Ben Welter

I really wanted to like this book - after all, the title suggests some fascinating Minnesota history. But alas, the title leaves out one important clue to the contents inside... this book is not what I would call "a history;" this book is a regurgitation of a handful of "amusing" pieces from newspapers of yore.

Aside from a few contextual explanations and follow-ups, the author adds nothing to the selected newspaper articles and effectively renders this "history" an unsatisfying scrapbook of newspaper clippings.

There are plenty of opportunities for this book to really live up to it's title. A rather lengthy saga of an unusual advertising campaign for the Tribune would have been an interesting opportunity to discuss the role of newspapers in Minnesota and give examples of other novel and bizarre newspaper stunts.

An article recounting the visit of an illusionist could have opened into a chapter on the popularity of illusionists/occultists/oddities
etc. during this time - and surely there would be more examples throughout Minnesota.

An account of one woman's quick adoption of a baby in time for her husband's birthday is not really an unexplained wonder nor was she necessarily an eccentric character, but I suppose the story was a "baffling occurrence." While there was a follow-up written for this one, the bizarre circumstances could have been underscored with additional commentary on the state of early 20th century adoption and orphanages, a topic that has plenty of mystery.

This book was really disappointing. I wish I had looked more closely before I bought it; if I wanted a collection of newspaper articles, I would have gone down to Central Library and looked through the microfilm reels myself.… (mehr)