BERTHA BATES

Bertha Bates was a legendary figure in St. Louis Park’s academic history. Born and raised in Hopkins in 1874, she graduated from Central High in Minneapolis in 1894. She apparently started teaching before she graduated, as her teaching years are listed as 1885 to 1934. She first taught in Anoka and then Rockford, Minnesota. Her first school in St. Louis Park was the Manhattan Park School, which was said to have been built by Theodore Curtis of the Curtis Hotel. After that she became a legend at Lincoln School. Former students remembered her fondly, but also cautioned that there could be no funny business in her classroom.

Bertha’s sister Irene Bates also taught at Lincoln School. The family lived on Goodrich. Bertha later lived with her brother Bill on Wooddale, near Aldersgate.

Bertha died on November 1, 1957 at the Walker Methodist Home. Her mother, Cynthia S. Bates, died in October 1934 at age 90. Her father, Albert H. Bates, died at the age of 79. [October 1961 can’t be right]

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.