A Monument to Freedom, a Monument to All: Restoring the Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller Memorial in Como Park Spring 2013 Volume 48, Number 1 Colin Nelson-Dusek —Page 11 Rooted in Community One History of Service: The Guild of Catholic Women and Guild Incorporated Hayla Drake Page 3 Internationally known artist Jason Najarak’s “Ladder of Hope” mural, the centerpiece of Guild Incorporated’s donor wall, was inspired by others whose “genius and mental illness played out in many ways.” Najarak gifted the organization with his painting. Photo courtesy of Guild Incorporated. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY RAMSEY COUNTY President Chad Roberts Founding Editor (1964–2006) Virginia Brainard Kunz Editor Hıstory John M. Lindley Volume 48, Number 1 Spring 2013 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON DECEMBER 20, 2007: Paul A. Verret Chair The Ramsey County Historical Society inspires current and future generations Cheryl Dickson to learn from and value their history by engaging in a diverse program First Vice Chair of presenting, publishing and preserving. William Frels Second Vice Chair Julie Brady Secretary C O N T E N T S Carolyn J. Brusseau Treasurer 3 Rooted in Community Thomas H. Boyd Immediate Past Chair One History of Service: Anne Cowie, Joanne A. Englund, The Guild of Catholic Women and Guild Incorporated Thomas Fabel, Howard Guthmann, Hayla Drake Douglas Heidenreich, Richard B. Heydinger, Jr., John Holman, Kenneth H. Johnson, Elizabeth M. Kiernat, David Kristal, 11 A Monument to Freedom, a Monument to All: Carl Kuhrmeyer, Father Kevin M. McDonough, Restoring the Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller Nancy W. McKillips, Susan McNeely, James Miller, Robert Muschewske, Memorial in Como Park Richard H. Nicholson, Jeffrey Slack, Colin Nelson-Dusek Ralph Thrane, Jerry Woefel. Director Emeritus 19 Her Sky-high Career Started Here W. Andrew Boss Aviation Pioneer: Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie EDITORIAL BOARD Anne Cowie, chair, James B. Bell, Roger Bergerson Thomas H. Boyd, John Diers, Douglas Heidenreich, James Miller, Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from John Milton, Laurie M. Murphy, Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen in memory of Henry H. Cowie Jr. Paul D. Nelson, Richard H. Nicholson, and by a contribution from the late Reuel D. Harmon Jay Pfaender, David Riehle, Chad Roberts, Steve Trimble, Paul A. Verret, Mary Lethert Wingerd. Correction: In the Winter 2013 issue, which included the 2012 Donor Recognition Report, HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD Myrna Weyer was incorrectly identified in the Report as deceased. On the contrary, she is William Fallon, William Finney, George very much alive. We greatly regret this error. Latimer, Joseph S. Micallef, Marvin J. Pertzik, James Reagan, Rosalie E. Wahl. RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS A Message from the Editorial Board Commissioner Rafael Ortega, chair Commissioner Toni Carter Commissioner Blake Huffman his issue brings us a diverse group of articles. We trace the history of the Commissioner Jim McDonough TGuild of Catholic Women and Guild Incorporated: a compelling story of Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire helping St. Paul residents through community support, especially housing. We Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt Commissioner Janice Rettman watch as the Como Park statue of the German writer and philosopher, Schiller, Julie Kleinschmidt, manager, is restored and rededicated. And we thrill to the airborne adventures of Phoebe Ramsey County Omlie, a pioneering aviator and parachute jumper who got her start in Ramsey Ramsey County History is published quarterly County. As we welcome Chad Roberts, the new President of RCHS, I also want by the Ramsey County Historical Society, 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Street, St. Paul, MN to thank John Lindley, our editor, who has recently served as Interim Executive 55102 (651-222-0701). Printed in U.S.A. Copy- Director. John kept us moving forward as an organization as he also handled right © 2013, Ram sey County His torical So ciety. ISSN Number 0485-9758. All rights reserved. responsibilities editing this magazine. We are thankful for his administrative No part of this publication may be reprinted experience and initiative, but happy to have him back applying his full exper- or otherwise reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The Society tise to this great publication. assumes no responsibility for state ments made by contributors. Fax 651-223-8539; e-mail address: Anne Cowie, [email protected]; web site address: www.rchs.com Chair, Editorial Board 2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY A Monument to Freedom, a Monument to All: Restoring the Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller Memorial in Como Park Colin Nelson-Dusek ince 1907, a bronze sculpture of German literary giant Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller has presided over the gateway to Como Park. SCountless people have passed by the sculpture, located just beyond the intersection of Lexington Parkway and Estabrook Drive. Yet in the 106 years since Ignatius Taschner, a German artist, created the monument to Schiller specifically for the park, there has been a surprising lack of information about the history of the sculpture. Additionally, over a century passed without any major attempt to preserve the statue from exposure to nature and harsh Minnesota winters. After many years of neglect and a gen- sioned and gifted to the city by a com- eral lack of information, the monument to mittee of prominent German-Americans, Friedrich von Schiller has finally received the Schiller monument stands as a testa- some care and attention. Public Art Saint ment to the determination and vision of Paul, the City of St. Paul's non-profit part- not only the German immigrants who ner in creating and caring for art in the came to St. Paul, but also to people from public sphere, and Saint Paul Parks and around the world who have come to Recreation initiated a major restoration of make their lives in Minnesota’s capital An early twentieth-century engraving of the Schiller monument in early fall 2012. I city. My research into the Schiller monu- Friedrich von Schiller that emphasizes his intensity of purpose and vision. Photo was fortunate enough to join the dedicated ment revealed how the statue affected courtesy of the Library of Congress. staff of Public Art Saint Paul and aid them the lives of local residents and involved LC-USZ62-136145. by conducting research into the history of national and international artists, philan- the sculpture. I also served as an on-site thropists, and statesmen. liaison for the duration of the project, to the European continent and capti- welcoming people who visited the monu- Who Was Schiller? vated numerous artists and intellectuals, ment and answering any and all questions St. Paul’s early German community de- including the young Schiller. In 1781, that visitors had about the restoration and sired a public sculpture that would con- while still a member of the military, he sculpture. The restoration of the statue nect their pride as American citizens self-published his first play, Die Räuber took about one and one-half months. to their rich cultural heritage, and there (“The Robbers”). It was a dramatic work During that time, I had the pleasure of are few Germans who embody the intel- that addressed social corruption and pro- seeing dedicated conservators restore the lectual and artistic tradition of the coun- moted revolutionary ideas. When the statue to a beautiful state that respected try better than Friedrich von Schiller. A play premiered, it caused a scandal and both the original work of the sculptor and writer and philosopher who is considered made Schiller an overnight sensation. His the committee that sponsored the statue’s one of the most important literary figures involvement with the play, as well as his creation. I also had the joy of talking to in European history, Schiller was born in decision to leave his military post to see St. Paul residents who had grown up vis- Marbach am Neckar, Germany in 1759. the premiere, led to his detainment and iting Como Park. Through their stories, it He came from a military family and was censure by the local aristocracy. became clear that the Schiller monument educated at a military academy, where he In 1782, Schiller was able to flee his was more than just a statue of some man; it first studied law and medicine. Schiller home, moving through several cities in was a social landmark for the community. began studying philosophy in 1776, Germany while continuing his literary ca- The story of the Schiller statue and its which turned out to be an extremely influ- reer by writing plays and poetry, and pub- importance to St. Paul tell much about ential year for him. The ideals of democ- lishing historical research. Eventually he the development of the city and the com- racy, justice, and equality that inspired settled in the university town of Weimar munities that built it. Originally commis- the American Revolution quickly spread in 1787. Schiller spent the rest of his life RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 11 either in Weimar or in Jena—another fa- York City, and San Francisco had all re- mous home for intellectuals—serving ceived Schiller statues by this time. as a university professor and continu- Inspired by the centennial celebra- ally producing literary works. His later tions, and not to be outdone by other cit- plays centered on historical figures, such ies, St. Paul’s German-American com- as William Tell and Joan of Arc, while munity formed a Monument Committee emphasizing politics, morality, and the in August of 1905.3 They did this to me- injustice of social hierarchy. Schiller de- morialize and celebrate the famous writer voted his entire life to spreading demo- and to express their pride as Germans and cratic thought and promoting the virtues gratitude as immigrants who had found of liberty, both in his German homeland their home in a country that embraced and throughout the European continent.