The Ray Place on Laurel Then and Now
This old Ray place at 949 Laurel Avenue was built in 1904. That’s probably Elmer Sr. out front with one of those new fangled bicycles machines. I can’t tell you much about the Ray’s. There was Elmer, his wife Sadie, daughter Emma, Elmer Jr. and their Adopted daughter Marguerite. They spent some time in Pittsburgh, [...]
Swell Shopping at Southdale
Groundbreaking for Southdale took place in 1954. 800 construction workers were used to build the two-story, 800,000 ft shopping mall. When it was completed two years later at a cost of cost twenty million dollars, the mall had 5,200 parking spaces and room for 72 tenants. Southdale was developed by the Dayton’s and their [...]
The First Grand Avenue State Bank Then and Now
Here’s a picture of the old First Grand Avenue State Bank at 1071 Grand Avenue in Saint Paul. Is that a police car? I can’t imagine the Saint Paul Police driving around in great big, family friendly station wagons. Let’s guess that vehicle belongs to the fire department. I wonder what kind of mileage it [...]
