Historic Southwest Neighborhood Association Board , 2008

Dorothy (Dottie) Hawthorne, President

I have lived in Rochester 25 years all of which has been in the Historic SW neighborhood. I am married to Frank Hawthorne and we have two children, Simon 18 years old and Lydia 16 years old. I am a medical librarian at the Mayo Clinic and Frank is a Reference Librarian at Rochester Public Library. I am a member of the 6th St. Neighborhood  Watch. I am active in my church, Calvary Episcopal Church, Chairing our Forum committee, serving on our Outreach Committee as well as our Education Committee. I am a new board member of the Rochester Rowing Club, and have served 3 years on the GLYBS Board. As a personal statement, I strongly feel that neighborhoods are very important and their integrity needs to be preserved. Having neighborhood groups provides identity to these individuals as well as the physical space. It provides an opportunity for us to put forth a collective voice on issues that have a direct impact on the neighborhood.

Wayne Norrie, Vice-President

I am Wayne Norrie and I live at 520 Ninth Avenue SW with my wife Tammy and our two dogs.  I’ve lived my entire life, all 44 years, in Rochester.  I grew up in SE Rochester and so did my father.  My grandmother grew up on a farm where Willow Creek Golf Course is now and used to ride horses into town.  I have seen many changes in Rochester throughout my life and I want to keep our neighborhood as safe and attractive as I can.  I do not want to see our neighborhood become a parking lot for downtown and I do not want to see this historic neighborhood slowly transformed into commercial downtown.  I’ve been serving on the board since 2005.

Frank Hawthorne, Secretary

Frank Hawthorne married fellow HSNA Board member Dottie way back in 1982; and since`83 they've been attempting to "anchor" the neighborhood at 427 Sixth St. S.W. Their homestead is the last surviving single-family dwelling [and one built in 1890] in their  asphalt-laden block!  Frank (like Dottie) is a librarian; but his professional shingle hangs in the reference division of Rochester Public Library.  He has lived in 19th century homes for most of his life; but enjoys good architecture of any style or era.  Frank feels that the association needs to carry a little stick, while speaking-out loudly for preserving what is of value to our community.  He generally opposes paving paradise--or even just our neighborhood--to put up a parking lot.

Jane E. Townsend, Member

My husband David and I moved to 833 6th Avenue SW in January of 2003, after our former northwest home was taken by eminent domain for the Highway 52 Bypass Project.  We canvassed the area all around Mayo primarily because I wanted to walk to work.  We feel fortunate that we found a place in this beautiful section of Rochester.  We have one grown daughter, who is a pilot for Delta Airlines, but she loves to return home for visits.  However, after realizing that most of my neighbors didn’t really know each other anymore, I began attending the meetings of the newly-formed HSNA with the hope that such an organization might help to reverse this trend. 

 Last year, I volunteered to be vice president of the HSNA after a long moment of silence at a nomination board meeting drove me to say almost anything.  This year, I volunteered to be secretary just so they would let me stay on the board.  I have found it to be a truly educational experience and can promote it as something a neighborhood gets much more out of than what we have to put into it to make it work.   

 PS:  David and I are the owners of a large redbone coonhound named Leon Redbone.  We walk him everyday, but he loves to escape so that he can go hunting on his own.  If you find him in your backyard, please send him home.

Karen Young, Member

Sandy MacLaughlin, Member

After 35 years absence from SW Rochester, my husband John and I (semi-retired IBM & Head Start) bailed out of NW Rochester and happily returned. We purchased and totally renovated a tiny condo on Soldier's Field at the East edge of the HSNA (now sought after by the UMR). We love our river view, proximity to Downtown and plan to stay until the wrecking ball arrives.

Since moving 4 years ago, I have worked on litter, beautification safety and XC skiing/snow shoeing at Soldier's Field. We now have boulevard pots on 1st Ave SW opposite the Y side, grass instead of weeds by SE MN Power, less litter with cooperation from area businesses, hundreds fewer cigarette butts, 7 donated cigarette butt receptacles, and a Neighborhood Watch for our condo association.

Sadly neither a solid plan, petitions nor pleas to the Park Board, PB Director and our Councilmen to resume winter tracking for 2011 at Soldier's Field were successful

I saw 1st hand in work with the "Litter Butt Better" city committee, joining forces with like minded individuals can make a difference. Traffic speed on 6th street and accidents at the 1st Avenue SW intersection are of future concern. The HSNA Board looks like a good fit for me.

Pat McKee, Member

HSNA Bylaws

A copy of our bylaws are available in PDF format by clicking the link below.

 Updated February 2011