Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-12-05

good ones still in that block. was
finished. The JaCksons and their
three little daughters moved in
without incident.
An eye witness account Of what
happened later was sent to me
some time ago after the present
Prospect Park association got
some national publicity.
That organization was fifty
years younger than II Is now. Its
members were representative Of
the people that lived there-pio-
neers in business, in the Univer-
sity and in the trades even as
they are today.
Upon the shoulders Of the as
ISOLATION was laid the responsible
Ity Of doing something about the
JAcIxsons." What to doS
Finally a plan was evolved. A
delegation would call and convince
the intruders that their presence
was illegal. The papers were
drawn and the designated eve
ming came.
They started out from the as
ISOLATION room, an upstairs one
In the old wooden building on
University and Bedford, which
was the predecessor TO the pre-
sent one. One Of the earliest resi-
dents Of Prospect Park and an
alternate named Crane, who lived
on Seymour. and two deputies,
set out carrying lanterns - the
streets were badly lighted with
gasoline lamps, some Of them be-
ing only COW paths
Arriving, the two younger nHen
amt down ON q grassy bank across
Ehe street from their destination
and the two older figures proceed
ed, the lantern bObblng as they
made their way over the still I'm.
graded yard. and up the dark
STRIPS and porch. They raped.
Mr.. jackson came outside and
closed the door He was mild and
courteous and listened TO what
they had TO say. which included
the often-repeated "therefores
and 'whereases'' Of the document
which Mr.. Crane had prepared and
was reading, his assistant holding
the Pickering lantern over his
shoulders 80 that ne might see.
The door burst open and in the
streaming light stood Mrs. Jack
son. shouldering a broom. Her
black eyes burned with anger, an
ger formed from smouldering re-
sentiment against persecution and
tntolerance-now flaming from
irritation at her husbands inabil-
Ity 10 meet this new menace.
She made a flaII-IIke gesture
with the broom and stepped off
the threshold and delivered an ex-
ploalve and VIOLENTLY worded In
avitatiOn 10 the two men 10 get off
u her property ~ Of the moment
and never come hack. Words were
no longer weapons and the time
for INDIGESTION was past.
The trespassers fed down the
ahadOwy steps and across the
rough ground lantern swing
ing crafty until they reached the
more level street and joined the
two young deputies now shaking
with laughter.
They wound their way back 70
the association room four blocks
away. No further action was TAX
en- on the matter and the Jack
sons lived there until Mr.. Jack
son died. When the three dAuRh-
tsrs were grown Mrs Jackson
went 70 live with Helen In Kan
mas City Helen had been a bril-
liant scholar and had won high
81 hnnors both AZ East High and
at the University Of Minnesota
Nhe married Earl wilkins, VIM
had b-en the editor Of the ~ al
n Daily during his s.niSr year
and had gone to KAnsas CITY "a
work on . ReWsPaper tbere.
He died early leaving a young
son for Helen 20 raise. She did
social service work then Al the
YwCA and lived in New York
CITY. On a tour through the states
for the ". she came 10 Grand
Rapids. Mich, met q Negro ply.
MArian named CIaytor and married
him-
Helen was the frs; woman oi
her race To head q large city
YwCA-ths one At Grand Rapids
After working on the national
<vuI shs alsC was the irst Negro