Green Stairs, Returning To The West Side

St Paul's West Side neighborhood lost it's historic Green Stairs in the summer of 2008 after a large piece of the cliff fell into the structure causing major damage. Due to lack of funding, the stairs were removed for safety reasons. They stood for 92 years and became part of the areas history.

One of the first projects in the state that was approved was replacement of the Green Stairs. From what I'm reading, the replacement should be open by the summer of 2010. The color of the stairs will remain green, thank goodness. The artist drawing of the stairs, which can be found here, sort of takes away the simplicity they once had. But the area has gone through a much needed face lift and I suppose the stairs had to be tweaked as well to fit in. I'm looking forward to new photos from the top of the stairs like this one I took in April of 2007.

   

Humboldt Senior High

Yesterday's photo was of the main entrance to Humboldt Senior High School in St Paul, the entrance where you would address letters too. Today I'm showing you the entrance I used on a daily basis. This entrance is on the opposite side of the main entrance. In fact, if you entered the entrance from today's photo and walked in a straight line, you would exit out the main entrance from yesterday. Even though, just out of frame to the left is the loading docks and the garbage pickup, it does bring back the most memories for me.

Facebook Group: Humboldt High School
Facebook Group: Humboldt Sr High - 1980's

St Paul Humboldt

I made a quick pass through my old stomping grounds a couple weekends ago over on the West Side neighborhood of St Paul. My high school growing up was Humboldt Senior High. The building looks the same as I remember it. This is the main entrance to the school, though I don't recall ever entered the building using it. My home was on the opposite side of the building and obviously used the entrance closer to my home.

Facebook Group: Humboldt High School
Facebook Group: Humboldt Sr High - 1980's

Morgan's Foods On The West Side

From the West Side neighborhood in St Paul, Morgan's Foods has been here for quite some time, 20 years or so. Though, as I'm looking at the photo, I honestly do not know if the business is still operational. The outside of the building has always been this shade of blue, and looks like it has been maintained well. I believe I've also had a good friend of mine work here in the past.

UPDATE: I've had a verbal confirmation, Morgan's Foods has been closed for a good five years or more. With that information known, I'm surprised to see the sign and building in such good condition.

St Matt's Tower

I really like the contrasting colors between the red brick and the blue sky in this one. I've had trouble in the past getting the sky to stay sky blue in some of my photos. I'm sure it has to do with the aperture setting, but that is a work in progress.

Sliding At Baker Playground

So what do we do for entertainment in Minnesota during the colder winter months? We grab a plastic sled and cruse down a snow covered hill. Baker Playground has to be one of the largest hills in St Paul to slide down.

Zamboni For Hire

Shortly after I took yesterday's photo, someone from the neighborhood came walking into Baker Playground with a shovel slung over his right shoulder. I didn't stick around much longer after taking this photo, but I would imagine he was there to ice skate.

Snow Shadows

From high atop the best snow sliding hill at Baker Playground in St Paul's Westside neighborhood the trees and the low on the horizon sun cast shadows longer than a football field. As I stand there and look at the field below, in my youth growing up about a block from the playground, I can recall the field in the winter time with an ice rink laid out. Right next to the hockey rink was a very large oval for speed skating. Today I can barely make out a circle covered with snow that looks like it could be an ice rink. I'm sure budget cuts may come into play for the changes, or it's what the neighborhood has become.

Now For Something Really New

I passed this street sign on the West Side neighborhood in St Paul. I'm puzzled to the meaning of this sign. What possibly could a sign like this alert drivers or pedestrians for? Beware of a silhouette carrying a jacket and briefcase?

UPDATE: This sign is part of a money spending project of St Paul called 'Traffic Calming Art Signs'. Here is a link about the signs: http://www.stpaul.gov/index.asp?NID=2639

Westside's Fire Station 21

Growing up in the West Side neighborhood of St Paul and living rather close to this fire station, I knew very little about it's history. Built in 1920, Engine House #21 resides on the southwest corner of Ohio Street and Baker Street. The fire station at 643 Ohio Street was modeled after Station 18 on University Avenue and was used until 1943. It has since housed a VFW, a German gymnasium [the Turnverein's] and presently residential for a shipwright and a photographer. What stands out to me is, until recently, I never knew this was originally a fire station.

One thing of note, the size of the garage doors were built for a horse drawn wagon. This explains why it was abandon after 23 years of service. The size of this fire station was one of the smallest in the city, when engine drawn firetrucks became the norm, the larger fire stations had their garage doors widened to accommodate the size of the trucks. This station was left intact as it was easier to build a brand new building.

St Matthew's School

I paid a visit inside St Matthew's School on St Paul's West Side neighborhood a couple of weekends ago. It was just how I remembered it to be the last time I was there back when I was in 7th grade. There was new paint here and there, the windows had been replaced, but generally the same look and feel. I've always loved the steep pitch of the roof and the windows that protrude out from the roof. I've never been on the level of the school to look out those very windows. So I've always been curious what exactly is up there on the top level.

West Side Downtown View

There is a great view of the taller downtown St Paul buildings from the top of the hill on Bidwell Street. My location for this photo is the West Side Neighborhood.

Riverview Branch Library

In my comments from yesterday's photo, Micayla left a note about once living on the West Side and recognizing the home in the photo. Micayla also mentioned the public library across the street from the big house. The brick appears a bit faded from the sun's rays, but there the Riverview Branch Library is still up and running. I believe the Riverview sign is new, I don't recall it being there.

Rau - Strong House

This home on the West Side Neighborhood of St Paul has been under construction for as long as I can remember in one form or another. It's slowly come around to what you see today. I recall in the past, perhaps 20-25 years ago, on Halloween night the house was open to the public as a haunted house of some sort. The home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (added 1975 - Building - #75001015).

2 George Street East: Rau-Stronge House/Strong House/Ossian R. Strong House; Built in 1884; Italianate/Stick/Eastlake/Second Empire in style. The structure is a two story, 3351 square foot, eight room, one bathroom, stucco house, with a detached garage. The 1885 city directory indicates that Mr. and Mrs. G. Adam Rau resided at this address. The 1887 city directory indicates that Mr. and Mrs. Adam Rau and Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Strong resided at this address. The 1890, 1892, 1894, 1896 and 1898 city directories indicate that Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Strong resided at this address. Oakland Cemetery Association records indicate that Ossian R. Strong and Elizabeth S. Strong (1861-1894,) of German extraction who died of consumption, husband and wife, resided at this address in 1894. Oakland Cemetery Association records indicate that Johanna Sophia Rau (1823-1906,) the widowed mother-in-law of Ossian R. Strong, who was born in Germany to parents who were also born in Germany and who died of a cerebral hemorrhage, resided at this address in 1906. Oakland Cemetery Association records indicate that Julius A. Strong (1827-1913,) the husband of Caroline M. Strong, who was born in New York to parents who were born in the United States and who died of pleurisy-bronchopneumonia, resided at this address in 1913. The 1930 city directory indicates that Ruth G. Strong resided at this address. The property was purchased by stone cutter Adam Rau in 1867. In 1884, Rau began constructing the limestone Second Empire house and the neighboring barn, which was completed in 1886. In 1888, Rau sold the property to Ossian Strong for $8,000. Adam Rau ( -1939) died in Ramsey County. Adam Rau was a stone cutter and dealer in 1880-1881. Five members of the Rau family worked in the stone business, all living on the West Side, including Nicholas Rau, who was the foreman in Adam Rau's stoneyard. Sauter & Rau was another stone cutting firm in 1880-1881. Osslian R. Strong ( -1922) died in Ramsey County. The property was last sold in 1991 with a sale price of $55,500. The current owners of record of the property are Steven E. Peterson and Collette L. Peterson. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places (1975) and has been designated a local heritage preservation site.

SOURCE: Kevin D. Hendricks

West Side Grocery

I would be safe to assume that this mural of an eagle landing on a cactus was planned and not the work of a graffiti vandalism/artist like I posted in yesterday's photo. I do wish I would have come back earlier in the day to catch the sun on the side of the mural instead of the face of the building. The contrast between the two sides was really tough to photograph.

Do They Build Houses Like This Any More?

What I can tell you about this home is it's location and the approximate build date. It is located in St Paul in the West Side neighborhood. I would figure the house was built somewhere between 1910 and 1930 as were many of the homes in this neighborhood. It does look like it is made with brick, obviously painted over. But wow, the detail painting someone has taken on this home. Plus the brass roof on the left tower and in two other areas as you progress down to the ground level. I'm not sure what the 'fruit salad' like thing above the two side by side windows is suppose to be, hummmm. That's odd to me. Someone put a lot of time into restoring this home. Unfortunately this is the only photo I took of the home so far. The lower half is covered quite a bit with trees and shrubs, so it was tougher to photograph from the street. I'll make a return visit in the winter when all of the leaves are off of the trees.

Historic St Paul Gangster Hideout

As promised, more information on the Wabasha Cave Tours from yesterday's photo. Here is a more expanded view. It's built into the side of the cliff south of downtown St Paul in the lower Westside neighborhood. It's made of sandstone and made of easy digging when the caves were first mined back in the 1800's. The facility in it's past has been a speakeasy, a restaurant, a nightclub called the 'Castle Royal' an office building and now it serves as a tour stop on various Twin Cities tours. Back in it's hay day as a speakeasy during prohibition, it was a well known hang out for gangsters, including John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and Ma Barker. Some well known big bands have played here like Cab Calloway, Harry James and the Tommy Dorsey Band.

The cave tours are held Thursday, Saturday and Sunday for a small fee of $5 dollars where you can learn about the 150 year history of the caves. The secret caves were used by the gangsters to escape the law when the time arose during prohibition. There is also a gangster tour which visit many places in the Twin Cities for a fee of $22 dollars. The tour guide is dressed in clothing of the gangster era.

If you shall ever find yourself in the Twin Cities, I highly recommend one of the tours. I have not been on the tour since I've gotten my digital camera, but I will promise to go and snap some photos when I do.

My 4 Daily Photo Favorites:
Boston, Massachusetts
Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Manila, Philippines
Monte Carlo, Monaco

Caves? What Caves?

Do you see the caves in this photo? I'll explain what this is in tomorrows post.

FOK

Farwell, Ozmun, Kirk & Co. was a harware wholesaler located in St. Paul, just south of downtown and across the Mississippi River. They sold all types of hardware and used tradenames such as Chispa Bicycles, Farwell Arms, F.O.K and Company, etc. The building was built in 1911, and is commonly known as the 'FOK Building'. FOK did their part to help during both World Wars by manufacturing ammunition and transporting it via the railroad that ran alongside the north end of the warehouse. The building was sold to ACVR in 1982 and is currently being rented out to various tenants.

My 3 Daily Photo Favorites:
Joplin, Missouri
Wailea, Hawaii
New York, New York

Snoopy I'm Home

Snoopy in pinstripes, very fitting for this West Side neighborhood. This snoopy is located on Wabasha Avenue near the green stairs.

Top 3 Daily Photo Favorites
Barcelona, Spain
Riga, Latvia
New Orleans, Louisiana

Before I Leave The Green Stairs

The view from the top of the green stairs is quite a place to be. There is so much to see from this vantage point. The tower you see is the heart of the lower Westside neightborhood into the projects. I know this tower has a name, but I cannot recall it at the moment. I googled for the name, but was unable to find what it is called. The tower has been repainted, restored and looks so nice from what I remember growing up and seeing what it looked like.

In the distance and what you cannot see is the Mississippi River, it's there, obviously below the viewable site. The bluffs in the distance is St Paul's East Side neighborhood.

You're In The Jungle Baby

As I was walking down the green stairs that I've recently posted about, I passed this bit of graffiti. I smiled and felt at home. I grew up in this Westside neighborhood, whomever wrote this just wanted to show their westside pride. There even used to be a West Side Pride Day parade. Salute!

What The Hell Is That?

Yikes, you'll hurt your neck if you look up for a long time at this photo. This is me looking up from the very bottom of the green stairs from my April 22nd photo with all of the naked tree branches reaching out to touch the green stair frame. One thing I noticed about the stairs, the closer one gets to the bottom, the rustier the stairs become as the rain drops really start to work on the metal and old paint trying to cover it. I can tell you this, when the bottom of the stairs finally starts to give way from being so rusty, the tree branches should be long enough to grab and hold the stairs upright.

It's A Long Way To The Top

Make that 189 stairs in all from the bottom to the top of the green stairs. When I was here taking this photo, there was someone walking up and down the stairs for exercise. I'm not sure how many times up and down she walked, but that is an interesting way to avoid purchasing expensive gym equipment to get the same type of work out. The stairs are located on the bluff in the Westside neighborhood, in St Paul.

Click the photo to get rid of the crappy shrunken graphics.