MASSACRE AT FLOUR CITY!
The Deadly Battle over Labor Rights In the Streets of Seward, in the Summer of 1935
Discover a dramatic and nearly forgotten chapter of Minneapolis labor history at Massacre at Flour City, a powerful exhibit running Saturdays, July 12, 19, and 26 at Vine Arts Center in Seward. Through five striking display panels created by Kevin Brown of Smart Set Community Printing, this exhibit tells the true story of a deadly 1935 machinists’ strike at Flour City Ornamental Iron Works—and the violent police crackdown that followed. Organized by the Seward History Committee and supported by local labor organizations, this free public event sheds light on the sacrifices made in the fight for workers’ rights. Join us to reflect on the past and its urgent relevance today.
Free and open to all.
Vine Arts Center
2637–27th Avenue S, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Saturdays July 12th, 19th, and 26th
OPENING: SATURDAY, JULY 12 • 11:00 AM — 8:00 PM
1:00: History Q&A: Seward History Committee
3:00: Talk: Unearthing the story of the Flour City Victims
5:00: Opening Party, Wine, cheese and tribute to Dick Westby
6:00: CONCERT BY LARRY LONG
SATURDAY, JULY 19 • 11:00 AM — 5:00 PM
1:00: Talk: Are We Really Living in the Hub of Hell?
3:00: Panel: Workers and Bosses: What Caused the Riots?
CLOSING: SATURDAY, JULY 26 • 11:00 AM — 8:00 PM
1:00: Talk:Flour City Ornamental Iron to Ivy Arts: 1902-2025
3:00: Panel: Minneapolis in the 1930s: Hard Times
5:00: Closing Night Party, Beer, peanuts, and conversation
6:00: CONCERT BY TWIN CITIES LABOR CHORUS
Who put this together and why?
Kevin Brown of Smart Set Community Printing conceptualized and created five large storytelling display panels to share a gripping story from local history that he found in “A People’s History of the Seward Neighborhood” published in 2018 by the Seward History Committee. He designed the panels to be a permanent asset for the Seward History Committee that would travel to other venues.
The Vine Arts Center event was planned and presented by Seward History Committee members Mark Arnesen, Tom Beer, Ethan Bleifuss, Pat Dahlen, Wendy Epstein, Marilyn Matheny, and Dick Westby, along with Kevin Brown and the Vine Art Center staff and volunteers.
It is supported by the Seward Neighborhood Group, Minneapolis Regional Retiree Council, AFL-CIO, Minnesota State Retiree Council, AFL-CIO, Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, Machinists Local 459, AFL-CIO, Dick Westby, past chair of the Seward History Committee, the Seward Civic and Commerce Association, and generous donations of time and energy by Kevin Brown of Smart Set Community Printing.
What happened in 1935?
In July 1935 the Farmer Labor machinist union, #1313, with offices at 2525 Franklin Avenue, was working to unionize eight Minneapolis iron-working companies. At one, Flour City Ornamental Iron Works, at 26th Street and 27th Avenue, the Citizen’s Alliance thwarted them, so they called a strike. Pickets marched and protested in front of the building for two months. The shop was forced to close, lawsuits were filed, management fumed and requested police protection.
Tensions rose in early September when the shop reopened by housing scab workers in the building to complete important war contracts. Protestors and gawkers, over 2,000 people, gathered at the site on the 9th and 10th to protest. They rioted, threw stones, and broke windows. The police cleared the area with tea gas. Management asked for more police protection.
On September 11th, the crowd grew to 5,000. Police in armored cars again used tear gas and this time, also their guns. They cracked heads with their Billy clubs but could not control the crowd. Finally in desperation they shot over the crowds and then into them. Panicked people poured into the alleys and porches of the Seward neighborhood, pursued by the police. Two young men were shot and killed. Dozens of the wounded and injured poured into emergency rooms. A grand jury investigated, and the mayor was found guilty of mismanagement.
Contact Marilyn Matheny at: marilyn.matheny@gmail.com or Tom Beer at: 1945tujb@gmail.com if you have questions or want to schedule the exhibit at your venue.