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May 09, 2008Commentaries is where Minnesota Public Radio welcomes your thoughtful opinion about current events and issues. Commentaries are like letters to the editor. To be considered for publication, your commentary should be issue-related, clearly written, and follow our Terms of Use. New insights into ongoing topics are especially welcome. Not all commentaries received are published. For topical interaction with others, visit the discussion groups.
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Life on the farm at the Ah-Gwah-Ching Center
My father Theron Johnson and my mother Ruby moved to the farm in 1933-1955. [MPR News Archive: A history of the Ah-Gwah-Ching treatment center] I have 2 sisters, Janice and Jareen. We were the last family to occupy the farm even three years after it had been "offically" closed.
The farm provided much of the dairy and other products for the TB patients at the hospital. There was a dairy barn, pig barn and chicken coop. We had aproximatly 26 prisoners with 6 guards from St. Cloud Prison working the farm. All of these prisoners were incarserated for writing bad checks, DWI, etc. There were no violent crimes in their history. Ironically, in 22 years, the family vehicle had been stolen only twice in all that time and in both instances, there was no damage to the car.
Ah-Gwa-Chang was in itself pretty self sufficient. The only thing we had to go to town for was staples. There were house parties put on by the assigned physicians. Two who I remember most vividly are Dr. Bilbun (not sure of spelling) and Dr. Williams who both were Directors of the hospital at different times. The nurses had their own dormitory. Each time we had a new calf born it was named after one of the nurses, especially if she was new. Each Sunday I would see the nurses walking toward the barn to see their namesakes.
During this time, however, there was also a class system which no one really acknowledged. There was a back road that led to the fields but also we were "encouraged" to use that road when we went to town to avoid driving through the hospital grounds, which we didn't do. The premise was that the state didn't want to openly acknowledge that there were prisoners working the farm which supported the hospital and thought it would be flaunting that fact by driving through the grounds. Keep in mind that state run farms where common at that time. There was also one in Hastings that supported the mental hospital there run by Mr Kippe. However, I believe the farm at Walker was the only one maintained by convicted prisoners.
I have many good memories of being raised in that enviornment. People laugh when I tell them my playmates for the first 6 years of my life were convicts. But, I also learned alot about human nature, predisposed judgement and the consequences of breaking the law.
I took my wife there to see the grounds and of course all but the pig barn are gone. The house was sold and moved to Akeley, Minnesota but when we went to the reception desk and they realized we were the last family there, we got a escorted tour through the museum. It was exhilarating to see the log my mother kept to track the birth of new calves in her own handwriting which was so beautiful and cursive. She also kept the books regarding the farm budget. There was so much to share with my wife that I could not encapsulate it during that short visit. The guide told us that other off spring of personnel that lived there have shown up the same year we did showing the grounds to their own children. I believe that regardless of the ups and down that we all experienced, this campus has more memories crammed into it's history than anyone can envision.
There so many stories of the day to day activities surrounding this hospital, that it would take a book to describe it all. I hope this adds something to the story.
Jay Johnson
Spring Park, Minn.
Why rush opening the 35W bridge?
Great, but why the rush? [MPR News: New 35W bridge may open in Sept., three months early]
The rebuilding of the I-35W bridge should be all about safety - not timetables; not cost savings or windfalls. Unfortunately, it appears that the company rebuilding this important piece of infrastructure is using the profit motive and pushing the timetable to capture an extra $20 million. Will any corners be cut?
What of the Republican National Convention coming to town in September? Would our federal government pay $20M in order to have a photo opportunity with Bush and Gov. Pawlenty at the ribbon cutting? Imagine the audacity of trying to turn one of the prime examples of infrastructure decay under the Bush Administration into a Republican victory!
I share the sentiments of many commuters who want the I-35W bridge back yesterday. But we can ill afford to sell our future safety for $20M and a photo opportunity.
Dan Swanson
Burnsville, Minn.
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