Fledgling UMM put on a show in 1962

From the Morris Sun Tribune:

Minnesota came through BIG at the World's Fair in Seattle, Washington. Touring residents of the North Star state were joined by throngs of former residents from the Pacific Northwest to help Governor Elmer L. Andersen and entourage make Minnesota Day, June 12, the largest honor day in the history of Century 21's Plaza of the States. In the heart of the fairgrounds, 500 official visitors from Minnesota serenaded and presented greetings and gifts from the Land of 10,000 Lakes while an uncounted throng of cheering listeners overflowed the area. No other state honor day in the life of the Seattle Fair has drawn such a throng or presented so much visiting talent.

From mid-morning until 1 p.m., Minnesota's governor and his official and unofficial followers showed Washington Governor Albert D. Rosellini that "everything's big in Minnesota." 

Eyeing the American League standings, Gov. Andersen urged the crowd to come to Minnesota for a late-summer celebration, the  World Series.

 

Joy, anxiety

The fledgling U of M-Morris had completed two years of operation when the summer of 1962 arrived. The Cold War seemed rather hot. The Cuban Missile Crisis hovered in a most concerning way, shall we say an existential way. You've probably heard the old joke that ends with the line "kiss your ass goodbye." The line ended a little rundown on what body position to assume in the event of a nuclear strike. 

My family's home was built in 1962 during that window of time when "fallout shelters" were commonly planned. And yes we have such a thing. Mom and I gave the guidance manual for that to the local museum. 

An episode of TV's "Happy Days" showed the whole group practicing a Civil Defense routine in the event the worst happened. But the group gave up as they realized that if the worst happened, "life wouldn't be worth living anymore." 

Many Minnesotans had a little extra zest for life in 1962. That's the baseball fans! Many people didn't choose to pay attention to that - that's fine - but there were many people quite excited about the Twins in just their second year. The Twins chased the dynastic Yankees, gave the Bombers a run for their money. Here in Minnesota? Where big league ball did not exist until 1961? Why yes! 

The Twins finished in second place, five games behind the Mickey Mantle crew. But alas, only the pennant winners advanced to the post-season, actually hard to believe. 

Now that I have digressed into baseball, let me get back on track to state that UMM had an exciting and high-profile presence at the Seattle World's Fair, a.k.a. Century 21 Exposition. 

 

Ralph E. Williams, UMM men's chorus director

 

It is my understanding that the UMM music people of today choose to be totally focused on the present and don't wish to plumb history all that much. And I totally understand that! Totally reasonable. UMM has a lot on its plate at present with the pressures to show a rebounding enrollment. Last year certainly revealed cause for concern, existential even, as we got the most unflattering article in the Star Tribune and then the mid-year change in chancellors. A reasonable person might suggest the sky was falling. 

Even with stable enrollment there's a revenue issue because of the free tuition policy for Native Americans. I have been seeking for a long time to find out if the UMM policy re. the Natives is based on a real true "treaty." The answers I get seem less than certain. 

I consider this important because if a true "treaty" is involved, the UMM policy would have to be considered "insulated." There would still be a revenue issue. Finances are always at the forefront for the state legislature. 

 

Optimistic word 

My main UMM contact person phoned me about a week ago to indicate the upcoming enrollment numbers are positive, encouraging. Well that's great of course. And this would be getting accomplished in spite of higher education everywhere coming up against the "demographic cliff." 

Michael Lackey

Michael Lackey has discussed this with me several times. He said everyone who works in higher education is well aware of this challenge. 

My, so different from my young adult days when my boomer generation flooded college campuses. "Embarrassment of riches." We were the offspring of the great WWII generation. Our parents fought the "good war" of WWII - not to be understood literally, I would explain - while we got the Vietnam war about which nothing positive could be said. 

Well, our UMM men's chorus not only performed for the festive Minnesota Day in Seattle, we opened the program! How about that? The recruiting value of this trip was in being visible and making an impression on the many other Minnesota musicians taking part in the day. UMM would be impressed on all! 

JFK was supposed to be present for the Fair's closing ceremony. He canceled with the explanation of illness. The truth is that he had to attend to the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was seven years old at the time. My father Ralph E. Williams directed the men's chorus. He sent me a postcard that was addressed directly to me and he signed it "Poppa." 

Dad and Clyde Johnson were early pillars with UMM music. I guess Dad and Clyde did not see eye to eye on certain things and I don't wish to know any details about that. Clyde was always nice to me. I got to know his son Joe fairly well. Trumpet guy. 

 

Blazing the trail 

Dad was the only UMM music faculty in the school's first year. What an incredible adventure for a guy with my dad's background, to "run the show" for a new four-year college for a full academic year. I know it was yeoman's work and according to family legend, it went beyond what was technically in his contract. Don't tell the union! He established the orchestra.

I saw this movie at Morris Theater

The UMM men's chorus and Elvis Presley were "cool" in 1962. Elvis starred in the movie "It Happened at the World's Fair," set in Seattle. The fair had the spirit of futurism. 

UMM made higher education exciting here in western Minnesota. But Dad always had the common touch. I remember being seated in the waiting area of the clinic now known as Lake Region in Morris. This was in Dad's later years when the expected health complications arose. In the waiting area was an old guy who was once a non-faculty employee of UMM. He went out of his way to tell me that Dad was always very friendly to the regular working people on campus, did not put on any aloof "airs" like some other faculty did. I appreciated the comment and the recollection, and it did not surprise me. 

Ah 1962, the year that Gene Chandler gave us the song "Duke of Earl." It was the time of "Camelot" in America. We did not have to kiss our asses goodbye!

 

 

 

 

MN Governor Elmer L. Andersen wears white suit coat in newspaper clipping below. He loved hanging with our UMM men's chorus! He stands next to Washington Governor Albert D. Rossellini. Chorus director (my dad) Ralph E.Williams is at very left. With a magnifying glass I can read the caption on the clipping well enough to report names of the chorus members in photo. Bear with me, I have some eyesight issues related to age. Here we go: Bob Gandrud, Gary Sethney, Marvin Dyrstad, Steffen Sanvik, Clayton Moravetz, David Retzlaff, Howard Johnson, Lanny Erickson, Neal Mortenson, Jim Carlson and Richard Rau. Yes it's THE Jim Carlson, architect of the Jazz Festival which was down the road.

 

- Brian  Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com

UMM music debuted with flourish in 1960

This photo from the Sun Tribune shows my father Ralph E. Williams directing the first-ever UMM music concert, November of 1960. The concert was for the Stevens County 4-H youth and parents. What a community-focused event.

 

Richard Nixon was on the ballot. This was 1960, not 1968. Minnesota was in its last year of not having major league baseball, if you can imagine that. In Morris the times were abuzz, exciting. We were early in year one of the U of M-Morris. The push for getting the U here was not easy but it certainly bore fruit. We branded ourselves as this small public liberal arts college. Ahem, out on the prairie even. And we were bursting our buttons over it. 

My father Ralph E. Williams had a lot to do with getting this venture launched. You'll see a reminder of that by the entrance to the HFA recital hall. There is a display. 

How invested was my father in establishing UMM music? You might say100 percent because he was the only UMM music faculty in year one. What a dream come true for a guy with his background, to completely guide a new music department right at the inception. And the very first UMM music concert was in November of 1960. The election must have been held right around then. The newspaper article announcing this seminal event came out on Nov. 4.

Nixon was running against JFK. Nixon lost, fell into obscurity for a considerable time and then he rose from the ashes in '68. He might be remembered as a hero today if he had worked to get our servicemen out of Vietnam post haste. We all know how that turned out. The war dragged on as the protests grew so intense, by 1970 graduations were having to be canceled out East because of the threat of protest violence. I personally was present for a couple of Vietnam "moratoriums" at Edson Auditorium on campus. I soaked in the sense of unrest of the times. 

I was a member of the UMM band for a few months. Oh, I was only junior high age. The UMM band needed some help in the French horn section. 

Getting back to 1960, the grand occasion of the music program's debut had the historic musicians wearing navy blue uniforms. It's my understanding these were hand-me-downs from the Twin Cities campus. The group must have looked really grand. The uniforms were trimmed with maroon and gold! 

And where did this significant event take place? It was at the old armory which was located where the public library is today. Fewer people all the time will remember the grand old edifice of the armory. It was consumed by flames in the mid-1960s. A purely accidental fire? Hmmm. Whatever, we got the new armory which is still an impressive building out by Eagles Park. 

And we got the new library which I think opened in 1970. And I remember the old stalwart librarian Margaret Grove working there. She was a stalwart at the previous Carnegie library which would eventually become the museum. Mom used to walk me to the Carnegie library. You had better not whisper too loudly there! Shhh! Standards were softened when it came to that. I remember talking with Wally Behm at the new library when Wally's voice could rather resonate! 

I played elementary basketball at the old Morris armory. I played under Marvin Laabs. Dances were held at the place. It had a downstairs auditorium. I wonder how that place could have been renovated to still be in use today. 

 My father in 1962

Dad directed the first-ever music event for the Stevens County 4-H people and kids. The kids and their parents numbered about a thousand total. Dad's band numbered almost 50 pieces. The Sun Tribune article stated "this includes selected instrumentalists from the Morris High School band." 

What a community-wide spectacle. It was perfect for bringing everyone together to wave the banner for our new, hard-won institution of UMM. 

"A band of this size was not anticipated for the first year," the article continued. Well, way to go, Dad. Dad was a 1939 graduate of the U-Twin Cities. And he got his Master's Degree there too. He went on to be a prolific composer. He wrote the "UMM Hymn" for the institution's opening. IMHO that composition could be performed a little more often today. I liked how Ken Hodgson had his group perform it. 

 

Up Keillor's alley 

The UMM concert choir performed the Hymn for when Garrison Keillor was here, and I'm certain that the song was right up Keillor's alley: campus sentiment so well-established. The first two lines grab you and direct your attention to this community: "We salute our Minnesota, Morris our campus dear." 

The original head of the campus wanted Dad to write UMM-themed songs that emphasized "Morris." As the years passed, the priorities changed to where the institution just wanted to emphasize that we were part of the U, not that we we were located in Morris. So we adopted the "Minnesota rouser" song. Well, quite the old turnip IMHO. 

Dad wrote the original UMM "fight song" which I feel possibly had a flaw in the second line of lyrics. So I have suggested an alternative for the opening: 

Fight, fight, fight for Morris U 

Spike, spike, spike an ace or two 

 

My father could not have written this because intercollegiate volleyball did not exist in 1960. "Basketball" was simply basketball with no gender specified. Such a different world. 

And, such a different world with no Minnesota Twins yet! Can you imagine such a reality? And hey, aren't the "Lynx" doing great now? 

My father thought UMM got too laser-focused on the "liberal arts" thing. We'll see how UMM's mission facilitates its continued survival. I like the current head guy, Mike Rodriguez. 

Alas, the music department has lost "symphonic winds." That might be a concerning sign for UMM's future. The choir program does not resemble Hodgsons's program. I do feel the music faculty are doing all they can. 

The HFA is an albatross for the place. Oh, the days of architectural "fads." Fads were all over the place at that time. Practicality has made its triumphant return, is taken for granted now. 

 

Fund has resilience 

The family fund named for Ralph and Martha Williams continues to support UMM music. And it will have a purpose for the U even if the worst happens and UMM's operations are suspended. I have been assured of that. Dad was in the U marching band when it traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a big appearance. He thought that was very special. He left us in 2013. And then Mom followed him to heaven in 2018. They were in their 90s when leaving this existence. Me? I'm 71.

The original UMM concert band, 1960-61. A flair for artistry and entertaining. It performed at Edson Auditorium.

 

Addendum: Is it inappropriate for me to suggest a change to something that Dad wrote? Well I look at it this way: the original UMM "fight song" is dead. It is not even revived for archival/sentimental purposes. Given that, constructive suggestions cannot do any harm. It might be the only hope for hearing it again. An instrumental-only rendition of the song would sound terrific, I swear. 

 

Another thought on the old "fight song": Do you suppose the word "fight" contradicted the spirit of the "make love, not war" times of the 1960s?

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com 

What really is the "business district?"

Sometimes it's "historic business district." Is this a tip-off for seeing old buildings?

 

Is there any need for the signs directing us to the "business district" of a particular town? Such a standard feature. But any utility, really? Can't we all sense what way to go, to get to "downtown." And what does "downtown" really mean anymore? 

Our economic geography of Morris first got disrupted with the opening of "Gibson's," the first iteration of the place that is now known as "Homestead." 

Looks like the City of Morris does not have a high opinion of its own "business district." Maybe I should write "so-called business district." The city did not want to keep its liquor store "downtown." I'm sure that when the now-vacated place first opened, there was a celebratory event. 

Today the city has responded to the lure of the highway development on north edge of town. That's where we find the service roads. In my mind, the highway development is not part of the "business district." Yes, I consider it separate. 

If I were to use Morris Transit - as well I might starting in the not-too-distant future - to "go downtown," well I would have to make the considerable walk from there to Thrifty White Pharmacy. Yes, Thrifty White used to be right "downtown." Many of you still remember I'm sure. It was a nice diversified "store." I got my spiral notebooks there. 

Neither of our two pharmacies is downtown. Senior citizens focus on such places. But if you use the transit system, you might have to arrange for a specific drop-off at these places. I'm still in good enough physical shape that I can walk no-sweat. (Or not very much sweat.) But it's all downhill for me from now on - I am age 71. So much for getting dropped off "downtown" within the "business district" and having "pharmacy" on your list of things to do. 

The Morris MN main sreet

The reason why cities provide the service of "business district" direction signs is to help people out with their standard important personal business to do. You went "downtown." Now, the service road businesses appear to be rather different. The city abandons downtown because it senses that it is no longer the prime location for its liquor store. First of all, I'm not enthused about people having such attractive access to a place that sells liquor. 

 

The Coborn's legend 

The legend will never die of Coborn's leaving town because of not getting a liquor license. Legend has it that Coborn's wanted to build a whole new store. Coborn's as it was, was such a beehive type of place. Between Coborn's and McDonald's, a real hub for "people" activity in town. And I would say it was all on the fringe, at least, of the "business district." Not that far to walk from the core. 

The present-day pharmacies are not so convenient. Of course we have the steak restaurant out there, a place I've never been in. Well, my eyeballs would bug out at the prices, and frankly I am not a poverty-stricken person at all. But principle is principle. Same reason I won't even consider attending a Twins or Vikings game. 

I felt puzzled at the city's impulse to leave the old liquor store location. I considered this location as part of what I would describe as the "entertainment district" of Morris. You sensed this on Friday and Saturday evenings if you looked for parking there. Was abuzz. Maybe less so now with the liquor store leaving? 

 

Stone's Throw defunct 

Every little departure leaves a void, much like with the old Stone's Throw closing. I enjoyed going to Stone's Throw about every other week, usually on Friday night. I bit my lip and paid the hefty price. They probably should have made their rear entrance into the front entrance. You have Don's, Pizza Ranch and Old No. 1 doing well in this entertainment district. Don's is unique as a place to go for "rich" meals. That's not a rip because "rich" means you are guaranteed to leave the place feeling full. That's a nice quality to have these days. The atmosphere is most certainly "middle class." 

Pizza Ranch is a blessing to have as a buffet place. Most certainly you leave the place feeling filled up. 

So it is not time to panic yet for restaurant-goers even with inflation in effect as we speak. Can only be exacerbated by Iran war. Ah, "no new Mideast wars" - that's what we were promised. Israel prodded us into the new one - Netanyahu. 

If I criticize Israel, certain people will describe me as "anti-Semitic." Preposterous of course. I don't think Israel should even be allowed to exist as a "Jewish state." I am anything but "anti-Semitic." Since when are we passing judgment on the Jewish people? 

Well, inflation may be about to accelerate and it's because of our Mideast involvement, so I'm just saying: "get ready." The hospitality establishments of which I speak will be having to hike their already-concerning prices. Until people really have to start cutting back? People will make adjustments if they have to. 

I remember Shorty's Cafe and the Del Monico from the Morris restaurant past. Hot beef sandwich in the afternoon at Shorty's (right next to Morris Theater). Pinball machine there too! Oh, to consider the prices from 50 years ago! 

"Grandstay" is along the service road

 

Looking ahead

How much more development can we expect along the highway on north end of town? "Grandstay" and Heartland Motors are well-established there. Will the development continue all the way down to where Iowa Avenue intersects? You're getting out by Superior. I live just to the north of there. There is a service road on each side of the highway. "Fastenal" is on Iowa Avenue on the south side, but the service road does not make it all the way. The "Bobcat" business gets your attention on the south side. 

Note the Jehovah's Witnesses church. Jehovah's Witnesses had the right idea to locate there. The mainstream Protestant churches of Morris should take note, follow the lead of the oddball Jehovah Witnesses. Well, it is a fringe church but they sure have the right idea with a totally contemporary building on outskirts of town with a nice parking lot. Some say this is the "Wal-Mart principle." It's one that the mainstream Protestant churches of our town should follow. First of all they need to consolidate or let's say continue consolidation. 

First Lutheran and Federated have already partnered. These two should somehow get joined with Faith Lutheran and then a nice new fully contemporary building could be put up on outskirts of town with nice parking lot. "The Wal-Mart principle." My friends would laugh and say there would be all kinds of obstacles to this. Church life is hard enough to keep going. But then there's the well-known line from the movie "Moneyball" (Brad Pitt): "Adapt or die." 

The City of Morris seeks to adapt by abandoning downtown Morris (IMHO), by abandoning what I consider to be the "entertainment district." 

There must be a siren song of sorts from the service road development where we now see Dollar General. You know, in order to shop at Dollar General you have to scout through the place first, see what all they have and where it's located. A very big place. 

I take back what I have said about Willie's having a grocery store "monopoly." I could do nearly all my grocery shopping between the dollar stores and convenience stores. I don't snack on fruit anymore because it gives me gas! 

What do you think of these days if you hear the term "downtown Morris?" Or, "business district?" What does the latter term really mean? Do we need signs on the outskirts directing us to the "business district?" To me they seem as useless as the signs directing us to the various churches. Has anyone ever relied on them? Churches today are such an extension of the Republican Party, seems rather controversial. I'm waiting for the worm to turn on that. 

How will the liquor store do in its new location? Well. . . It's sad that we need a liquor store, n'est-ce pas?

 

- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - musicstuff54@gmail.com