Minneapolis City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
National Register of Historic Places Nominations
Votes (2)
Minneapolis Spokesman and St. Paul Recorder Headquarters Building - National Register of Historic Places Nomination
Dissent: None
Moved by Commissioner Curado [1:02:18] · Seconded by Commissioner Wallace [1:02:29]
The commission reviewed a nomination for the Minneapolis Spokesman and St. Paul Recorder Headquarters Building for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination was recommended under criteria A and B, recognizing its significance to black commerce, communications, social history, and its association with founder Cecil Newman. Public testimony highlighted the newspaper's vital role as a historical record keeper for the African-American community and Cecil Newman's indelible impact on civil rights in Minneapolis, particularly his influence on Hubert Humphrey.
Harry Davis Senior and Charlotte Davis House - National Register of Historic Places Nomination
Dissent: Commissioner Wallace abstained.
Moved by Commissioner Melbloom [1:19:43] · Seconded by Commissioner Alexander [1:20:07]
The commission considered a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the Harry Davis Senior and Charlotte Davis House, nominated under criterion B for its association with Harry Davis Senior. Davis was recognized for his fierce advocacy for civil rights, his leadership in community organizations like the NAACP and Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House, his role as the first black person elected to the Minneapolis School Board, and his pioneering mayoral candidacy. Public comments further detailed the deep historical roots of the Davis family and their legacy of community service.
Notable Quotes (7)
I feel um that getting this is definitely an honor, but it also offers the community and people that will be coming into our city and our state an opportunity to see one of the oldest African-American businesses that's that are in Minnesota. and also of all the history that our paper has done that is the history holder of a lot of content from the African-American community that is being held nowhere else.
I can tell you unequivocally that none of Hubert Humphrey's valiant work on civil rights would have occurred without Cecil Newman and the Minneapolis spokesman.
The reason the entire community knew that building is that when your child was racially profiled or any other major injustice that you could not handle on your own, you went down to 3744th Avenue and you talked to Cecil Newman and asked for his help.
the designation of this building as well as the other building that we're going to hear after this, neither one of them are really about the building itself. They're about the role of the building and the in the community and the people, the importance of the people who lived in the building or worked in the building.
I am very excited to be here with you to present a national register of historic places nomination for the Harry Davis Senior and Charlotte Davis House at 3621 Portland Avenue. I will provide a high level overview of the nomination which was prepared by Max Chavez of 106 group and Kendra Elner of HKGI who also served on the Minneapolis African-American Heritage Work Group.
Harry Davis is a descendant of one of the Massachusetts 54th soldiers who fought so bravely for our country during the Civil War. And Charlotte is a descendant of the uh movement called Nicodemus where a colored colony was formed after reconstruction by members of the black community in Kentucky and they moved and established a new town called Nicodemus, Kansas.
I mean, I am feeling a little spoiled today. Um [laughter] um great narratives, great um public comments, and just feeling really inspired um by the history that's been presented to us um in the reports.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
The primary type of document being reviewed for both items.
Criterion for local significance based on ethnic heritage, black commerce, communications, and social history.
Criterion for local significance based on association with significant persons (Cecil Newman and Harry Davis Senior).
Federal law potentially triggered by federal permits or funding for historic properties, requiring impact analysis.
Key legislation mentioned in the context of Hubert Humphrey's legacy.
Key legislation mentioned in the context of Hubert Humphrey's legacy.
Key legislation mentioned in the context of Hubert Humphrey's legacy.
Plan facilitated by Harry Davis Senior during his tenure on the Minneapolis School Board.