Considered the Founder of Grand Forks, Alexander Griggs filed the first land plat in the Original Townsite in 1875. Steamboat captain and builder, Griggs was an integral part of the steamboat era. He learned his navigational skills on the Mississippi River and earned his pilot’s license at nineteen. Partnering with railroad magnate, James J. Hill, Griggs established a steamboat enterprise on the Red River of the North and built the Selkirk in 1871. Griggs vigorously promoted the early development of Grand Forks. He founded the Second National Bank, established the gas works, and built the Grand Forks Roller Mill, the first brick city block and a hotel, the Grigg House. Griggs was the city’s third postmaster and was politically active, serving on the City Council, the board of County Commissioners, the Railroad Commission, the state constititional convention, and as mayor from 1888 to 1889.

Sculpture commissioned by the

Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission.

Funding provided by the City of Grand Forks, the North Valley Arts Council, the River Forks Commission, and the County of Grand Forks.

Grand Forks County Courthouse Lawn

May 23, 2001

4:00 p.m.

Introduction – Ms. Marsha Gunderson, Chair

Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission

Alexander Griggs Award Presentation –

Dr. Michael R. Brown, Mayor of Grand Forks

Presented to Wand and Bill Graveline

Captain Griggs - A Narrative of the Times

Characterized by Mr. Gary Malm

Grand Forks County Commissioner

Introduction of the Sculptors –

Ms. Heidi Hoy and Mr. Nicholas Legeros

Closing – Ms. Gunderson

Musical Interludes – Grand Forks City Band

Directed by Mr. Don Nagle

Heidi Hoy earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hamline University in St. Paul and is currently on the faculty of the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. Her commissioned works include DAUGHTER OF MY HEART for the Jane Bratten Breast Cancer Center in Minneapolis, KENT HRBEK for the Minnesota Twins, and WINGED LION for St. Mark’s Cathedral. Nick Legeros has a Bachelor of Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota and a Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He is Artist-in-Residence and Head of the Sculpture Department at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. His commissioned works include THE UPPER ROOM for St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church in Waysata, DREAMS OF OUR CHILDREN for Layton Park in St. Paul, and QUIET COMPETENCE for M.A. Mortensen & Company in Minneapolis. Together Nick and Heidi sculpted the ARBOR in the Fourth Street Walkway for the City of Grand Forks.

Grand Forks Historic Preservation Commission

Marsha Gunderson, Chair

Sandra Slater, Vice Chair Adele Kupchella

David Beach Randy Lee

Madelyn Camrud Rolfe Ottum

Gordon Iseminger Fred Schneider

Ted Jelliff Dale Sickels

Dedication Program Committee

Ted Jelliff Madelyn Camrud

Leah Byzewski Peggy O’Leary