People Who Helped

Acknowledgements

Many people contributed to this book and it is with great appreciation that I give them some due here. First is my intrepid wife, Kathleen Vadnais, who traipsed every mile and word of this urban project with me; whose sharp eye and wit I hope I credited adequately on the title page.

Pat Igo, with his persistence and enthusiasm, deserves special mention for his efforts in obtaining a grant from the St. Paul Association of Realtors. Thanks Pat.

Karen Swenson, a resident and community activist on the East Side, as well as the one-time executive director of the North East Neighborhoods Development Corporation, spent three days introducing Kathy and me to the special features and delights of the East Side. Without her help, the book would have been much diminished. Likewise, the dynamic Ella Thayer, with her insider’s perspective, greatly enhanced our appreciation and knowledge of the colorful and diverse West Side. Cathy Kirby and Gloria Chesshir graciously showed us around the Highwood area, and introduced us to Lynn Johnston, a wonderful gentleman and keeper of Highwood and Pigs Eye history.

The reference librarians of the St. Paul Public Library answered my innumerable questions. John Larson was particularly helpful, as were Kathy Castillo and Erin Zolotukhin-Ridgway.

Linda Murphy, Chief Supervisor of Maps and Records of the St. Paul Public Works Department was always available to answer my questions; she also shared my curiosity and delight in finding obscure and arcane facts about the streets and parks. Her colleague, Terri Vasquez, also took time from her many official duties to look up information for me. Mike Murphy, historian and Chief Surveyor of the St. Paul Public Works Department, was very helpful in sharing his knowledge with me; most of the information on the islands of the city originated with him. Kevin Nelson, the cordial city bridge engineer, enhanced several of the book entries. Ron Mundahl orchestrated things for me at the public works garage. Others in the public works department who helped were Mike Klassen, Larry Lueth, Tom Stadsklev, Bill Vos, and Dan Haak. And a special thank you goes to the director of public works, Bob Sandquist, who provided me with an entrée into the rest of the department.

The Ramsey County Recorder’s office went to extraordinary lengths to allow us access to the original plat books. Susan Roth, the county recorder; Lou Paul, and Stephanie Iverson, the supervisor of abstracts, deserve particular thanks.

Fellow historians generously gave of their knowledge. Greg Brick, the expert in underground St. Paul, graciously shared his knowledge of caves, creeks, and geology. I anxiously await the publication of his reference book. Jane McClure, a community journalist and prolific historian unselfishly shared her many contacts and sources. Steve Trimble, venerable historian of St. Paul and Dayton’s Bluff, shared a number of facts that percolated their way into several entries. John Wickre supplied detailed material on the railroads. Kevin Kittilson greatly added to and confirmed my knowledge of Frogtown. Paul Nelson assisted with details about Central Park and the surrounding area. David Riehle gave me some great labor history entries, including the one for Rice Park. Jay Pfaender vetted the facts on Stonebridge and added some pertinent details. Rhoda Gilman enlivened the entry on Henry Sibley. Stew Thornley kept me from striking out on the baseball entries. Karin DuPaul, long-time community organizer for the Dayton’s Bluff, Community Council helped sort out some of the more obscure aspects of that delightful neighborhood. Brian McMahon introduced me to Alan Altschuler. Benton Hummel apprised me of her thesis on cemeteries. Nancy Goodman helped with her encyclopedic knowledge of early Minnesota. Janell Norman supplied history of her ancestor, Pig’s Eye Parrant. Roger Barr suggested several place names I did not know. Nancy Tracy pointed out unique features of the Summit-University area.

Special thanks to Michael Mischke, second-generation publisher of the Villager and Avenues newspapers for his many suggestions and encouragement. Andy Jenks, my neighbor and friend, plotted my course through countless maps. Neal Gosman offered his usual esoteric knowledge. Paul Mandell, principal planner of the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board helped with those entries within the Capitol area. Cliff Aichinger of the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District clarified a number of East Side wetlands issues. Mike McMahon provided some East Side place names. Hokan Miller of the Upper River Barge Service set me straight on Monkey Rudder Bend.

Other contributing folks: Emily Slowinski, Gale Frost, Chuck Lennon, Tom Raschke, Art Boeltl, Angelo Vruno, Ann Kenne, Sister Margery Smith, O.S.B., Bernae Gunderson, Micheal Danielson, Angela Anderson, Michael Marzitelli, Lloyd Burkholder, Linda Jungwirth, Jon Kerr, John Kerwin, Carla Hanson, Jim Berg, Barbara J. (Ide) Nelson, Sharon Born, Aaron Isaacs, Richard Faricy, Olive Taylor, Marilyn Deneen, Karlyn Eckman, Peggy Lynch, Jean M. Dick, Merf Dawkins, Harriet Ballian, Sylvia Carty, and Mrs. Nicolas Castillo.

This book could have been even better had the St. Paul and the Ramsey County parks departments, the St. Paul Planning and Economic Development Department, and the St. Paul Port Authority responded to my inquiries and questions.

And last, but certainly not least, let me thank my affable editor with the University of Minnesota Press, Pieter Martin. He had—to my way of thinking—the good sense to appreciate my sometimes idiosyncratic entries, and slightly twisted sense of humor. His enthusiasm for reprinting the 1975 book and his consistent support is gratefully appreciated.

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