Written by Mike Fahey
Growing up along the Mississippi River in the Camden area in 1949 was an amazing place and time filled with amazing people, industry and businesses. WWII was over and my family, along with over 100 families, lived at the Mississippi Courts from 1949-1986.
So what were the Mississippi Courts? They were a small community of 25 uniquely built quad homes along the Mississippi River in North Minneapolis, and on the lawn of the former Workhouse in the Camden area.
The Mississippi Courts and the Communities Surounding Them 1949-2009 book has over 300 pages and blends hundreds of shared photographs, newspaper stories, and memories from the many families that lived in the Mississippi Courts from 1949 up until its demise when Interstate-94 construction came through in 1986. It includes rich historical and personal stories about many places, people and things in the Camden area like: The Workhouse, Hopewell Hospital, Camden Bank, Camden Bridge, Galeno’s grocery store, the Paul Bunyan Aquatennial Canoe Derby, and many more.
Checking the book out through the Hennepin County library system or MN Historical Society is certainly an option for those that live locally. However, but because there still has been interest, we currently have a very limited supply of printed books available for sale for $25. If interested in owning your own copy, contact Buzzy at buzzybohn.home@gmail.com.