Summer, 1992 Volume 27, Number 2 RAMSEY COUNTY

RAMSEY COUNTY Summer, 1992 Volume 27, Number 2

of the Ramsey County Historical Society

Members of the Junior League of St. Paul rehearsing for the 1936 Junior League Cabaret, one of the League’s more entertain­ ing fund raisers. Left to right are Mrs. John Driscoll, Molly Turner, Betty Evans, Betty Scandrett, Betty Fobes, Edith Shull, Clotilde Irvine, Mrs. Thomas Wheeler, Alice Bartles and Betty Rugg. See article on the Junior League’s seventy-five years of service to the community beginning on page 4. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Acting Executive Director Vera Trent Editor Virginia Brainard Kunz Volume 27, Number 2 Summer, 1992 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTENTS William S. Fallon Chairman o f the Board 3 L etters Joanne Englund President 4 The Junior League’s First 75 Years John M. Lindley Follies, ‘Friendly Visiting’ and Women’s Changing Roles First Vice President Gameth O. Peterson Anne Cowie Wilson Second Vice President 12 Hope Chests and Honeymoons— Robert O. Straughn Marriages in America Still Wedded to Tradition Secretary Tamara Truer James Russell Treasurer 14-15 A Home Wedding for the ‘Timid Bride’ Thomas Boyd, Joan Grzywinski, Lorraine Hammerly, John Harens, Liz Johnson, Judge 16 Growing Up in St. Paul Margaret M. Marrinan, Dr. Thomas B. ‘Father Begged Feed for His Animals’ Mega, Laurie Murphy, Richard T. Murphy, Margaret Manship Sr., Eileen Roberts, Darrell Roonek, Mark Stein, Richard A. Wilhoit and Laurie 21 A Matter of Time Zenner. 25 Books, Etc. EDITORIAL BOARD John M. Lindley, chairman; Thomas H. 27 What’s Historic About This Site? Boyd, Thomas C. Buckley, Charlton Dietz, The Cyrus B. Cobb House In White Bear Lake Thomas J. Kelley, Arthur McWatt, Dr. Thomas B. Mega. Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS in memory of Henry H. Cowie, Jr., by a contribution Commissioner Hal Norgard, chairman from Reuel D. Harmon and by grants from The Saint Paul Commissioner Diane Ahrens Commissioner John Finley and F. R. Bigelow Foundations. Commissioner Ruby Hunt Commissioner Duane McCarty Commissioner Don Salverda Commissioner Warren Schaber A Message from the Editorial Board Terry Schütten, executive director, Ramsey County. n the early 1960s, a few schools on the cutting edge of higher edu­ Ramsey County History is published quarterly by the Ramsey County Historical Society, I cation began to give special attention to the issue of race relations, 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Street, and the contributions of racial and ethnic groups in national and local St. Paul, Minn. 55102. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright, 1992, Ramsey County Historical history. By the early 1970s, the contributions of women and the lives Society. ISSN Number 0485-9758. All rights of average citizens, aside from those in the labor movement, were reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without also singled out as subfields deserving special focus in the curriculum. written permission from the publisher. However, those fields have long been recognized by state and county Acknowledgements: Photographs with the historical societies as worthy of attention. When the Editorial Board Junior League article, pages 4-11, and on the front cover are from the League’s archives at set about to expand the size of Ramsey County History and enhance its the Minnesota Historical Society. Those with scholarly depth and breadth, the magazine already had a tradition of the articles on weddings, pages 12-15 and 23-24 and on pages 3, 25 and 27 are from articles in these fields, which we determined to continue. the Ramsey County Historical Society’s This issue contains three articles which contribute to the field of collections. The photographs with Growing Up in St. Paul, pages 16-20, are from the women’s and family history. Scheduled for future issues are two arti­ author and those on page 25 and the back cles in the areas of minority and ethnic history: the contributions of cover are from the Minnesota Historical Society’s audio-visual collections. the Mexican and Jewish American communities to the history of St. Paul, as well as an article on the High Bridge, that vital link to the West Side, a neighborhood that was home to both communities. — Thomas C. Buckley, member of the Editorial Board

2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Books, Etc.

Early Candlelight in the development of the Northwest Maud Hart Lovelace from 1815 through 1860. But now, the With an Introduction by Rhoda reprint of Maud Hart Lovelace’s Early Gilman Candlelight provides a historical novel to Paperback reprint (Borealis Books add to that slim list. The novel was origi­ edition) nally published in 1929, reprinted for Minnesota Historical Society Press, Minnesota’s Territorial Centennial in 1992 1949, and reprinted now in the centennial year of the birth of Mankato’s most fa­ n the first half of the nineteenth cen­ mous author. I tury, while there were some regular Historical novels have served an im­ Native American encampments scattered portant function in attracting people to about this area, Fort Snelling was the the more serious study of the past. How­ spot where permanent, East-Coast- ever, as Rhoda Gilman points out in her North-American and European heritage introduction to this second reprint of settlement also took root. Early Candlelight, “Such books are nei­ The presence of the United States be­ ther common nor easy to write.” came very visible in 1820 when Colonel Maud Hart Lovelace and her hus­ Josiah Snelling and his command set Maud Hart Lovelace, above. Her hero, fur band, Delos, moved to downtown St. about building a military post on the bluff trader Jasper Page, resembles Henry H. Paul for a winter and she went daily to the above the juncture of the Mississippi and Sibley, below. Minnesota Historical Society to study the the St. Peter’s (Minnesota) rivers. St. history of the soldiers, Indians and Paul began when squatters were removed civilians who inhabited the area around from close proximity to the Fort; and St. the Fort a century earlier. The resulting Anthony (eventually part of Minneapo­ novel centers around the romance of one lis) began when Franklin Steele, sutler at Deedee DuGray and Jasper Page, a fur the Fort, got word that the east side of St. trader who resembles Henry Sibley. Anthony Falls was open for settlement. Through their story passes a parade of Stone buildings, instruction in the three historic figures. Plenty to entice those in­ R’s, Sunday church services, regular fected by the history bug to read further. washdays, gardening, regular medical However, parents can relax, assured that treatment and other characteristics of the although this is a romantic historical nov­ eastern urban environment, were first el, youthful purchasers will not be ex­ evident at Fort St. Anthony, later re­ posed to the obligatory salacious drivel named Fort Snelling. that permeates so much of that literature Unfortunately, little is currently in today. print for those interested in reading about For the historian or history buff, that early history. Marcus Hansen’s Old historical novels, like vacation trips to Fort Snelling and Evan Jones’ Citadel in historic sites, can be a sedentary bus­ the Wilderness are out of print. So, too, man’s holiday. From the comfort of the is Edgar Wesley’s Guarding the Frontier, favorite chair, such readers can read for a useful volume that deals more widely forty-four page volume by Steve Hall ti­ pleasure, yet watch to see how many with the history of early military posts in tled Fort Snelling Colossus o f the Wilder­ liberties the novelist has taken in adjust­ this region. What is readily available is a ness and Francis Paul Prucha’s Broad ing past events, what characters in the tightly written, profusely illustrated Axe and Bayonet, on the role of the Army novel are based on historic figures, and

RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 25 what historic figures have been accurate­ Chicago Great Western Railroad Com­ Harris presents the classic statuary ly presented. In this novel, there are pany (1984). Reif is explicitly reverential that may be found in parks, cemeteries regular appearances by, or referrences toward his grandfather, and his intent and county courthouses throughout the to, figures like Taliaferro and Dr. Emer­ here is to explicate Stickney’s contribu­ state. While these statues reflect the high son, Little Crow and Black Dog, tions. Much of the text consists of block ideals of early Minnesotans, they also McLeod and Renville, Galtier and Good- quotations from contemporary accounts. reflect an appreciation of, for example, hue and the Pond brothers. They should One of the most appealing types of such the individual firefighter or soldier. keep historians interested. material is the reproduced correspon­ Thus, Minnesota’s statues have honored Historic sites attract the general pub­ dence by Stickney with his children. That men like Albert Woolson of Duluth, the lic and offer a wide array of materials to material in his chapter, “Life on Summit last Union Army survivor, with the same interest them in history. Hopefully, this Avenue,” belies the traditional, if not respect as Abraham Lincoln. novel will attract some to further reading stereotypical, view we have of emotion­ Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New about that interesting era in the history of ally cold, removed Victorian fathers. In Deal programs have left a substantial this community, and the Minnesota this respect, as in his career, A. B. Stick­ mark on Minnesota’s statuary. Through­ Historical Society’s Borealis Books will ney was an exceptional individual. out the state, there are statues and reliefs move on to reprint some of the scholarly — W. Thomas White created by the talented artists who were works about Fort Snelling. subsidized through the Works Project — Thomas C. Buckley Monumental Minnesota: A Association/Federal Art Program, as Guide to Outdoor Sculpture well as other public programs. These ar­ The Man Whose Dream tists have left a stimulating legacy too di­ Came True: A Biography of Moira Harris verse and moving to be referred to simply Pogo Press, Inc., 1992 A. B. Stickney as “Art Deco.” Minnesota communities have con­ John L. Reif o one who travels occasionally in tinued to support this same type of Dell wood, Minnesota T out-state Minnesota, it seems that creativity by commissioning artists to each town has erected an enormous fiber­ John L. Reif, 1991 create fascinating modem works such as glass statue of a mallard duck, a walleye Mark Heffelfinger’s stainless steel n discussions of St. Paul’s memorable or a Viking. To the outsider, this art “Ashoka” and Bruce Wright and Mark I railroad leaders, the focus often is seems like an unusual throwback to fast- Nichols’ tribute to Barbara Flanagan, ti­ solely upon Empire Builder, James J. food restaurant architecture of the 1950s tled “All the World’s a Stage.” Minnesota Hill. There were other important and 1960s. However, to Minnesotans, also has a wide selection of statues cast in builders, however. Foremost among fiberglass statues are a revered tradition. concrete that includes likenesses of Prin­ them was Alpheus Beede Stickney, who In some communities, the maintenance cess Owatonna and Chief Decorah, as played a fundamentally important role in and upkeep of these statues is a primary well as the Itasca Rock Garden. Leaving the city’s and the region’s development. civic duty. Visitors will search through­ no medium unrepresented, Harris ap­ Consequently, he remains eminently out small towns and refuse to leave until propriately documents temporary sculp­ worthy of our attention. they have discovered the inevitable fiber­ tures that are created out of snow and ice This slim, 110-page volume, glass statue. for Minnesota winter carnivals, butter authored by his grandson, is a frank The preeminent fiberglass statue may for Minnesota’s State Fairs and cloth and celebration of Stickney’s life and contri­ very well be “Big Ole the Viking” located wood for Minnesota’s parades. butions. The Victorian entrepreneur’s in Alexandria which is, of course, the Harris’ book certainly lives up to its birthplace of America. “Ole” exemplifies principal activities had to do with his billing as “an essential tool” to enrich the manner in which the character and leadership of the Minnesota and one’s travels on Minnesota’s blue high­ heritage of a town can be set forth in a fun Northwestern—later, Chicago Great ways. In addition to discussing many of way. The same is true of Black Duck’s Western—Railroad to link St. Paul with Minnesota’s statues in the text, Harris has Omaha, Kansas City and Chicago. Stick­ statue, “Black Duck.” provided a complete listing of outdoor ney’s other credits include his role in es­ A survey of these fiberglass statues sculptures that exist throughout the state. would be fascinating in and of itself. tablishing the St. Paul Union Stockyards The short verse that begins this book However, Moira Harris goes further to Company, the Omaha Grain Exchange is a marvelous characterization of the introduce the reader to the marvelous va­ and die Metropolitan Opera House and way Minnesotans approach their public riety of forms and mediums used in Ryan Hotel in his adopted city. art, regardless of what form that art may sculpture throughout the state. Indeed, The author makes no pretense of writ­ take: “That it’s providential it’s so she has prepared an excellent sampling of ing a detached, scholarly, footnoted bi­ monumental/But best of all they’ve seen the more than 620 different pieces of out­ ography, although he does rely upon art!” Travelers are encouraged to use door sculpture located in 150 different such principal works as H. Roger Grant’s Harris’ book to “see” Minnesota’s art. communities throughout Minnesota. The Com Belt Route: A History of the - Thomas H. Boyd

26 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Visitors lining the railing at Monkey Island, the Como Zoo’s enduringly popular attraction. This photograph was taken around 1940. See the article on Growing Up in St. Paul, beginning on page 16.

NON-PROFIT R.CH.S ORGANIZATION RAMSEY- COUNTY- HISTORICAL- SOCIETY U.S. Postage Published by the Ramsey County Historical Society PAID St. Paul MN 323 Landmark Center Permit #3989 75 West Fifth Street Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102