RAMSEY COUNTY Crex Carpet Company Revisited Page 18 Summer 2006 Volume 41, Number 2 He Was Mechanic Arts” Mechanic Arts High School The Dietrich Lange Years, 1916-1939 A hand-tinted portrait of Dietrich Lange, who served as principal of Mechanic Arts High School between 1916 and 1939. Photo courtesy of John W. Mittelstadt. Photography by Maureen McGinn. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Executive Director Priscilla Farnham Founding Editor (1964—2006) Virginia Brainard Kunz Editor John M. Lindley Volume 41, Number 2 Summer 2006 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN JULY 2003: Howard Guthmann Chair The Ramsey County Historical Society shall discover, collect, W. Andrew Boss preserve and interpret the history of the county for the general public, President recreate the historical context in which we live and work, and make Judith Frost Lewis First Vice President available the historical resources of the county. The Society’s major Paul A. Verret responsibility is its stewardship over this history. Second Vice President Joan Higinbotham Secretary CONTENTS J. Scott Hutton Treasurer Duke Addicks, Charles L. Bathke, 3 Letters W. Andrew Boss, Thomas H. Boyd, 4 “He Was Mechanic Arts ” Norlin Boyum, Carolyn Brusseau, Norbert Conzemius, Anne Cowie, Charlton Dietz, Mechanic Arts High School: The Dietrich Lange Years, Joanne A. Englund, Robert F. Garland, 1916-1939 Howard Guthmann, Joan Higinbotham, John Holman, J. Scott Hutton, Judith Frost John W. Larson Lewis, George A. Mairs, Laurie Murphy, Richard H. Nicholson, Marla Ordway, 18 “Dreams of the Immensity of the Future ” Marvin J. Pertzik, Jay Pfaender, James A. Crex Carpet Company Revisited Russell, David Thune, Paul A. Verret, Glenn Wiessner, Richard Wilhoit, Laurie Zenner. Paul D. Nelson Richard T. Murphy Sr. 22 Fighting Billy Miske Director Emeritus The Heart of a Champion EDITORIAL BOARD Paul Picard Anne Cowie, chair, James B. Bell, John Diers, Thomas H. Boyd, Tom Kelley, Laurie Murphy, 24 Book Reviews Richard H. Nicholson, Paul D. Nelson, Jay Pfaender, David Riehle, G. Richard Slade, Steve Trimble, Mary Lethert Wingerd. Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen in memory of Henry H. Cowie Jr. Olivia I. Dodge, William Fallon, William and by a contribution from the late Reuel D. Harmon Finney, Robert S. Hess, George Latimer, Joseph S. Micallef, Robert Mirick, Marvin J. Pertzik, James Reagan, Rosalie E. Wahl, Donald D. Wozniak. RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Tony Bennett, chair A Message from the Editorial Board Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt Commissioner Toni Carter Commissioner Rafael Ortega ood historical research and writing ultimately reveals the stories of people Commissioner Janice Rettman from a new perspective. In his history of diverse Mechanics Arts High School, Commissioner Jan Parker G Commissioner Jim McDonough John W. Larson shares his insights on the influence of a committed principal and En­ glish teachers on the later careers of graduates, including Roy Wilkins and Harry Black- David Twa, manager, Ramsey County mun. Paul D. Nelson shows how his earlier article on the Crex Carpet Company led to Ramsey County History is published quarterly a new discovery: memoirs of the company’s first president, Michael J. O’Shaughnessy. by the Ramsey County Historical Society, 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Street, St. And Paul Picard outlines the story of Billy Miske, a St. Paul boxer who took on Jack Paul, Minn. 55102 (651-222-0701). Printed in Dempsey in 1920 despite an illness that would soon take his life. We are proud to help U.S.A. Copyright © 2006, Ramsey County His­ preserve accounts like these, which otherwise would go unrecognized, and showcase torical Society. ISSN Number 0485-9758. All rights reserved. No part of this publication them for our wider member audience. As you hold this magazine, you are in a unique may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced position to read these stories: share the wealth and recruit a new member today! without written permission from the pub­ Anne Cowie, lisher. The Society assumes no responsibility for statements made by contributors. Fax 651- Chair, Editorial Board 223-8539; e-mail address [email protected]; web site address www.rchs.com. 2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Book Reviews St. Paul’s Architecture: for its ecumenical spirit, were scarcely A History pleased to see their city’s skyline domi­ ST. PAUL’S nated by a foreign Catholic shrine. It fell Jeffery A. Hess and ARCHITECTURE to the First Baptist Church . to re­ Paul Clifford Larson deem the honor of the Reformation.” Minneapolis: University of Architectural history can be told in Minnesota Press, 2006 a number of ways. The sweeping “big 278 pages, $34.95 picture” drama described above, is very effective. I also found the author’s Reviewed by Brian McMahon “context” analysis of ten projects built between 1985 and 2000 to be highly he architectural heritage of Min­ successful. The authors used a case- Tnesota’s capital city has finally re­ study approach because they felt that a ceived a serious examination in this im­ different perspective was needed with pressive volume by Jeffery A. Hess and “in-fill” architecture in a completely de­ Paul Clifford Larson. The opening sen­ veloped city. They were also uncomfort­ tence of St. Paul’s Architecture: A His­ able rendering a premature historical or tory, sets out not only the lofty goals of architectural judgment on these build­ the book, but also the literary élan being World War II decline of the business ings. Ironically, these nonjudgmental offered to the reader for this enjoyable district partially attributable to compe­ “context” studies often provided more tour of over 150 years of architectural tition with Minneapolis. In a planning interesting architectural insights than history. “Before the airplane, before the study done by Raymond Loewy Asso­ many of their critiques throughout the motor car, before the railroad, there was ciates in 1945, the “downtown area of book that relied on more traditional the river, and the grandest of all was the another city,” unnamed in the report, “stylistic” analysis. Mississippi, a majestic glide of water was essentially the cause of the decline. Architectural styles are a helpful 2,350 miles long, sweeping through the Lowey noted, “The proximity of this and perhaps efficient way of organizing heartland of the young American nation, competing city heightens the danger of things, but as with stereotypes, over-re­ carrying all manner of traffic, trade, and the situation, for it is virtually as easy liance can sometimes limit independent tradition upstream and downstream, be­ for the people of St. Paul to visit their analysis and fresh observation. This tween Minnesota and the Gulf of Mex­ neighbor’s downtown area as it is to occurred on several occasions. For ex­ ico.” With expectations now raised, the visit their own.” When the community ample, in covering the New York Life reader quickly learns of the origins and needed to be mobilized to either build Insurance Company Building, ca. 1900 development of St. Paul as a frontier or rebuild a city, the surest motivator (razed) the authors described “an asym­ town with an account that is brisk and was to invoke the threat of the rival city. metrical double tower layered in the insightful. In addition to the significance Hess and Larson skillfully use this com­ conventional Renaissance Revival fash­ of the Mississippi River, another major petitive climate to enhance their engag­ ion but surmounted by an elaborately influence is quickly introduced—the ri­ ing narrative with a dramatic tension. decorated attic and a stepped gable on valry with the city across the river. Both Religious congregations, we also each of the facades.” While this descrip­ continue to shape the physical form of learn, were not immune from using tion is certainly accurate, I was left won­ St. Paul to the present day. competition as a motivator—and were dering why this high-rise office project The book is at its best in this open­ not spared from the authors’ wit. The was split into two towers. Was it a desire ing chapter describing how this rivalry building of Assumption Church seemed to bring more light and air into middle shaped the downtown district, and at “to have caused a certain amount of con­ of the office spaces? Other questions the end when recounting the serious sternation among neighboring Protestant come to mind. What was the impact of challenges brought about by the post- congregations who, in an age not known this innovative floor plan on the layout 24 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY of the elevator banks? And would this ing newspapers, at a busy intersection of unusual design have been considered Fourth and Jackson streets, directly kitty- for a speculative office building rather comer from the Railroad Building. On a than for a corporate user? And how did good day he made as much as fifty cents, high-speed elevators, and later, air con­ which he took home to his mother. ditioning influence office design? And By the time he was ten years old, so on. Stylistic analysis alone provides Vic Tedesco was taking music lessons us with insufficient information. at the Christ Child Community Center Even as the authors make heavy use on Payne Avenue. His sense of humor of stylistic analysis, they do so with shows throughout the book, but it is es­ irony and wit. In describing the