Catalog
Ramsey County History – Fall 1987: “Cattleman and Capitalists—And The Founding of New Brighton”
Gene F. SkibaCattleman and Capitalists—And The Founding of New Brighton Author: Gene F. Skiba The article covers the founding of the city of New Brighton and memories from early settlers. Minneapolis businessmen created the city hoping to be in the cattle business. They chose a location on Long Lake, set up…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1987: “The Great Horse Market Years at Prior and University”
John S. SonnenThe Great Horse Market Years at Prior and University Author: John S. Sonnen In the late nineteenth century, horsepower moved the city. In the early 1890s the street railway alone employed 800 equines. Where did the horses come from? The Minnesota Transfer Railway. Located in the Midway, it hauled…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1986: “The Mississippi and St. Paul—Change Is Constant for the River and the City That Shaped It”
Paul Donald HestermanThe Mississippi and St. Paul—Change Is Constant for the River and the City That Shaped It Author: Paul Donald Hesterman The article’s theme is how today’s Mississippi River is different from the mid-nineteenth century river “in virtually every way, from the contours of its banks to the chemical composition…
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.