Selby and Nina Then & Now

Contrary to popular belief, Nina Street is not named for Saint Paul’s infamous, 19th century madam, Nina Clifford. The street was named by the group of developers that platted Dayton and Irvine’s addition in 1854. Clifford’s real name was Hannah Crow. Chances are she named herself after the street. Construction of the Cathedral of Saint … Read more

Lyndale and the Basilica Then and Now

You can’t tell by looking at this old photo, but the place where Hennepin and Lyndale Avenues meet was almost as big a traffic snarl in 1943 as it is today. It may have been worse. Back then Minneapolis had close to 100,000 more residents and many more shopping working and living close to downtown. … Read more

On West Broadway Then and Now

Since it was built in 1890 the old building at 1101 West Broadway has been home to a YWCA, a Piggly Wiggly, a Chinese restaurant called the Moy Cafe, a candy store,cigar store, dentists and doctors’ offices and a building contractors’ offices. Hennepin County took over the building when it was abandoned after a tax … Read more

The St. Paul Women’s City Club Building Then and Now

The Art Deco St. Paul Women’s City Club Building in downtown Saint Paul once provided a dining room, assembly rooms, dressing rooms, and bedrooms for members and guests of the club.The St. Paul Women’s City Club. The organization grew out of a post World War I American Woman’s Club movement. The group met in the … Read more

The East Lake Library Then and Now

East Lake was one of 13 library  branches established by the first female head librarian at the Minneapolis Public Library. Gratia Countryman made it her mission to bring people closer to books. She served in the position from 1904 to 1936. The East Lake Library was designed by Jerome Paul Jackson. The modest building was … Read more