Although I live with a house full of collectors (who acquire everything from baseball cards to Squinkies to bobbleheads ), I collect nothing -- at home that is. Work is a different story.

In my personal life, I would never collect plates but I'm now on the hunt for them for the Edina Historical Society collection. I don't care about the "Limited Edition" plates featuring Elvis or Princess Diana. My focus is purely on Edina.

I'm looking for more plates like this one, recently donated by a member of Our Lady of Grace Church. 

The plate commemorates the church's 25th year (based on the dates on the front, 1946-1971.)

Other Edina churches have issued commemorative plates on significant anniversaries, I believe. I haven't gone through our collection records, but I know I've come across at least one other in a similar style as this one produced by World Wide Art Studios. (Search for the business on Ebay and you'll examples from churches all over the country. None for Edina was listed recently.)

Our Lady of Grace's history was printed on the back of this plate:

For those who can't read the fine print, it says: "Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church had its beginning at the Edina Theater, where the first mass was said on February 17, 1946 by Father Louis Forrey, founding pastor.The school opened in September 1949, at 5300 Normandale Road, staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. Masses were then said in the basement. The present rectory was completed in April, 1954. Additional classrooms, the convent and church were added in September, 1957. The parish now consists of 1200 families and the present pastor is Father Joseph Baglio, who came to the parish in June, 1967."

(See the school's web site for more information on its history.)

I think one plate is cool, but a complete collection would be better in terms of telling Edina's story. For more information about donating a plate or other Edina object, please email me.

I have been exchanging emails with Susan Hawthorne Plank, who helped organize the Edina-Morningside High School Class of 1959's 50th reunion. As we talked about life on 50th and France, she wrote about some of her memories. With her permission, here's one that may spark your own reminiscences.
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"My favorite Clancy's story --and every word is true:  We had a dog named Rover (1/2 collie, 1/4 lab, 1/4 Chesapeake).  This was before dog-leashing laws.  Rover was a fairly big dog and not an "inside dog."  He stayed fairly close to home or in the garage until about 4 p.m. Then he'd stroll over to 50th and France and begin his evening by going into Clancy's and lying in the entry, observing all his friends who would come and go.

 My mother would feel a responsibility if they were going out for the night to track down Rover and perhaps pick him up and bring him home.

She'd call Clancy's and ask if Rover was there.  Whoever answered would typically say, "I'll look.....yes, he's in the lobby."  Or perhaps, "No, Rover's left. He's probably gone to the theater."

That was the next part of the night.  When the theater opened, Rover would go over there and lie in that lobby through both shows.  Sometimes we'd hear him come home after the second show.  But sometimes he didn't.

We knew then that he had gone home with the cashier.  She loved Rover, and occasionally would take him home overnight, shampoo and spiff him up, and then return him on her way to work the next day.  I think she lived in a small home or apartment in Minneapolis. and loved his company.  As I said, Rover was an outside dog and never got the shampoo and perfume treatment at our house!!!!

When dog-leashing laws came in, it was hard on Rover.  Many's the time my mother had to go to the dog pound to bail him out.  I'm sure he missed his 50th and France social life and especially that nice theater cashier!"

Rover's primary home was with the Hawthornes, who lived at 5301 Minnehaha Boulevard: parents Bower and Jane and four daughters Susan, Sarah, Priscilla and Prudy.

Please share your stories with us! What do you remember about 50th and France businesses and life in Edina?