May 4, 2021 - News

Park Board says historic Navy artifacts will be returned by Sept. 1

Nick Halter

A historic bell from the U.S. Navy — The bell from the U.S.S. Minneapolis is heading back to its namesake city. Photo: Hennepin County Library

The Minneapolis Park Board says a pair of U.S. Navy artifacts will be returned to their rightful home after a contentious battle with Minnetonka Public School officials.

Context: The Park Board and Minnetonka Public Schools have been fighting over a bell and wheel from the battleship U.S.S. Minneapolis for a year.

The Minneapolis American Legion Post received the bell and wheel 100 years ago from the Navy and originally gave them to the Park Board. But a past commander said a couple rogue members took them from a memorial on Bde Maka Ska and gave them to Minnetonka High School.
A couple Southwest Journal reporters discovered them in the school a year ago, and found that athletes rung the bell to mark certain accomplishments.

The intrigue: The Park Board had demanded the return of the artifacts, saying they were stolen property and one commissioner even raised the idea of sending Park Police to go get them.

Minnetonka Superintendent Dennis Peterson fired back, saying "Minneapolis treated [the bell] very badly when they had it. And you know, we've really honored and revered it as part of our student life," according to the Star Tribune.

Yes, but: The Park Board, in an agreement with the American Legion that is up for a vote on Wednesday, is promising to take good care of the two artifacts when they are returned to the north end of the lake.

The Park Board must "properly maintain, display and protect these important artifacts," the resolution says.
The Legion can inspect them and if they're not being protected the two sides could eventually go to an arbitrator.

What's next: The Park Board says the bell and wheel will be returned by Sept. 1.

Minnetonka Public Schools could not be reached for comment.

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Park Board says historic Navy artifacts will be returned by Sept. 1

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