THE HENNEPIN AVENUE BRIDGE

Father Hennepin went down to Bennigan's To discuss the construction of the Hennepin Bridge He had time to kill down by the flour mill So he planned a picnic lunch on St.Anthony Main Now Father Hennepin he was notorious And he liked a little drink down at Nye's Polonaise His explorations were more than glorious So they planned to build a bridge that would feature his name Well first Niagara and then St.Anthony's Were discovered by the fella with the Hennepin name But when the lock was filled on the lower falls Everyone was shopping on the Nicollet Mall And when the rope was cut on the Hennepin Father Louis had a most unusual plan He would take a dip in the Mississipp He would dive from the center and swim to the dam When the time had came and he took the plunge Everybody screamed, “My God! What has he done?” And though he tried to swim, the current carried him Closer and closer to the brink of the falls The people lined the banks of the Mississip To watch Father Hennepin go over the edge The people there that day, they all swear they say Father Hennepin was laughing as he fell to his death