4 Bits Of Quirky Minnesota Trivia

We're certainly aware of the reputation Minnesota has for cold winters. Some gardens froze as temperatures dropped below freezing. The date was July 4 1859. Speaking of winter cold, the mercury dipped below zero on January 18, 1936 and stayed below zero for the next 36 days.

Wilber Foshay erected the Foshay Tower in 1929. What's with the picture? Well, Mr. Foshay a few years later was sentenced to 15 years in prison for running a pyramid scheme. Got it?

Most of us are familiar with the Otto Bremer Foundation and Bremer Banks. Otto Bremer and his brothers were involved with the Jacob Schmidt Brewery. In fact Otto served as its president for a number of years.

Minnesota doesn't have the death sentence. As to why it doesn't, it can be traced back to a juicy story in 1906. A William Williams shot to death his gay boy friend and the boy friend's mother. At William's execution the rope was too long. After the botched execution the momentum for not having the death sentence gained momentum and we know the result.