This Day in Minnesota History

October 31, 1991

The "Halloween Blizzard" begins. A record snowfall of 24 to 36 inches blankets the area from Duluth to the Twin Cities. It is the state's largest recorded snowfall in a single storm.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 31, 1920

Anoka begins earning its reputation as the Halloween Capital of the World by holding its first planned celebration of the holiday. Traditional events include a parade, a football game, and a 5K Grey Ghost Run.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 31, 1903

A Minnesota–Michigan football game ends in a 6-6 tie. Declaring a "moral victory" over the favored Michigan team, the Gophers claim for their trophy a water jug accidentally left behind by the Michigan trainer. The Little Brown Jug becomes a symbol of the two teams' rivalry.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 31, 1872

Augsburg College is dedicated in Minneapolis.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 30, 1924

In a rare instance of a tong war in Minnesota, Wong Si Wing, a laundryman, is shot in Minneapolis. Tongs, or merchant organizations, were initially formed to protect members from encroachment by rival Chinese businessmen but now are usually social groups.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 30, 1848

Henry H. Sibley is chosen to represent the as-yet unrecognized Minnesota Territory in the US Congress. He travels to Washington, DC, and persuades the committee on elections to allow him to sit with Congress. The territory would be formally created on March 3, 1849.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 29, 1971

Actress Winona Ryder is born in Winona.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 29, 1947

Charles Babcock, the father of the Minnesota highway system, is honored with a monument dedicated in Elk River. He had served as commissioner of highways beginning in 1917, planning the state's trunk highway system and seeing three-fourths of it completed before leaving office in 1932.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 29, 1866

The Uppertown Olympics beat the Lowertown Saxons in St. Paul to become the city's first baseball champions.

This Day in Minnesota History

October 29, 1775

Jean-Baptiste Faribault is born in Quebec. The fur trader and pioneer would live in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota as these territories became states. In Minnesota he would reside in Little Rapids (Inyan Ceyaka Otunwe), on Pike Island (Wita Tanka), and in Mendota. He died in 1860. The Minnesota county honors his name, while the city commemorates his son, Alexander.

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