Harriet G. Walker
Encyclopedia
Harriet Granger Hulet Walker (10 September 1841 – 13 January 1917) was an American
hospital administrator and leader in the temperance movement
.
, Ohio
in the United States
. She attended Baldwin University
and in 1863 married T. B. Walker
. They later lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota
and had eight children.
Her mother, whose last name was Granger, came from Berkshire County
in Massachusetts
, like Walker's father. Her mother's husband, the Honorable Fletcher Huet, was a "prosperous businessman" who owned a quarry
that sold grindstone
s. Later in life, Walker's husband would go to Minneapolis-Saint Paul to sell grindstones and meet James J. Hill
when he was a young clerk who later was involved with the Great Northern Railway, Northern Pacific Railway
, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
.
Her father's father served in the American Revolutionary War
and participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill
.
Walker studied vocal and instrumental music at what is today Baldwin-Wallace College
, and then taught music for two years. One of her classmates was Thomas B. Walker
who worked for Walker's father. They were engaged and wanted to live in Minneapolis. The Reverend J. Wheeler, president of Baldwin University, married them. Wheeler was Walker's brother in law.
Her husband had to travel for his work for months at a time, so their first years were difficult. They wanted to build a home, and when their fortunes improved, they became interested in "book
s and art
." Their home on Hennepin Avenue
was remembered in the History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota by Isaac Atwater as a place of "refined and generous hospitality" and the nursery for their children.
of Allina Hospitals & Clinics
, from 1862 to 1917, president of the Bethany Home now Walker Methodist Home, and worked with or was a member of the Women's Council of the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church
, the Nonpartisan National Women's Christian Temperance Union, and the Minneapolis Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women. Walker died in New York City
in 1917 and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery
in Minneapolis. Her gravestone says "Harriet Hulet Walker" but she is called "Harriet G. Walker" by the Minnesota Historical Society as well as by Isaac Atwater.
The Walker home on Hennepin Avenue
was a public art gallery now known as the Walker Art Center
, today about a mile from the house, for many years was connected to and shared a lobby with the Guthrie Theater
. The family's art gallery was in one or more other locations prior to the present one. T. B. Walker commissioned galleries to be built around the house to start with. to house his extensive collection. In about 1914 the house was torn down. The State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis is on the site today, renovated with a few other theaters in the area, and is part of one of the city's entertainment districts..
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hospital administrator and leader in the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
.
Early life
She was born in BrunswickBrunswick, Ohio
Brunswick is the largest city in Medina County, Ohio, United States. The population was 34,255 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Cleveland Metropolitan Area.-Geography:Brunswick is located at ....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She attended Baldwin University
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
and in 1863 married T. B. Walker
T. B. Walker
Thomas Barlow Walker was a highly successful American businessperson who acquired timber in Minnesota and California and became an art collector. Walker founded the Minneapolis Public Library. He was among the 10 wealthiest men in the world in 1923. He built two company towns, one of which his son...
. They later lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
and had eight children.
Her mother, whose last name was Granger, came from Berkshire County
Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Berkshire County is a non-governmental county located on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. As of the 2010 census, the population was 131,219. Its largest city and traditional county seat is Pittsfield...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, like Walker's father. Her mother's husband, the Honorable Fletcher Huet, was a "prosperous businessman" who owned a quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
that sold grindstone
Grindstone
Grindstone may refer to:*Grindstone , a tool used for sharpening*Grindstone, a type of millstone used to grind grains such as wheat*Grindstone , 1996 Kentucky Derby winner and sire of the racehorse Birdstone...
s. Later in life, Walker's husband would go to Minneapolis-Saint Paul to sell grindstones and meet James J. Hill
James J. Hill
James Jerome Hill , was a Canadian-American railroad executive. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest...
when he was a young clerk who later was involved with the Great Northern Railway, Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
.
Her father's father served in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill
Battle of Bunker Hill
The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War...
.
Baldwin-Wallace College
Baldwin–Wallace College is a liberal arts college in Berea, Ohio, founded in 1845. It is home to the Riemenschneider-Bach Institute and the Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, an internationally renowned music school. The college is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Students receive a...
, and then taught music for two years. One of her classmates was Thomas B. Walker
T. B. Walker
Thomas Barlow Walker was a highly successful American businessperson who acquired timber in Minnesota and California and became an art collector. Walker founded the Minneapolis Public Library. He was among the 10 wealthiest men in the world in 1923. He built two company towns, one of which his son...
who worked for Walker's father. They were engaged and wanted to live in Minneapolis. The Reverend J. Wheeler, president of Baldwin University, married them. Wheeler was Walker's brother in law.
Her husband had to travel for his work for months at a time, so their first years were difficult. They wanted to build a home, and when their fortunes improved, they became interested in "book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s and art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
." Their home on Hennepin Avenue
Hennepin Avenue
Hennepin Avenue is a major street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It runs from Lakewood Cemetery , north through the Uptown District of Southwest Minneapolis, through the former "Bottleneck" area west of Loring Park, through the North Loop in the city center, to Northeast Minneapolis and...
was remembered in the History of the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota by Isaac Atwater as a place of "refined and generous hospitality" and the nursery for their children.
Associations
Walker was president of Northwestern Hospital, now Abbott Northwestern HospitalAbbott Northwestern Hospital
Abbott Northwestern Hospital is a 627 bed teaching and specialty hospital based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the largest not-for-profit hospital in the Twin Cities and a part of the Allina network of hospitals and clinics...
of Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Allina Hospitals & Clinics
Allina Hospitals & Clinics is network of health care providers based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Allina owns or operates 11 hospitals and more than 85 clinics throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin...
, from 1862 to 1917, president of the Bethany Home now Walker Methodist Home, and worked with or was a member of the Women's Council of the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church is a church across Lowry Hill from the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its address is 511 Groveland Avenue.-History:...
, the Nonpartisan National Women's Christian Temperance Union, and the Minneapolis Association Opposed to the Further Extension of Suffrage to Women. Walker died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1917 and was buried in Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery is a large private, non-sectarian cemetery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located at 3600 Hennepin Avenue at the southern end of the Uptown area...
in Minneapolis. Her gravestone says "Harriet Hulet Walker" but she is called "Harriet G. Walker" by the Minnesota Historical Society as well as by Isaac Atwater.
Hennepin Avenue
Hennepin Avenue is a major street in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It runs from Lakewood Cemetery , north through the Uptown District of Southwest Minneapolis, through the former "Bottleneck" area west of Loring Park, through the North Loop in the city center, to Northeast Minneapolis and...
was a public art gallery now known as the Walker Art Center
Walker Art Center
The Walker Art Center is a contemporary art center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. The Walker is considered one of the nation's "big five" museums for modern art along with the Museum of Modern Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim Museum and the Hirshhorn...
, today about a mile from the house, for many years was connected to and shared a lobby with the Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the result of the desire of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea, and Peter Zeisler to create a resident acting company that would produce and perform the classics in...
. The family's art gallery was in one or more other locations prior to the present one. T. B. Walker commissioned galleries to be built around the house to start with. to house his extensive collection. In about 1914 the house was torn down. The State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis is on the site today, renovated with a few other theaters in the area, and is part of one of the city's entertainment districts..