Friday, August 27, 2010

Old Camden



Under the Camden Bridge, Minneapolis, 1973

"Old Camden" referred to an area of a few square blocks next to the Mississippi
River, just down a hill from "Camden", a small business district on Minneapolis' north side. In the late 1800's it had an active mill, with a small dam on a creek named for the shingles which were made there. In the 50's and 60's it was completely undeveloped, the tall Camden bridge over it dominated the area. It remained popular- with fishermen, kids and the occasional wino. There were islands in the river to swim to and explore on a hot summer day, with rope swings out over the water and small sandy beaches.

The gothic-looking bridge had its share of graffiti- mostly just scratched stuff, no real "art". It was cool underneath it, and the years of water seeping through it had caused little limestone stalactites to form in spots. On a Friday or Saturday night there would be teenagers drinking, and playing hide and seek from the police.

The bridge remains, its been rebuilt twice since I used to hang out there, the whole area has been turned in to a park, nicer in some ways, but no longer "Old Camden".

By Professor Batty


6 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love love this pic! Hey Stinky, long time no see. I have missed you and the flippist archives, haven't blogged in years, glad to see you are still at it! Hoping you still remember me! Jojo


Blogger Professor Batty said...

Still not dead! You've got a lot of catching up to do in the archives... there'll be a test Friday!


Anonymous Andy said...

Wasn't that the home of the "Tire Farmer"?


Blogger Professor Batty said...

The tire farm was on the north side...

http://flippistarchives.blogspot.com/search?q=tire+farm


Anonymous Anonymous said...

I remember hanging out in old camden as a kid and playing by bubble falls and fishing for off the old wooden bridge that was over the creek under the old camden bridge the footing for that bridge i=on the north side of the creek is still there would love to see more pics if you got them. Another old camden kid


Blogger Professor Batty said...

Anonymous ~ I have a few more, but I don't think I've got any more of the bridge.

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