Laughter, Falling Water and Time
The Rev. Benjamin Close organized the Market Street church on December 31, 1848. The modest house of worship, built for less than $3000 was the first Protestant church in the territory and the first brick building in St. Paul. In 1855 a new church building was built at 9th and Jackson. The congregation had agreed … Read more
One of the largest and most striking down town office buildings in the very heart of the business district. It is located on the corner of Fourth and Minnesota streets, opposite the First National Bank and the State Savings Bank, one block south from the Merchants National Bank and the Bank of Commerce, two blocks … Read more
Ramsey County outgrew two courthouses between 1851 and 1932. There ain’t nobody alive who can remember the first one and only a precious few can still recall the imposing old pile of rock pictured here. Construction began on the second courthouse in 1885. At the time Ramsey County was growing by leaps and bounds. In … Read more
The seven-story Empire Building at 360 North Robert Street was completed in 1891. Designed by St. Paul architect Clarence H. Johnston, the Jacobsville Sandstone, red brick office and banking building was formerly known as the Manhattan Building and the Capital National Bank Building. At the turn of the century, the famous stenographer, Miss Ruth M. Hillman … Read more
Joseph Friedman already owned several small St. Paul movie houses when he opened the Tower Theatre 1921. The building designed by architectural firm of Toltz, King and Day, is remembered for an elegant facade and patterned brickwork. Inside a small marble lobby gave way to an enormous 1,100 seat auditorium containing a balcony, orchestra pit, … Read more
No more waterin’ holes like this ’round seven corners and Smith, But back in the day if a man had an itchin’ and wandered up Third Street before prohibition At Washington House a friend he would meet to stand at the bar shufflin’ feet and drink like a fish bourbon poured by the Glish above … Read more
The Golden Rule Department Store was established at 7th and Minnesota Streets by William Elsinger, Joseph Elsinger and Jacob Dittenhofer in 1886. Five years later the store was moved to a three story building at what is now 85 7th Place East. An Addition was made to the building in 1901 and in 1902 C. … Read more
Saint Paul is the capital city of Minnesota! Home of the famous Winter Carnival… of the nation’s third largest livestock market… a bustling industrial in transportation center and the gateway to America’s finest winter and summer vacationland.