St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1952-10-17

Woodfin Lewis q research
physicist from New York and his
wife and two children who rented
a house at 1928 Jersey Ave-, in
st. Louis Park from Mrs. Elaine
Embretson.
When II was learned that Mr..
Lewis and his family were Ameri-
cans OF Negro descent, unnamed
persons began a campaign TO get
Mrs. Embretson 10 evict the
Lewis family, The tremendous
pressure caused Mrs. Embretson
to request her attorney to In
stitute eviction proceedings.
On the day Mrs. Lewis and the
two children were to arrive In
Minneapolis, officials Of the Min
neapolis- Honeywell Company APP
pealed to the Minneapolis
SPOKESMAN to help Mr.. Lewis
find other living quarters for the
bewildered newcomers. The
papers officials referred the case
to the Minneapolis Urban League.
shelton Granger, executive sec
rotary Of the league conferred
with MIR. Lewis and Minneapolis
Honeywell official. After several
conferences In which Mrs. Lewis
participated Il was decided that
the family would remain In the
home.
Reporters for the daily papers
and the radio stations learned Of
the situation and Mrs. Embretson
told them that protests against
the Negro family's tenancy came
from persons "a mile away" from
the two room bungalow occupied
by the family. She also said there
had been talk Of retaliation
against her father-in-laws busi-
ness.
The story In the Minneapolis
TRIBUNE and a news report by
KSTP broke Thursday morning,
Oct. o. There was immediate re-
action in st. Louis Park. favor
able 10 the Lewis family. Scores
of white residents in the district
visited the Lewis family urging
them 10 remain In the house. Mrs.
Embretson, the landlord, received
letters and telephone calls urging
her to allow the family TO re-
main for the six months originally
agreed upon.
Pastors Take Stand
Seven st. Louis Park pastors,
including the Reverends Roger
Schmuck OF st. Georges, where
ministers met; Bennett Brudevold,
Aldersgate Methodist; Einar Mar
tinson, Union Congregational;
Norman Nelson, Westwood LIth-
eran; Lloyd Nordstrom, Park
Baptist; Paul obennauf. Wood
dale Lutheran, welcomed the fam
lily to the community and pointed
out the possible violation OF re-
ligious principles by eviction of
the family.
Mayor Follows Suit
After considerable pressure
from aroused citizens, Mayor @.
L. Hurd Of st. Louis Park took q
position similar 70 that taken by
the ministers.
Counter Petition
A st. Louis Park business man,
Melvin Cooper began a move to
circulate a petition in favor OF the
Lewis family. OrviIle Freeman,
Minneapolis attorney and DFL
candidate for governor called on
Gov. Elmer Anderson to order the
Governors Interracial ComTni-
sion TO investigate the situation
and protect the constitutional
rights of all involved.
States Her Position
The great interest in the case
and the overwhelming sentiment
for the Negro family finally
caused Mrs. Embretson to state
that the reason why she rented
her home to the family was be-
cause she wanted them to have II,
and for no other reason. She an
nounced that she had decided to
confer with Mr.. Lewis and repre-
sentatives of the league with a
view to agreeing to have the
family remain.
Sunday, Oct. IL, at p. m. a
conference was held at Mrs. EN-
bretson's apartment in which she.
her husband, Mr.. Lewis, Shelton
Granger, Urban League secretary
and Sally Luther, member Of the
Urban League board participated.
Mrs. Embretson announced that
she had decided to cancel eviction
proceedings and that the Lewis
family would be allowed to rent
the home for the six months orig
inally agreed upon.
Editors note: Wayne Pavey
Martin of Martins Press Anolxa.
MINI. Mayor Of ST. Louis Park
in 1922 said Lewis family Is not
the first Negro family to live in
st. Louis Park as reported in the
daily press. Former Mayor Martin
said that the Staples family were