RAMSEY COUNTY A Roof Over Their Heads: The Ramsey County Home

A Publication of the Ramsey County Historical Society Page 13

Summer, 2000 Volume 35, Number 2

Dilettante, Renaissance Man, Intelligence Officer Jerome Hill and His ‘Dearest Mother’ Letters —Page 4

James J. Hill, Il (Jerome HUI) in A ir Corps uniform, photographed around 1942, probably at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. See article beginning on Page 4. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Executive Director Priscilla Farnham Editor Virginia Brainard Kunz

RAMSEY COUNTY Volume 35, Number 2 Summer, 2000 HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS Laurie A. Zenner CONTENTS Chair Howard M. Guthmann 3 Letters President James Russell 4 Dilettante, Renaissance Man, Intelligence Officer First Vice President Jerome Hill and His World War II Letters from Anne Cowie Wilson Second Vice President France to His ‘Dearest Mother’ Richard A. Wilhoit G. Richard Slade Secretary Ronald J. Zweber 13 A Roof Over Their Heads Treasurer The History of the Old Ramsey County ‘Poor Farm’ W. Andrew Boss, Peter K. Butler, Charlotte H. Drake, Mark G. Eisenschenk, Joanne A. Englund, Pete Boulay Robert F. Garland, John M. Harens, Judith Frost Lewis, John M. Lindley, George A. Mairs, Mar­ 20 Plans for Preserving ‘Potters’ Field’—Heritage of the lene Marschall, Richard T. Murphy, Sr., Linda Owen, Marvin J. Pertzik, Vicenta D. Scarlett, Public Welfare System Glenn Wiessner. Robert C. Vogel EDITORIAL BOARD 22 Recounting the 1962 Recount John M. Lindley, chair; James B. Bell, Thomas H. Boyd, Thomas C. Buckley, Pat Hart, Virginia The Closest Race for Governor in Minnesota’s History Brainard Kunz, Thomas J. Kelley, Tom Mega, Laurie Murphy, Vicenta Scarlett, G. Richard Thomas J. Kelley Slade, Laurie Zenner. 24 Growing Up in St. Paul HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD After Fifty Years, You Can Go Home Again Elmer L. Andersen, Olivia I. Dodge, Charlton Dietz, William Finney, William Fallon, Otis Penny Payte McLeaish Godfrey, Jr., Robert S. Hess, D. W. “Don” Larson, George Latimer, Frank Marzitelli, 26 Books, Etc. Joseph S. Micallef, Robert Mirick, Samuel Morgan, Marvin J. Pertzik, J. Jerome Plunkett, James Reagan, Rosalie E. Wahl, Donald D. Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from Wozniak. Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen in memory of Henry H.Cowie, Jr. and by a contribution from the late Reuel D. Harmon RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISIONERS Commissioner Rafael Ortega, chairman Commissioner Susan Haigh Commissioner Tony Bennett Commissioner Dino Guerin Message from the Editorial Board Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt Commissioner Janice Rettman ecause the more recent issues of Ramsey County History have concentrated on the mid­ Commissioner Jan Wiessner Bnineteenth century and the area’s pioneer heritage, this issue shifts to the mid-twentieth Paul Kirkwold, manager, Ramsey County century with the wartime experiences of Jerome Hill, grandson and namesake of the Empire Builder, James J. Hill. Historian and author G. Richard Slade uses Jerome Hill’s letters to Ramsey County History is published quar­ his mother while Hill was serving as an Army Air Forces intelligence officer in France in terly by the Ramsey County Historical the summer of 1944 as a window on southern France and Paris immediately following lib­ Society, 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minn. 55102 (651-222- eration by the Allies. Jerome Hill’s reports of what he saw allow the reader to glimpse Paris 0701). Printed in U.S.A. Copyright, 2000, through the eyes of an observer who knew it well before the German army overran it in Ramsey County Historical Society. ISSN 1940. We then turn to a subject close at hand—the story of the Ramsey County “Poor Farm” Number 0485-9758. All rights reserved. No and its adjacent cemetery in Maplewood. Authors Pete Boulay and Robert C. Vogel both part of this publication may be reprinted make a strong case for the value and usefulness of local history in current policy-making or otherwise reproduced without written decisions. Rounding out this issue is Tom Kelley’s account of the 1962 gubernatorial elec­ permission from the publisher. The Soci­ ety assumes no responsibility for statements tion recount. Although the recount itself is a familiar story in Minnesota politics, Kelley made by contributors. Fax 651-223-8539; provides the perspective of an insider who participated in the process as the state’s first e-mail address [email protected].; web site Election Procedures Advisor. His reminiscences remind us that balloting in elections is a address www.rchs.com serious business that is sometimes overlooked in the heat of a campaign. John M. Lindley, Chair, Editorial Board

2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Recounting the 1962 Recount The Closest Race for Governor in Minnesota’s History

Thomas J. Kelley

he November, 1962, election cam­ presided over that senate. Now, in 1962, ally, the DFL strategists chose to run paign for governor of Minnesota he was challenging Andersen in a bid for against the Republican-endorsed sales between Republican Elmer L. the governorship. tax bill and the administration of the state T Rolvaag was a party workhorse. He highway department during Andersen’s Andersen and Democrat Farmer-Laborite Karl F. Rolvaag was the most closely had served as chairman of the DFL party, term. A series of radio spots identifying contested in the history of Minnesota. and had been a sacrificial candidate for Andersen with the proposed sales tax and The outcome was not known until March Congress in a hopelessly Republican dis­ poor construction programming by the 21, 1963, when a three-judge panel de­ trict. In 1960 he was elected lieutenant highway department irritated his cam­ clared Karl Rolvaag the winner by ninety- governor for the fourth time while An­ paign managers. Republican leaders re­ one votes. That was the legal outcome, dersen was elected governor on the Re- sponded by suggesting that Governor but we never will know what the real Andersen invite the press to a ribbon-cut- score was in that election. Perhaps the ting ceremony marking the opening of a only person who could come close to segment of Highway 35. An alert inspec­ telling us the real margin in that election tor noted that a regulation setting the was a brilliant lawyer and tactician from minimum temperature allowable for New Prague, Minnesota, Clayton Nelson. pouring concrete had been relaxed by a But I am getting ahead of my story. few degrees to enable the work to be The 1962 election was historic for two completed in time for the ceremony. reasons: It marked the first time that a Some DFL partisans made an issue of Minnesota governor would be elected to the infraction. The governor’s defenders a four-year term, and it was the most claimed the charges were spurious and closely-contested gubernatorial election yelled foul. Later, Republicans claimed in the state’s history. The final results that the Highway 35 episode swung the were not known until late March, 1963, election to the DFL, but voters already as a three-judge district court concluded a had been crossing over to Rolvaag as the recount of the election. election drew near. As the campaign Elmer Andersen, a liberal Republican drew to an end, polls indicated that the who had served his political apprentice­ Sam uel H. Morgan, one o f the attorneys candidates were almost even, although for the Republicans, analyzes ballots. Photo ship in the state senate after a successful from Recount b y Ronald F. S tinnett and the same polls showed the DFL leading career as a business executive, was com­ Charles H. Backstrom, National Document the GOP in the legislative and congres­ pleting his first term in 1962. The state Publishers, Inc., Washington, D. C., 1964. sional races. had been strongly Republican in most Faced with this information, Rolvaag, elections during its first ninety years, who earlier had insisted that his World with few interruptions. The Democrat- publican ticket. War II record not be used in the cam­ Farmer-Labor party had enjoyed its first When it came time for the DFL to paign, allowed a tabloid, The Silver Star, big success in the 1954 election when endorse a candidate, there were those to describe his exploits as a tank com­ Orville Freeman became governor; Karl who thought the young attorney general, mander in France that led to his being Rolvaag lieutenant governor, and all but Walter F. Mondale, would have a much awarded a Silver Star. He had been se­ one of the DFL candidates for constitu­ better chance of winning what promised verely wounded and spent many months tional offices were elected. The state to be a close election. However, the in military hospitals following the war. house of representatives went DFL by Mondale campaign was derailed when World War II veterans and their families one seat. The senate, which had been the state AFL-CIO convention, led by formed a significant political bloc in Republican since Minnesota became a the building trades, decided that Rolvaag 1962, and the prospects for Rolvaag’s state in 1858, remained Republican, but deserved the nomination. election were looking up. Rolvaag, as DFL lieutenant governor, Andersen was a personable candidate In the state’s early history, weather so, rather than run against him person­ could determine the outcome of an elec-

22 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY tion. Heavy rain or snow could make un­ The author was a witness to many of opening the ballot boxes, re-examining paved rural roads impassable, profoundly the election events and the subsequent re­ and recounting the ballots. This meant affecting the farm vote. On November 6, count. In 1958 the legislature created a that obvious errors would have to be election judges driving to the polls in position called the Election Procedures found and pointed out. An analysis by some townships were not troubled by the Advisor, a Civil Service position in the Dr. Roy Stinnett and others of returns wispy, powdery snow that looked like office of the Secretary of State. After sur­ from several counties concluded that a smoke as it blew almost straight out of viving both a test and some interviews, I transposition error in Carver County the west in front of the headlights. By became the state’s first Election Proce­ gave Andersen an extra 100 votes. mid-afternoon, however, horizontally- dures Advisor. In 19621 left to work for Similar anomalies were found in other driven snow was interfering with visibil­ the city of St. Paul, but I soon was re­ counties throughout the state, and can­ ity on roads leading to polling places. By cruited to participate in the DFL election vassing boards reconvened and autho­ nightfall, six inches of snow had fallen in and the recount that followed. rized recounts. As a result, the lead in the northern Minnesota between Duluth and I attended the first meeting of the DFL governor’s race swung back and forth Moorhead—traditionally DFL territory. recount volunteers at the Leamington during the weeks following the election. When the polls closed, more than 60 Hotel in Minneapolis. Others there were In the first round, 97,000 ballots were percent of eligible voters had voted, to­ Rolvaag, his chief campaign workers, at­ challenged. Representatives of the two taling almost 1.3 million voters. The lead torneys, legislators, and presumed experts, candidates screened these ballots and changed many times in the following including Tom Downs of the United Auto reduced the number in contention to week as the vote totals trickled in; 40 Workers. Downs told the group that in 22,000. Further screening cut the number percent of the votes were cast on paper Michigan they found that where precincts to 3,851, the final number that would be ballots, and those ballots would be the were heavily Democratic, the errors usu­ presented to the three-judge panel. It was central issue in the later recount. The ally favored the Democrats, and where determined that the ballots should be sep­ election results finally showed Rolvaag precincts were heavily Republican, the arated into twenty-four categories. the winner with 619,704 votes; Andersen errors favored the Republicans. The trial began in the Ramsey County had 619,580. Downs was followed by Robert Matt­ Courthouse on February 25, 1962. The Shortly after the election, with Rolvaag son from the Attorney General’s office ballots were considered category-by­ the apparent winner, Governor Andersen who cited some cases he thought would category, ballot-by-ballot. As the trial suggested that a statewide recount would govern a recount in Minnesota. Sid Berde, proceeded, Andersen remained in the be in the best interest of the public. The the original legal counselor for the re­ governorship. The lawyers for the Re­ state’s election laws indicated that since count, also addressed the group. Finally, publicans knew that the DFL was in the the burden of proof is on the contesting Mattson introduced a stranger to us all. driver’s seat when Clayton Nelson began party, that party was responsible for the Clayton Nelson was a lawyer who prac­ to stipulate out whole categories of votes cost of a recount. Both parties began ticed in New Prague and Mattson said he to shorten the trial. looking for counties with obvious elec­ might have some information that would On March 21, 1963, the three-judge tion errors. be of interest. panel issued an order directing Secretary In a request to the state Supreme Nelson seemed almost shy as he got of State Joseph Donovan to issue a certifi­ Court, the Republicans asked that the up in front of the group. He explained cate of election to Rolvaag. The court canvassing boards in ten counties, all as­ that he was just a country lawyer and a stayed the order for ten days to allow sumed to be strong pro-Andersen coun­ DFLer with experience in a legislative re­ Andersen to appeal. Two days later, ties, examine their returns. The court count and went on in his modest manner however, Andersen announced that he concurred. The result was that Andersen as to how he would conduct it if he were would not appeal and on March 25, a moved into the lead with 142 votes and in charge. The crowd listened attentively certificate of election was issued to on November 29, the court declared him as he laid out, step-by-step, how the re­ Rolvaag. At noon on that same day, he the winner. The DFL had filed similar re­ count should be carried out. It was obvi­ took the oath of office. He became Min­ quests for recanvassing in districts where ous that he knew whereof he spoke. I said nesota’s thirty-first governor 139 days the party believed there were irregularities to Rolvaag, “You have found your man.” after he was elected. in the handling of ballots. The court denied Rolvaag said, “I have already reached the requests. When the DFL filed a lawsuit that conclusion.” From that point on, Thomas J. Kelley, former county auditor, challenging the ruling that Andersen had Clayt Nelson was the mastermind of the city administrator for St. Paul, and di­ won the election, the stage was set for a Karl Rolvaag recount team. There were rector of Community Services, is a mem­ recount. Lawyers for both sides (Neil many other bright, capable workers in­ ber of the Ramsey County Historical Morton, Richard Kyle, and Sam Morgan volved in the recount, but it was Nelson Society’s Editorial Board. An abridged for the Republicans, Sidney Berde, who laid out strategy and procedure. version of this article by Kelley appeared Clayton Nelson, and Mary Louise Klas There would be no recount, however, originally in For the Record— 150 Years for the DFL) agreed to creation of a unless Rolvaag could establish a good of Law and Lawyers in Minnesota, pub­ three-judge panel to handle the recount. reason for questioning the results, re­ lished by the Minnesota State BarAssoci-

RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 23 Dairy herd at the Ramsey County Home in Maplewood in 1923. Minnesota Historical Society photograph. See Pete Boulay’s history of the Ramsey County “Poor Farm” beginning on page 13.

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