History 21 The Podcast - 2.05 Hazel Hartman Remembers Fridley

Born at the tail end of the 19th century in 1897, Hazel Hartman lived in a different Anoka County than we experience today. In this oral history, recorded at her home in 1989, she shares memories about growing up in Constance (located in present day Andover) and her life in a rural Fridley after she married Carl Hartman (Fridley’s first mayor) in 1928.

Hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator and Rebecca Ebnet-Desens, ACHS Executive Director.

Hazel Hartman

1897-1995

We get glimpses of Hazel’s later life through her daughter Alice Ganter’s annual Christmas letters which she donated to the ACHS collection:

1975: Mother lives alone in her own home. She keeps busy with her violets, yard work, and mending. She’s finishing a large latched hook wall aging that Karen started. She’s also going to begin knitting some sticking caps. These seem to be so popular now. She will be with us here at home for Christmas Eve and we’ll all go to John’s sister Rita, for Christmas Day. Those family filled tradition days are really fun, and will provide memories for years to come.

1976: My mother will be 80 years old on January 24th. She maintained her own yard and flowerbed this summer and participates in her Senior Citizen’s Groups. A childhood friend of hers is making her home with Mother. They have mutual friends and share each others companionship.
1977: On July 8th, my Mother had her left breast removed. The surrounding lymph nodes were not malignant and she needed no follow-up therapy. We are so thankful for this. She will be 81 in January. She and her friend still live together in her own home in Fridley. They both are doing very well.
1981: My MOTHER – sold her home in Fridley (after 53 years) and came to live with us. She gets around quite well, but keeping up her house and yard was just too much for her. There are lots of memories in this change and we are very happy to have her with us.
1985: My Mother has been getting tapes and records from the Library for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She also has the Talking Radio. This is a one station radio that reads books, newspapers, and magazine articles. These are wonderful companions for a sight impaired person. My Mother has some vision for which we are thankful.
1986: My Mother made her own decision to move to the Fridley Convalescent Home in August. She has greatly improved in these four months. She takes part in most of the activities and she enjoys the companionship of all the other people. Her phone number is 780-9662. She will be 90 years old on January 24th. We are having Open House at Fridley Convalescent Home 7590 NE Lyric Lane, Fridley, MN. 55432 (East side of Unity Hospital) Sunday, January 25th 2-4pm Stop by for cake and coffee- No gifts please.
1990: My Mother continues to do well at Fridley Convalescent Home. She still arranges chairs in the dining room, gets the Bingo equipment ready for those gambling afternoons and circulates the monthly newsletter in the Home. She will be 94 years old in January. Just recently she asked me to bring her picture album from when she worked in Yellowstone in 1924…She can reminisce with anyone.
1992: My Mother will be 96 years old in January. She jokingly says, “Despite all of my ailments, I have my 3 M’s --- Mind, Mouth, and Motor. I just sent a post card to the White House requesting a birthday greeting from President Bush. Next year she can get one from Bill Clinton.
1995: Celebration of the Life of my mother, Hazel Hartman. She was also Grandmother, Great Grandma, Aunt, and friend to many She passed away November 20th, at the Fridley Convalescent Home at the age of 98 years. She fell and broke her upper left arm October 8th, and her condition began to fail. Despite her handicaps, she always had a positive attitude and was aware of the needs of others.
As many of you know, Minnesota had a hot and humid summer, and my physical activity was zero. Since my Mother preferred to talk on the phone, most of our communication was done by telephone .I asked her to tell me about my Grandparents. She was enthusiastic remembering stories of her parents, childhood and youth. I was able to write many of these stories for our family. It just seems that God’s plan for all of us fell into place through these times. A memorial service will be December 18th at the Fridley Convalescent Home. This was her home for nine years and many of her friends were there.

Pink map of current day Fridley and Columbia Heights labeled "Map of Fridley Township" Land area marked into parcels and labeled with names of land owners. — Plat map of Fridley Township (current day Fridley, Columbia Heights, Hilltop and part of Spring Lake Park), 1914.

Early History of Fridley

Named after Abram McCormick Fridley [1817-1888]. Mr. Fridley served as an Indian Agent at Long Prairie, and then as “Chairman of County Commissioners for Manomin County.”

1857: Land organized as part of Manomin County

1870: Land became part of Anoka County and organized as Manomin Township

1879: Name changed to Fridley Township

1949: Incorporated as a Village

1957: Became a city