Catalog
Ramsey County History – Spring 1998: “Westminster Junction and Its Tunnels—An 1880s ‘Highway Intersection’ for the Railroads”
Andrew J. SchmidtWestminster Junction and Its Tunnels—An 1880s ‘Highway Intersection’ for the Railroads Author: Andrew J. Schmidt Modern cities do a remarkable job of hiding infrastructure below ground. This article describes the below-ground engineering of railroad access to St. Paul through the Trout Brook corridor. Too narrow to…
Ramsey County History – Summer 1997: “
Demian J. HessThe Last of its Kind in Minnesota: The Old Wabasha Bridge and How it Linked East to West Author: Demian J. Hess The current Wabasha Street Bridge is the third at that location. This article tells the story of the first two bridges (built in 1859 and 1888–89, respectively), their…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1995: “The Great Railway Excursion of 1854—‘The Most Notable Event of the Year'”
Virginia Brainard KunzThe Great Railway Excursion of 1854—‘The Most Notable Event of the Year Author: Virginia Brainard Kunz The completion, in 1854, of the first railroad line to the Mississippi to Rock Island, Ill., provoked an excursion of more than 1,200 people upriver to the head of navigation, St. Paul. It was…
Ramsey County History – Spring 1992: “A Nationwide Sense of Crisis: The 1922 Shopmen’s Strike in St. Paul and the Northwest”
W. Thomas WhiteA Nationwide Sense of Crisis: The 1922 Shopmen’s Strike in St. Paul and the Northwest Author: W. Thomas White The 1922 rail strike was the most severe since 1894. Workers endured the loss of a wildcat strike in 1920, then a series of wage reductions. On July 1 some 400,000…
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…