Laughter, Falling Water and Time
Ramsey County outgrew two courthouses between 1851 and 1932. There ain’t nobody alive who can remember the first one and only a precious few can still recall the imposing old pile of rock pictured here. Construction began on the second courthouse in 1885. At the time Ramsey County was growing by leaps and bounds. In … Read more
The seven-story Empire Building at 360 North Robert Street was completed in 1891. Designed by St. Paul architect Clarence H. Johnston, the Jacobsville Sandstone, red brick office and banking building was formerly known as the Manhattan Building and the Capital National Bank Building. At the turn of the century, the famous stenographer, Miss Ruth M. Hillman … Read more
Joseph Friedman already owned several small St. Paul movie houses when he opened the Tower Theatre 1921. The building designed by architectural firm of Toltz, King and Day, is remembered for an elegant facade and patterned brickwork. Inside a small marble lobby gave way to an enormous 1,100 seat auditorium containing a balcony, orchestra pit, … Read more
A new $100,000 shoe factory, employing between 900 and 1,000 workmen, is being erected by the O’Donnell Shoe Co. in St. Paul. William O’Donell is president of the company. The directors include Charles Patterson, George J. Freeman, William F. Enright and Andrew J. Schmitz. At present O’Donnel Shoe Co. employs 500 hands and is building … Read more
At the intersection of 4th and Jackson, the old Davidson Block stood where the Great Northern Railway Building is today. Built four stories high in 1876, the building held the local offices of Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Gasser Wetcalf and Mack Real Estate and the Davidson Investment firm. The building was demolished in 1914.
The big names played at Fifth and St.Peter back in the heyday of St. Paul’s Orpheum Theater. Sarah Bernhard, Lionel Barrymore, Eddie Cantor, Al Joson, W.C. Fields and Will Rogers all took a turn there on the vaudeville stage. The Orpheum opened in 1906 and played host to traveling acts for at least 17 years … Read more
St. Paul’s Minnesota Building became Art Deco as it was being built. In the hopes of attracting more business downtown, Architect Charles H. Hausler worked with a consortium of developers to revamp a conventional design and create the city’s first Moderne high rise. The building’s exterior paved the way for buildings like the First National … Read more
No more waterin’ holes like this ’round seven corners and Smith, But back in the day if a man had an itchin’ and wandered up Third Street before prohibition At Washington House a friend he would meet to stand at the bar shufflin’ feet and drink like a fish bourbon poured by the Glish above … Read more
The Center of Social and Commercial Minneapolis MEMORIES that cling to a hotel serve as a magnet that attracts men playing parts in the business scheme that makes for development. Memories of epoch-making events, of gatherings and meetings at the hotel in the heart of the city cause these men to return to renew their … Read more