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EVENT NOTES: November 11, 2006 Sharing Meeting Following are notes from the History Corps' Sharing Meeting, held at the historic Hamline Playground Building. (Thank You to Anne Levin!)
Hamline-Midway History Corps
Attending: Phil Reinhardt, Kristi Mather, Krista Hanson, Anne Levin, Mary Bakeman, Audrey Matson, Triesta Brown, Paul Clifford Larson, Steve Vadnais, Mikel Clifford, Jan Lichtenberg
2. Saint Paul Public Library’s 125th Anniversary in 2007 The Saint Paul Public Library’s 125th anniversary will be celebrated in 2007. In addition to a big celebration at Central Library, it is hoped that the branches will also celebrate their history in SPPL and in their communities. This anniversary ties in well with many of the goals and projects of the History Corps and would be a good way to promote the events and activities of the History Corps and our Branch Library as an important meeting place and resource in our community. Action: Anne Levin will start to think of ways to celebrate the anniversary at the Hamline Midway Branch Library; make use of the Library’s historical materials already at the branch and neighborhood archives materials created and compiled by Triesta Brown for earlier library celebrations; make connections with the SPPL staff and Friends of the Library staff involved with the celebration.
4. Sharing by Members Phil Reinhardt – Co-founder of History Corps. Researching physical history of neighborhood, how it developed, train stations. Developing a map of Snelling Avenue – click here to learn more. Triesta Brown – Neighborhood Archives/Neighborhood History from 1980s, 1990s (much of it stored at HM Branch Library); she has a reference library at home and artifacts of neighborhood. Possibility of creating an internal lending library system among Corps members – many of these materials just aren’t available anymore. Worked on previous Snelling redesign and neighborhood branding efforts – knows why things were created as they were, history of decision-making – much of that wasn’t documented/saved. Brought various materials from that earlier re-design process. Would like to develop a local history column for the Monitor. She also shared a 1956 "New Map of Saint Paul and Suburbs" by the Hudson Map company. Jan Lichtenberg – Looking for info on houses moved into neighborhood from elsewhere; interested in house at 1228 Taylor – Copper’s Coke was in area – was house moved from there? Nancy Bailey and Steve Bailey – Her house was built in 1913 by her great uncle; she lived there while growing up, moved away, and returned and now lives in house again – Edmund and Griggs; great memory of neighborhood of childhood. Steve Bailey collects postcards and matchbook covers of St. Paul and Mpls.; picks up local info via collections. The Baileys talked about Thor’s Bakery at Hamline and Thomas; Felt’s Shell Station - in 60s – (now convenience store at Thomas and Hamline[?]) Audrey Matson – 4H group leader/organizer; lived for 13 yrs on Englewood; has “new” 1893 house on Englewood owned by only 2 previous families; builder was a traveling Methodist minister. Mikel Clifford – Lives in St. Anthony Park but is interested in this area. She used to work for the Heritage Preservation Committee. Shared vintage photos of street billboards along Lexington Parkway, circa early 1950s. [Detail: Lexington & Hewitt] [Detail: Lexington between Selby & Dayton] Carol Martinson – Hamline Midway Library Branch Supervisor – Worked at Central with St. Paul Collection – created indexes to collection – deep knowledge of what is there in regard to neighborhoods and ethnic groups… Kristi Mather – Co-founder of Corps. While working on her own house history she has developed a detailed description of how to do House Histories. She also has collected artifacts in process of remodeling her house. Steve Vadnais – Lives on Simpson. His parents lived at a variety of places in neighborhood. Has good story of his Dad and Wilson School – his dad and uncle had really strong memories of the neighborhood. Does woodworking/woodturning. Krista Hanson – Has lived on Englewood since 1997. Lived in Wisconsin most of growing up years – but early on lived in Windom, MN. Architectural Historian. Has new book on Historic Houses in Minnesota coming out by MHS Press. Wrote similar book about Wisconsin houses. Currently is a LISN member and is working on a map of public art in neighborhood and expanding to include historic and commercial architecture… Also working as part of “Core Corps” on planning. Anne Levin – Have been working with “Core” Corps planning for History Corps. Work at the Minnesota Historical Society as a manuscripts and newspaper cataloger. Interested in potential for oral histories in neighborhood – has been collecting names of potential neighborhood contacts for that. Also interested in promoting the 125th of SPPL and bringing History Corps together with Hamline Midway Branch for various projects. Mary Bakeman – Lives in Roseville, her connection with neighborhood is that she is member of the Hamline United Methodist Church – editor/author of Casting Long Shadows: 125 Years at Hamline United Methodist Church which documents the history of the church. She will be the leader of our upcoming Tour and History at the church on Dec. 9. Mary knows so many details of the church, neighborhood, and artisans who worked on the church. Good info on architect Fred Slifer (interesting story about his work on church on Thomas near Galtier school – commission around Depression – not happy with it and didn’t associate himself with it). Another connection of Mary’s with neighborhood was that her cousin’s husband was a railway clerk for the post office. They lived on Blair – she has lots of memories of visiting in the neighborhood. Relatives came to Blair just before Wilson School was built which cemented their interest in staying in the neighborhood. Paul Clifford Larson – Architectural Historian – author of many books including recently published St. Paul’s Architecture. Lives on Asbury in the old postman’s house. Raised in Falcon Heights. Interested in interview project – finds interviews of people in later years to be very rewarding. Suggests looking outside of neighborhood for contacts – e.g. Presbyterian Homes. Is interested in walking tours, historical geography of the neighborhood. Topographic base, putting buildings in, could explore changes by decades. Interested in pre-neighborhood, 1890s professors’ houses, post WWI, Depression. Will be signing his book at Borders soon.
5. Closing
Updated 5 DEC 2006 |
Hamline Midway History Corps
www.HamlineMidwayHistory.org
Saint Paul, Minnesota