Another friend!

Why are we so fascincated with primates? A relative, perhaps??!!

Today in Minnesota History: 1960- Novelist Ernest Hemingway is admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, where he undergoes shock treatment for depression. A few days later, he commits suicide in Idaho. (Reference: MNHS.ORG)

Mixed Message

How many of you would be happy to have these messages in your yard?!

Today in Minnesota History: 1884- Anna Ramsey dies. Admired as the governor's "helpmeet," she led efforts to create homeless shelters and support other charities. (Reference: MNHS.ORG)

Como Zoo

This is part of the new renovation at Como Park Zoo. The sloth that was in yesterday's photograph lives in this building.

Today in Minnesota History: 1850- Aaron Goodrich, Minnesota Territory's first supreme court justice, is accused of adultery. An effort to impeach him fails, but President Millard Fillmore exercises his executive power to remove Goodrich from office in 1851. (Reference: MNSH.ORG)

Mystery Animal

On Saturday, my husband, granddaughter and I went to the Zoo. This interesting animal caught my eye. The first person who is able to identify it will receive a postcard from St. Paul. I think I'll keep the comments private for a few days, but don't let that deter you. Make a guess!!

"THE BEST LAID PLANS..." You folks are too smart for me! When I opened up the blog this morning, I was astonished to find the correct answer...already! And, I thought it was going to be difficult--you impress me again!! Post cards go to those who already correctly guessed.

Today in Minnesota History: 1930 - St. Paul's Frank B. Kellogg wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Kellogg had served as secretary of state during the Coolidge administration and as a judge on the Permanent Court of International Justice in The Hague. (Reference: MNHS.ORG)

An Arresting Character

After going through the new tropical rain forest installation at Como Zoo, we visited the primate area, but not before I said "Hello" to one of my oldest friends. Be sure to visit this site
to see the wonderful Rain Forest!

Today in Minnesota History: 1869 - As photographer Charles Zimmerman of St. Paul tries to capture frozen Minnehaha Falls, he is struck by an icicle weighing several hundred pounds. He sustains severe bruises about the head, neck, and shoulders, but none of his bones are broken. (Reference: MNHS. ORG)

A Minnesota Winter??!!

The temperature at high noon the day after Thanksgiving! Believe it or not, this is unseasonably warm for this time of year!!

Today in Minnesota History: 1863 - The Second Minnesota and the rest of General George H. Thomas's Army of the Cumberland charge up Missionary Ridge near Chattanooga and defeat the Confederates holding the ridge. (Reference: MNHS>ORG)

Historical Summit House

The Burbank-Livingston-Griggs house, the second oldest house still standing on Summit Avenue, was built by James Burbank in 1862. It was constructed of Mendota limestone, and was built in the Italian villa style. After changing ownership among St. Paul's prominent families, it was donated to the Mn. Historical Society in 1962. It is no longer open, but when my children were small, we often toured the house which was open as a museum at the time. The playroom with vintage toys was always a favorite stop.

Today in MN History: 1859- Architect Cass Gilbert is born in Ohio. Gilbert's family would move to St. Paul in 1868, and he would later begin his career there. Among his most recognizable buildings are the Minnesota State Capitol, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and Manhattan's Woolworth Building. (Historical information taken from the MN Historical Society's website: mnhs.org)

Gobble! Gobble!

Not exactly a turkey, but poultry will do. Handsome devil, isn't he? My dinner plates for our Thanksgiving dinner. To see my many blessings, click here!

Today in Minnesota History-2006 at the home of Kate Mura and Jim Neher, a Thanksgiving prayer, courtesy of William Shakespeare:
"Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts." King Henry VI, Part 3.IV,vi.

Back to the Blair Arcade

Since the Blair Arcade murals seemed to be so well-received, I decided to add more.

Today in Minnesota History: 1870 -Gas light arrives in Minneapolis. (Reference: mnhs.org)

This Side of Paradise

Another Fitzgerald post: F.Ssott Fitzgerald wrote the novel, This Side of Paradise, while living in this brownstone apartment building on 593/599 Summit Avenue. He had met Zelda, his future wife, while serving in the army. Originally she had not wanted to marry Scott because of his uncertain financial future, but after the publication of the novel, she apparently changed her mind. They did not remain long in Minnesota and led a busy, often debt-ridden existence, as international icons of the Jazz Age. For two other views of this historic building, visit this site.
Today in Minnesota History: 1902- The steamer Bannockburn and its twenty-member crew is seen for the last time as it sets forth from Duluth, later disappearing somewhere on Lake Superior. (Reference: mnhs.org)

C'mon in!

This school art gallery exhibits both professional artists as well as student work. Because of the light reflecting from the windows, it's very difficult to capture the paintings if they're covered with glass. This one by a faculty art teacher is a good example of the rest of her work currently hanging in the gallery. To view the outside of the school building, visit this blog.

Today in Minnesota History: 1967 -The Nicollet Mall, a pedestrian walkway closed to traffic except buses, opens in downtown Minneapolis.. (Historical information: mnhs.org)

Carol and Keillor

Yesterday I met St. Paul Carol for the first time at Nina's Cafe in the Blair Arcade. Downstairs the bookstore owned by Garrison Keillor was having a neighborhood Open House. Garrison autographed books for hours and here he is with Carol as he signs her books for her. For more pictures of the Open House which was very crowded, click here, walk in and join the festivities!

On the Opening of a Bookstore On Western and Selby

by Garrison Keillor

On the high hill above the river in St. Paul,

Against the advice of cautious engineers,

The Archbishop insisted his Cathedral should stand tall

And French, and so it has for eighty years,

Back behind its stone magnificience, on drowsy streets

Of gabled houses, brick and stone and wood,

Are a thousand stories of the daily feats

Of courage that are love and parenthood.

Each lighted window represents an enterprise

By strangers whom I feel I ought to know

And so, in a cellar with windows to the skies,

I sit and read heroic tales of long ago.

A cold fall day and we are strangers, far apart.

But in these books I find some secrets of your heart.

GK,11/18/2006

Today in Minnesota History: - 1981 Heavy snow in Minneapolis causes the fabric of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to collapse and rip. (Reference: mhs.org)

An Important Message!

This is another view of the Garrison Keillor bookstore in the basement of the Blair Arcade that St. Paul blogger Carol showed you here in an earlier post.

Today in MN History: 1993 - The Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota opens. Sculptor and architect Frank O. Gehry won an award from Progressive Architecture magazine in 1991 for his design of the building. (Reference: mnhs.org)

An addition

This is part of an addition to the school in which I used to teach English literature and writing. Look closely and you'll see the art gallery on the first floor with part of the library above it.

Today in MN History: 1992- Jackpot Junction Casino, the first Indian casino in Minnesota, celebrates its anniversary (November 16–18). Originally a bingo parlor, by 1988 it had become a fully operational casino. (Historical information: mnhs.org)

My Destination!

When I was without a camera, several weeks ago I was surprised to see this bus on the streets of St. Paul. While sitting in a café on Wednesday, it rolled by. I grabbed my camera and chased it. Why? Because I'll be leaving for a 3 months stay in Mazatlán on January 7, I wanted something to show my friends in México (and you, too!). I've eaten in the restaurant shown on the bus, located in El Centro, the old section where I'll be staying for three months. If all goes well, I'll be blogging, but without internet in my rental, I'll have to be creative. Can't wait to hit the beach! (For two more views of this fabulous bus, click here.

Today in MN History:-1854- The preparatory (or high school) department of what is now Hamline University opens for business in Red Wing. Named for Leonidas L. Hamline, a Methodist bishop, the school suspends operations in 1869 and reopens in St. Paul in 1880, but its original founding date makes it the oldest college in the state. (Historical information: mnhs.org)

Memorial Drums

How do young people deal with death? Several years ago the student who is the focus of this memorial died tragically of an undiagnosed heart condition. His friends designed and created this set of drums, depicting his life and many interests. It now hangs on the wall in the entrance foyer of his former school.
Today in Mn. History: 1851 - Montezuma is founded by Orrin Smith, a steamboat captain. The town is more recognizable by its present name, Winona. (Historical information: mnhs.org)

Dancing School!!

This rather austere building on Holly Avenue once was a boarding school for girls. Scott enrolled in a dancing school here (bet it was his mother's or grandmother's idea!). Because his grades were not very good, he was expelled from St.Paul Academy and enrolled in an Eastern boarding school at age 15. Until he entered Princeton, he was home only for the holidays.
Reference: http://home.comcast.net/~caudle2/fscotwlk.htm)

Today in MN History: 1860 - Telegraph service reaches Minneapolis. (Historical information taken from the MN Historical Society's website: mnhs.org)

Childhood Homes

For five years, Fitzgerald and his family lived in three different houses on this block on Holly Avenue, one of which has been torn down. When his father's financial problems began the family lived in an apartment pictured here as well as Grandmother McQuillan's large house, also shown here. Later he used material from these childhood years to write magazine stories.
(Reference: http://home.comcast.net/~caudle2/fscotwlk.htm)

Today in MN History: 1833-
Charles M. Loring is born in Portland, Maine. As Minneapolis park commissioner from 1883 to 1890, he would be a principal player in the development of the city's system of parks and public grounds. Central Park would be renamed Loring Park in his honor. (Historical information taken from the MN Historical Society's website: mnhs.org)

Artist Rendition of the Young Scott

Somehow I hadn't envisioned the young Scott looking quite like this. I prefer the statue of the adult Fitzgerald downtown in Rice Park.
Click here and take a look!

Today in Mn. History:-1889-
DeWitt Wallace is born in St. Paul. Wallace would found Reader's Digest in 1922, and his family's fortune has benefited many educational and performing arts associations.
(Historical information from the MN Historical Society: mnhs.org)

Scott, the student

Fitzgerald Series: St. Paul Academy's first school (an all-boys school) on 25 North Dale that F. Scott Fitzgerald attended. The school expanded and became co-ed over the years and has two campuses. Click here to see the Upper School campus as it appears today. Tomorrow I'll show you a close up of the statue of the youthful F. Scott that has recently been installed on the front steps of the building (look closely) which is now occupied by business offices.

Several people asked me for more information regarding Scott. Check this article for more biographical details. Fitzgerald's mother's family had the money and the social standing, and he socialized with the prominent families in St. Paul while he was growing up.

Today in MN History:-1940- The “Armistice Day Blizzard” arrives with no warning, and temperatures plummet from the 60s to below zero. The storm causes forty-eight deaths, mostly hunters caught unprepared and far from shelter. Fifty-nine sailors on the Great Lakes also lose their lives. (Historical information taken from the MN Historical Society's website: mnhs.org)