Catalog
Ramsey County History – Spring 1985: “Health Care Crisis of the 1920s—A ‘National Epidemic’ Launches Blue Cross and Blue Shield”
Gary PhelpsHealth Care Crisis of the 1920s—A ‘National Epidemic’ Launches Blue Cross and Blue Shield Author: Gary Phelps The article focuses on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. In 1932, the Hospital Service Association of St. Paul was organized to operate a nonprofit prepaid hospitalization plan. In 1935, the…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1984: “Horse-and-Wagon Dairyman: Harry Schroeder’s Dairy”
Cathy DalglishHorse-and-Wagon Dairyman: Harry Schroeder’s Dairy Author: Cathy Dalglish Henry Schroeder came to St. Paul as a penniless man in 1875, and, a century later, the business he created had annual sales of $20 million. Along with his brother Herman, they established routes, selling their milk and surplus product bought…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1983: “Tom Lowry and the Launching of the Street Railway System”
Goodrich LowryTom Lowry and the Launching of the Street Railway System Author: Goodrich Lowry The writer’s theme is that public mass transportation has never paid for itself. St. Paul introduced horse cars in 1872, and they failed twice in the first ten years. Later, cable cars served to increase debt,…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1983: “St. Paul’s Fire Insurance Patrol—Gone But Not Forgotten!”
John SonnenSt. Paul’s Fire Insurance Patrol—Gone But Not Forgotten! Author: John Sonnen From 1895 to 1939, the Fire Insurance Patrol raced the Fire Department to conflagrations with the sole mission of salvaging as much property as possible from fires. Authorized by the Minnesota Legislature but privately financed, the Fire Patrol…
Ramsey County History – Special 1979: “Murders Mar the Dawning of 1854”
Robert Orr BakerMurders Mar the Dawning of 1854 Author: Robert Orr Baker An essay drawn from primary source material documenting events in the burgeoning town of St. Paul in 1854. Excerpts from St. Paul’s first newspapers relate to the town’s first murder, early businesses, transportation, entertainment, and other topics. Riverboats brought…
Ramsey County History – Spring/Summer 1975: “James J. Hill: A Search for the Man Behind the Legend”
Virginia Brainard KunzJames J. Hill: A Search for the Man Behind the Legend Author: Virginia Brainard Kunz Late in his life James J. Hill remarked, “I’ve made my mark on the surface of the earth and they [the U.S. Supreme Court] can’t wipe it out.” He knew he’d been a titan.
Ramsey County History – Spring/Summer 1975: “How St. Paul Came to Lose the “Red River War””
Dennis HoffaHow St. Paul Came to Lose the “Red River War” Author: Dennis Hoffa The Selkirk or Red River Colony, later Winnipeg, so far from St. Paul, was a vital source of commerce and wealth in the city’s first few decades. Starting in 1844, the ox carts trundled south laden…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1974: “The Necessities of Life, Available Early on the Frontier”
Kevin GalvinThe Necessities of Life, Available Early on the Frontier Author: Kevin Galvin Six businesses operating downtown in 1859 were still in actively running in 1974. The author traces their histories. Philip Fabel began selling handmade shoes in 1856. His descendants still run the store. Albrecht Furs began in 1855,…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1973: “Memories of Early St. Paul: Perilous Escape from Fire down Eighty-Foot Bluff”
Mrs. George R. Becker with George A. ReaMemories of Early St. Paul: Perilous Escape from Fire down Eighty-Foot Bluff Authors: Mrs. George R. Becker with George A. Rea The author’s father and uncle, August and Charles Mueller, were working in a downtown tailor shop when fire broke out on May 17, 1870. To save themselves they…