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Ramsey County History Spring 2024

Paul Nelson, Drew Ross, Wendy Rossi, Meredith Cummings

Volume 59, Number 2: Spring 2024 Link to download PDF of full Ramsey County History Spring 2024 Articles in this issue: The Fraud of the Century Author: Paul Nelson According to author Paul Nelson, “The human desire for wealth without risk and the capacity for self-delusion make an…

The Fraud of the Century

Paul Nelson

St. Paulite Clarence Cochran was convicted of fraud and reported to Leavenworth in 1930. Mugshot courtesy of National Archives of Kansas City, Record Group 129, Records of the Bureau of Prisons, Leavenworth Penitentiary, Inmate Case Files (1895-1952), National Archives Identifier 571125. By Paul Nelson To see this complete magazine…

Decisions, Destiny, and Dreams: Plympton’s Reserve, St. Paul’s Founding, and Desnoyer’s New Bridge Square

Drew M. Ross

The Desnoyer Halfway House located on the St. Anthony Falls-St. Paul Road attracted soldiers from Fort Snelling, residents from growing villages along the Mississippi, and tourists traveling to the area to glimpse the cascading St. Anthony Falls. Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society. By Drew M. Ross To see this…

Stephen Desnoyer’s Halfway House

Drew M. Ross

By Drew M. Ross Stephen Desnoyer is said to be the first permanent resident in Rose Township. He built a tavern on the thoroughfare of the St. Anthony/St. Paul Road which ran roughly along the route of today’s Interstate 94. The establishment was situated just west of what would become…

A Litigious Man: Select Court Cases of Stephen Desnoyer

Drew M. Ross

By Drew M. Ross Early St. Paulite Stephen Desnoyer slipped through the cracks of history. For years, we knew little about him. Even now, we have yet to find a photograph of him and know of only two descriptions of his appearance: short, rotund, jovial, fat (a total of four…

Growing Up In Frogtown: Little Women, Little Houses, Lots of Work, (and a Little Play)

Wendy Rossi

Young Wendy Hams’ Gumpa Guy surprised her with a dollhouse on her third birthday. It was designed to replicate the family home at 435 Charles Avenue. Photo courtesy of Wendy Rossi. By Wendy Rossi To see the complete magazine with endnotes and images, please view the PDF version.  …

Ramsey County History Winter 2024

Nicole Foss, Linda Kohl, Krista Finstad Hanson, Renoir Gaither, Mary Lethert Wingerd

Volume 59, Number 1: Winter 2024 Link to download PDF of full issue of RCHS Winter 2024 Magazine Articles in this Issue: Architect of St. Paul’s West Side: H. Emil Strassburger Author: Nicole Foss Link to N. Foss article PDF Additional Resources:…

Ramsey County History Winter 2024: H. Emil Strassburger

Nicole Foss

Volume 59, Number 1: Winter 2024 Architect of St. Paul’s West Side: H. Emil Strassburger Author: Nicole Foss Architectural Historian Nicole Foss grew curious about some of the old houses she passed on daily walks in her neighborhood. Curiosity led to research, which evolved into our cover story “Architect…

Ramsey County History Winter 2024: Scoop That Saved St. Paul Landmark

Linda Kohl

Volume 59, Number 1: Winter 2024 Setting the Record Straight: The Scoop that Helped Save a St. Paul Landmark Author: Linda Kohl It is nearly impossible to walk past the majestic Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul for the first time without stopping in wonder to admire the turrets…