets of Minnesota history.
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