Laughter, Falling Water and Time
Conservatory at Como Park, housing a wide selection of flowers and other botanical specimens from all parts of the world. Many beautiful flower shows are held here yearly. KEY TO VIEWS :— S—St. Paul’s Catholic Church T—Minnehaha Falls P—Union Station A Capitol Building U—Como Park Conservatory L—The Mall
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
Brown & Bigelow was founded in 1896 by Herbert Bigelow and Hirm Brown. Throughout its history, Brown & Bigelow has been a St. Paul resident. In its first 11 years, the firm outgrew three locations and then settled on a 17-acre site that was once the Lexington horse race track in the Hamline-Midway area of … 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
A new $100,000 shoe factory, employing between 900 and 1,000 workmen, is being erected by the O’Donnell Shoe Co. in St. Paul. William O’Donell is president of the company. The directors include Charles Patterson, George J. Freeman, William F. Enright and Andrew J. Schmitz. At present O’Donnel Shoe Co. employs 500 hands and is building … Read more
At the intersection of 4th and Jackson, the old Davidson Block stood where the Great Northern Railway Building is today. Built four stories high in 1876, the building held the local offices of Wells Fargo & Co. Express, Gasser Wetcalf and Mack Real Estate and the Davidson Investment firm. The building was demolished in 1914.