RAMSEY COUNTY A Publication o f the Ramsey County Historical Society Spring 2008 Volume 43, Number 1 From Swede Hollow to Capitol Boulevard Bethesda Hospital Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary (1883-2008) Donald B. Swenson, M.D. A painting of Bethesda Hospital by artist Kairong Liu with the Minnesota State Capitol in the background. Photo courtesy of Bethesda Hospital. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY Executive Director Priscilla Famham Founding Editor (1964-2006) Virginia Brainard Kunz Editor John M. Lindley Volume 43, Number 1 Spring 2008 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON DECEMBER 2 0 , 2 OO7 : W. Andrew Boss The Ramsey County Historical Society inspires current and future generations Past President J. Scott Hutton to learn from and value their history by engaging in a diverse program President of presenting, publishing and preserving. Thomas H. Boyd First Vice President Paul A. Verret Second Vice President CONTENTS Joan Higinbotham Secretary 3 From Swede Hollow to Capitol Boulevard Carolyn J. Brusseau Treasurer Bethesda Hospital Celebrates Its 125th Anniversary Norlin Boyum, Julie Brady, Anne Cowie, (1883-2008) Nancy Randall Dana, Charlton Dietz, Donald B. Swenson, M.D. Joanne A. Englund, William Frels, Robert F. Garland, Howard Guthman, John Holman, Judith Frost Lewis, Laurie Murphy, Richard H. Nicholson, Marla Ordway, Marvin J. Pertzik, 14 Growing Up In Saint Paul Jay Pfaender, Ralph Thrane, Richard Wilhoit. When Selby and Snelling Had a Life of Its Own, 1943-1954 George A. Mairs Richard T. Murphy Sr. Bernard P. Friel Directors Emeriti EDITORIAL BOARD 21 A Whirlwind of Crimes Anne Cowie, chair, James B. Bell, John Diers, Thomas H. Boyd, Laurie Murphy, Richard H. The Crimes and Times of Wonnigkeit and Ermisch Nicholson, Paul D. Nelson, Jay Pfaender, David Riehle, G. Richard Slade, Steve Trimble, Janice R. Quick Mary Lethert Wingerd. HONORARY ADVISORY BOARD Publication of Ramsey County History is supported in part by a gift from Olivia I. Dodge, William Fallon, William Clara M. Claussen and Frieda H. Claussen in memory of Henry H. Cowie Jr. Finney, Robert S. Hess, George Latimer, and by a contribution from the late Reuel D. Harmon Joseph S. Micallef, Marvin J. Pertzik, James Reagan, Rosalie E. Wahl. RAMSEY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Commissioner Jan Parker, chair A Message from the Editorial Board Commissioner Tony Bennett Commissioner Toni Carter Commissioner Jim McDonough hen we think of “family,” we often think of our close relatives. But this issue explores Commissioner Rafael Ortega Wmore inclusive definitions of “family.” Community values shape individuals, who in Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt Commissioner Janice Rettman turn reflect those values. In early St. Paul, ethnic background provided a strong sense of family. Dr. Donald B. Swenson introduces us to the family of Bethesda Hospital—a group of David Twa, manager, Ramsey County caring people who came together to start a medical facility rooted in the Swedish Lutheran Ramsey County History is published quarterly tradition. Swenson follows the rich history of the hospital, with portraits people who contrib­ by the Ramsey County Historical Society, uted their time and talent to the St. Paul institution, which is now celebrating its 125th anni­ 323 Landmark Center, 75 W. Fifth Street, St. Paul, Minn. 55102 (651 -222-0701). Printed in versary. We all know the importance of neighborhood in defining family. Bernard Friel details U.S.A. Copyright © 2008, Ramsey County the extended “family” of the business community at Selby and Snelling avenues, which gave Historical Society. ISSN Number 0485-9758. him his first jobs in the 1940s and early 1950s. On the other hand, Janice Quick describes All rights reserved. No part of this publica­ tion may be reprinted or otherwise repro­ isolated loners like convicted murders Otto Wonnigkeit and Charles Ermisch, who were es­ duced without written permission from the tranged from friends and relatives when they were executed in 1894. But Quick also provides publisher. The Society assumes no respon­ snapshots of St. Paul community members who signed an unsuccessful petition against the sibility for statements made by contributors. Fax 651-223-8539; e-mail address admin@ death penalty, foreshadowing the Minnesota legislature’s prohibition of that penalty years rchs.com.; web site address www.rchs.com later. Enjoy this spring issue, and write a letter to the editor to let us know your thoughts. Anne Cowie, Chair, Editorial Board 2 RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY A Whirlwind of Crimes The Crimes and Times of Wonnigkeit and Ermisch Janice R. Quick tto Wonnigkeit1 emigrated in 1884 from Berlin, Germany, to New York help with heavy chores for a wage of $50 City, then Detroit, Michigan; he traveled with his recently widowed for six months.10 Within a week, both mother and his six-year-old sister.2 He was age ten and already known young men had deserted their parole as­ O signments and returned to St. Paul for a as a drunkard. Within a year, his mother remarried, and his new stepfather hired whirlwind of crimes. him out, to work in a neighborhood saloon, where the boy daily drank to ex­ Crimes committed during the last half cess.3 At age seventeen, Wonnigkeit traveled with his family to St. Paul, Min­ of April included two home burglaries; at nesota, where he became fast friends with Charles Ermisch4, a sixteen-year- one home, the thieves escaped with $8; old who had emigrated from Hamburg, Germany, in 1884, with his widowed at another home, they collected shoes, a mother and a sister.5 Wonnigkeit and Ermisch did everything together. They coat and vest, two silver watches, and a pair of opera glasses, which were imme­ drank together, thieved together, and murdered together. They were arrested, diately pawned. They held up a Dayton’s indicted, tried and sentenced together. In 1894, at ages twenty and nineteen, Bluff man who Wonnigkeit described as they were hanged together on a single scaffold at the Ramsey County jail and “that farmer near the fish hatchery.” From were buried next to each other at Forest Lawn cemetery. him, they took $5 and a silver watch; from a man on the Hudson road, they ran off with $63. The two burglarized a West That final episode in their lives might work on an Owatonna farm where the Side grocery store where they took gro­ have been different if a petition circulated 1883 and 1884 Minnesota State Fairs8 ceries and a shotgun, and they broke into by a clergyman had been successful. The had been held; the farm was owned by a general store where they stole cigars, petition implored the governor to com­ a former Civil War officer who then canned goods, and knives.11 mute the death sentence for Wonnigkeit, served as a city alderman and member Then, on the night of May 2, 1894, who was believed to be mentally deficient of the state prison board.9 Ermisch was Wonnigkeit and Ermisch met at 10:00, as due to long-term alcohol abuse.6 Ermisch paroled to work on a farm near Lake planned, near the comer of Wabasha and was not mentioned in the petition; even Benton, Minnesota, where he agreed to today’s Tenth Street. Each tied a handker- his mother offered no reason why her son should not be executed. The Crimes Wonnigkeit and Ermisch were first ar­ rested in 1892. Together they were charged with the theft of a revolver and $18 in cash from Hogan & O’Dowd, a saloon on Robert Street in downtown St. Paul. They were held for four months in adjoining cells at the Ramsey County jail, two blocks from the scene of the crime. They remained close friends. Following indictment by a grand jury, the teenage jail mates changed their plea from “not guilty” to “guilty,” and were sentenced to imprisonment at the new St. Cloud State Reformatory.7 Wonnigkeit and Ermisch each served St. Cloud Reformatory records at the Minnesota Historical Society include 1892 glass plate seventeen months in the reformatory. In negatives of Otto Wonnigkeit, left, and Charles Ermisch. Photos courtesy of the Minnesota April 1894, Wonnigkeit was paroled to Historical Society. RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORY 21 chief across his mouth and nose. Each that during the times when he was in his An affidavit from a downtown saloon­ carried a revolver. At Ermisch’s instruc­ right mind and not under the influence keeper confirmed that Wonnigkeit had tion, Wonnigkeit ‘ entered the side door of liquor . , he has exhibited remark­ been drinking alcohol for several hours of Kohlmann’s saloon and, with revolver able traits of love and affection for. .. his on the day of the murder. drawn, demanded the bartender surren­ family and friends.”16 In court, the jury was not swayed by der the contents of the cash register. The An affidavit by Dr. Charles T. Miller affidavits and testimony relating to Won­ bartender reached for a gun in a drawer. provided a medical opinion based upon nigkeit’s mental state.21 Wonnigkeit and As Ermisch entered from the front door, the affidavit of Wonnigkeit’s mother and a Ermisch were found guilty of murder and Wonnigkeit fired three shots at the bar­ similar one by his sister. Dr. Miller stated sentenced to be hanged. tender and Ermisch fired four more. The that chronic alcohol abuse caused Won­ The condemned youths were held dying bartender slumped to the floor as nigkeit to be “not a free moral agent; that for 112 days in an isolated corridor of the would-be burglars fled.12 he has not at all times the right use of his the Ramsey County jail. They remained That night, the fugitives slept in a bam mind and mental faculties, that his mind friends as they awaited execution.