Catalog
Ramsey County History – Winter 1991: “What’s Historic About This Site? St. Paul’s Union Depot”
Ramsey County Historical SocietyWhat’s Historic About This Site? St. Paul’s Union Depot The Union Depot opened in 1923, after the railroad age had peaked. The last passenger train stopped there in 1970. It has been searching for a purpose ever since. It is very fine nevertheless; “a simple, rather severe example of the…
Ramsey County History – Summer 1991: “Dog Sled to Private Car: Peregrinating Hills”
Thomas C. BuckleyDog Sled to Private Car: Peregrinating Hills Author: Thomas C. Buckley The James J. Hill’s fortune was based on transportation. Not surprisingly, the family used some of the money to travel by every means at hand. This article recounts many of their travels: by dogsled, rail, yacht and steamship, automobile,…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1990: “Railroader as Yachtsman: James J. Hill and the Wacouta of St. Paul”
Thomas C. BuckleyRailroader as Yachtsman: James J. Hill and the Wacouta of St. Paul Author: Thomas C. Buckley In 1900 the meticulous and demanding James J. Hill bought a yacht. He bought it used for less than the asking price and ran it cheaper than the previous owners, and still made it…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1990: “Eugene V. Debs, James J. Hill and The Great Northern Railway Strike”
Tamara C. TruerEugene V. Debs, James J. Hill and The Great Northern Railway Strike Author: Tamara C. Truer James J. Hill rarely lost a battle or met an adversary he could not defeat. The 1894 Great Northern strike was an exception. When he tried to impose a third…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1989: “A Pioneer Writes Home: Alexander Wilkin and 1850s St. Paul”
Ronald M. HubbsA Pioneer Writes Home: Alexander Wilkin and 1850s St. Paul Author: Ronald M. Hubbs Alexander Wilkin was an important early resident of St. Paul. Lawyer, speculator, politician, adventurer, he sought fortune and glory on the frontier. He got both, plus an early death in battle. Letters he wrote to…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1989: “Boom, Boom, Bust! The ’29 Crash”
Woodrow KeljikBoom, Boom, Bust! The ’29 Crash Author: Woodrow Keljik “Were the 1920s really prosperous?” Woodrow Keljik asks. In retrospect, signs of problems abounded, such as trouble on the farm, the situation in Europe, and reckless speculation. Words of caution were ignored. Another Republican victory in the 1928 elections encouraged…
Ramsey County History – Fall 1988: “The Fire and Marine: Facts, Fancies, Legends—The First 100 Years of Minnesota’s Oldest Business Corporation”
Ronald M. HubbsThe Fire and Marine: Facts, Fancies, Legends—The First 100 Years of Minnesota’s Oldest Business Corporation Author: Ronald M. Hubbs Businessmen generally prefer stability, but frontier towns are often shaky. The St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, born in 1853, helped create local stability. Its organizers were some of…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1988: “The American National Bank and the Bremer Brothers”
Thomas J. KelleyThe American National Bank and the Bremer Brothers Author: Thomas J. Kelley Many entered the field of banking in the 1880s, but due to the Depression of 1893, many of these institutions folded. The American National Bank was opened in 1903 by local businessmen led by Otto Bremer, owner…
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…