Ramsey County History – Spring 2003: “Growing Up in St. Paul: ‘Homer Van Meter, a Member of the Karpis Gang, Was Shot Across the Street from Our House’”

Growing Up in St. Paul: ‘Homer Van Meter, a Member of the Karpis Gang, Was Shot Across the Street from Our House’
Author: Bernice Fisher

The author grew up at 193 West University Avenue. One of her vivid memories was when Homer Van Meter, a member of the Dillinger gang, was shot to death across the street from her house. Memories of the Depression are included in this article as well as her thoughts about residents of a nearby boarding house that were a part of her life. The author considered the two most important things in her life were the Capitol Drug Store on the corner and a hamburger place on Rice Street. She and her mother went everywhere on the streetcar to shop, to attend one of several different movie theaters, or to venture to Minneapolis. Because religion was an important part of her family life, she attended St. Louis Church and learned to read French.
PDF of Fisher article