St. Cloud Times — Mention history to St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis ’89 and you are more than likely going to enter into a lengthy conversation.
It’s a passion Kleis has — having majored in history at St. Cloud State University. And the long-time mayor wants to share his city’s history with others.
…
And on Saturday, Kleis and city officials continued their commitment to the historical roots of St. Cloud with the dedication of a new park named in honor of the first African-Americans who had come to St. Cloud, African-Americans who came to the area as slaves.
Butler Park, 300 Fifth Ave. N, along the Mississippi River will be named after Mary Butler and her son John, who came to the area as slaves of the Rev. Thomas Calhoun.
…
Kleis said he was eager to find out more about the Butlers and African-American history in the area after reading the book “Slavery in the Upper Mississippi Valley” by Christopher Lehman, an ethnic studies professor at St. Cloud State.
