"Socker" in the US and Death of Pigskin?

Minneapolis Tribune - Dec. 19, 1909

This brief article makes some bold predictions on the fate of pigskin football in the state of Virginia, following the tragic passing of a college player there.  Several others states were considering legislation that would've banned throwball as well.  Not to take anything away from the present state of the beautiful game in places like Virginia and North Carolina, but doesn't it boggle the mind to think what might have been?

Can You Name This Twin Cities Location?

The corner building in the photograph's foreground was the headquarters for one of the largest and most successful organizing drives among itinerant workers in North America.  The Minneapolis locals of the IWW moved into the building in late December of 1913 and had published this description of the hall in an April 1914 issue of Solidarity:

Though the structure has since been torn down (a discouraging and all too common trend in the Mill City), there are several details in the photograph that betray its original location.  Note that the two buildings to the right of the corner building still stand and very much look like they did when the photograph above was taken.  Another hint - the main entrance to the corner hall was not the light-colored brick storefront with large windows, but was in fact around the corner on the long side of the building - where you see the small wooden entryway.

Can you name the location where this important chapter of North American labor history was written?  Maybe a prize is in order for the first person who correctly identifies the intersection or address?

Keep an eye out here for more excerpts from the Twin Cities IWW history tour.

First of May - International Workers' Day

Most of you who have found your way here are likely familiar with the history of May Day.  I'll post some thoughts on our important holiday a bit later, but wanted to share a few rare photographs of past May Day demonstrations held here in the Flour City.

The Original Vikings Football Team in Minnesota

And no, there was no Norm Van Brocklin to be found coaching this Vikings football team.  And we're not talking about the early-60s and a son of a Pentecostal Methodist minister scrambling his way around opponents.

Let me introduce the Vikings, one of Minneapolis' first association football teams.