Dayton's Bluff parks had help this summer
from the Community Design Center

These Community Design Center Conservation Corps workers spent many hours this summer improving our parks and beautifying our neighborhood.  Front row (l to r): Lee Vang, Somboon Lee, Leng Xiong, Fong Lee, Ricky Lee, and Gia Lee. Back row (l to r): Eric Wickstrom - Community Design Center Conservation Corps Supervisor, Zong Lee, Mai Lee Khang, and Jennifer Lee.

By June Bennett
   Community Design Center of Minnesota is a Saint Paul-based organization whose mission is to help revitalize low-to-moderate income communities by providing technical assistance and operating programs that will enhance the physical, economic, social, ecological, and spiritual well being of the community and its residents. We believe that building and renewing a community requires a holistic approach that creates long-term sustainable change.
   Today we operate children’s and youth programs on the East Side of St. Paul aimed at engaging young people in the civic life of their community as well as providing them with experiences that enrich their lives and develop important life skills.
   Our programs are based on the following principles:
1. Children and youth are resources and citizens, not clients.
2. Communities work better when self-help is the model.
3. The strength of a neighborhood depends on the opportunities it creates for the young to become involved in a variety of aspects of community life.
4. Youth thrive when their experience gives them a sense of place and belonging and new skills.
5. Our physical environment forms our thinking.
6. Young people’s respect for themselves and for their community depends on local adults modeling responsibility and achievement.
7. We create healthy and thriving community through collaborative partnership.
   The Community Design Center orders the plants and the students help in organizing them in the pots. There are 15 plants per pot. Some of the plants put into the pots are: Fountain Grass, Blue Salvia, Zinnia, and Potato Vine
   It takes three and a half hours to prepare the pots and meet the owners of the businesses that get the pots. The students talk to the owners and explain how to take care of them. Each year the pots are fertilized with compost. The Sentence To Serve Program also helps in putting the pots out and in returning them to storage.
   During the summer the teens are paid through the City of St. Paul Youth Job Corp. When the teens participate during the school year they receive a small stipend. Up to 43 teens work in the spring and up to14 teens teach classes. The spring is mostly volunteer work.
   For more information go to www.cdcmn.org.
 
Vote for your Community Council Representatives and stay for our Pot Luck and Annual Meeting

By Karin DuPaul, Community Organizer, Dayton’s Bluff District Council
  The election for Community Council representatives will be held on Monday, October 19.  Polls are open from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. at 798 East 7th Street at the corner of 7th and Margaret. Come and vote for your representatives.
   Any Dayton’s Bluff resident age 18 or over can vote. Voters can cast ballots for their Sub-district Representatives and for an At-Large seat. Write-in candidates are also permitted.
    The Board of Directors totals 18 members of which 16 represent four sub-districts and two are At-Large positions. Sub-district representatives must be residents of that particular sub-district while the At-Large Director can be either a resident of Dayton’s Bluff, a business owner, or an operator of a Dayton’s Bluff business or organization.
   All of the current Board openings are two (2) year terms.
   Are you unavailable on October 19th? Absentee ballots may be requested. All requests for absentee ballots must be made at least ten (10) days prior to the election, in writing and signed by the voter. All absentee ballots will be mailed by the Council at least seven (7) days before the election to the residence of the voter requesting the absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received in the Community Council office by October 19, 2009.
   Be sure to come for the Pot Luck Supper, which starts at 6:00 p.m.  Bring a dish to share and stay for the Annual Meeting and the results of the election. It’s a great way to find out what the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council is all about and have supper with some neighbors at the same time.
   Some of the activities the Dayton’s Bluff Community Council has been involved in this past year include, Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Clean Up, Block Club Clean Ups, Block Clubs, National Night Out, Summer Youth Sign and Clean Up Project, Greening Dayton’s Bluff free plants and plant swap, Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Home Tour, Dayton’s Bluff Vacant Home Tours, Arts and Culture Committee, Greenspace Committee, Vacant Building Committee, park clean ups, and Land Use issues
   If you have any questions about the Community Council, the election, the potluck, and/or the Annual Meeting email Karin@DaytonsBluff.org or call Karin at 651-772-2075

Our old houses require plenty of work

A lot of work is being done on houses throughout Dayton’s Bluff. This house at 723 Margaret Street is being totally upgraded inside and out by the Dayton’s Bluff Neighborhood Housing Services. This lovely Victorian home was built in 1901 by J. H. Brandhorst who built many homes in Dayton’s Bluff and also lived in the neighborhood.

Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary Open House

   The Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary will have an Open House on Saturday, October 10, 2009 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Enter at the corner of Commercial Street and East Fourth Street, Saint Paul Minnesota
   Learn about the fascinating history — and exciting future — of this oasis of nature in the city.  Interpreters will be stationed across the sanctuary to share information on:
*The geologic forces behind the sanctuary’s dramatic limestone and sandstone bluffs.
*The land’s history as a focal point for American Indian communities.
*The railroad buildings and brewery that once existed on the site.
*Restoration of the land’s wetlands, forests and prairies.
*Plans for an interpretive center adjacent to the sanctuary.
*The many birds and waterfowl that visit the sanctuary, including the Orchard Oriole, which nests on the site then travels to Central America for the winter. 
   You can also pick up a free pocket guide to the sanctuary!
   For more information and directions visit www.phalencreek.org or call 651.290.0002. 
     This event is sponsored by the Lower Phalen Creek project in partnership with members of the St. Paul Audubon Society, St. Paul Garden Club and Community Design Center of Minnesota. 

Community Meeting

    The Eastern District Police host their monthly meetings for community members at 722 Payne on the corner of Payne and Minnehaha Avenues. One is on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. and the other on the third Friday of each month at 9:30 a.m. In October the meetings are on the 21st and 23rd.
  The meetings are intended as a time to listen to and address people’s concerns about crime and other issues on the East Side.

   Dayton’s Bluff Take a Hike occurs on the first Saturday of most months. The next hike is on Saturday, Oct. 3rd.   We meet at 10:30 a.m. in Indian Mounds Park at Earl St. and Mounds Blvd.
   We’ll hike from Mounds Park to the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary and then walk along the Bruce Vento Recreational Trail through Swede Hollow Park to the new East Side Heritage Park. Along the way we will share stories and learn some local history of the area. The hike is about four miles long with some moderately rough terrain. Transportation will be available to return to Mounds Park, if needed.
   Join us and explore some of our parks and the regional trail. For more information contact Karin at 651-772-2075 or Karin@DaytonsBluff.org.

Block club meetings

  * Wilson Avenue Block Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at Mounds Park United Methodist Church, at Earl and Euclid, at 6:30 p.m.
  * Margaret Rec Center Block Club meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Margaret Rec Center, at Margaret and Frank, at 6:30 p.m.
  * Beech/Margaret 654 Block Club meets on the last Thursday of each month at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Margaret and Forest at 6:30 pm. This block club covers the area Minnehaha, Beech Margaret, 6th, 5th, and 4th between Cypress and Arcade.
  * Frank Street Block Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Immanuel City of Refuge Healing Temple at 815 Frank Street at 6 p.m. This block club encompasses 7th, Ross, Bush. Reaney, and Minnehaha between Earl and Johnson Parkway.
  If you wish to have your block club listed, or need information about starting you own block club, please contact Karin at 651-772-2075 or Karin@DaytonsBluff.org.

Welcome New Neighbors Meeting

Come celebrate 100 years of Franciscans at Sacred Heart Church

Women of Dayton's Bluff History Walk - Part 2

By Steve Trimble
    As you may remember, the first part of this women’s history of Dayton’s Bluff walking tour was in the August issue of the Dayton’s Bluff District Forum. Here is the exciting last third or so of the heritage walk.
   While on the actual trek, we realized that one site had been left out so here it is. It is located west of the Dayton’s Bluff Elementary School between Bates and Maria.
697 Surrey: Sharon Anderson House
   This little residence is easy to spot if you look for the small wooden white lawn sign that says “Vote for Sharon Anderson” in red lettering. It is the home of Sharon Anderson who was probably called a “political maverick” before Sarah Palin ever got out of elementary school.
    She looks after her part of the neighborhood and often comments on local matters and concerns. She has frequently run for political office and a few years ago made a sizeable showing in a statewide attorney general primary election. She recently announced that she is running to become the first woman mayor of St. Paul.

   We now resume our walk.  We have just visited the Dayton’s Bluff Children’s Garden at the corner of Maria Ave. and Third St. and are now walking along Maria until we reach Fourth St.
[Take a left and go to the end of Fourth Street]
654 E. Fourth:  Julia Knauft House
  This house is not of any unique architectural construction, but is a good example of the “four square” style which featured a footprint with four rooms on each floor. It was a popular model when this one was built by the Knauft family in 1908. They remained there for over a decade and the 1918 city directory indicated that Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Knauft, and their daughter Julia were living at this address. 
   The interesting story here is the fact that the movie “That Was Then, This is Now,” featuring a young Emilio Estevez and veteran actor Morgan Freeman, used it as a major setting. Released in the fall of 1985, it is the story of two juvenile delinquents living in this house and slowly parting ways as one starts to try to change for the better.
[Go north on the sidewalk along the bluff]
Mounds Blvd and Fifth St. Area: The Muench and Muench-Hinrichs Houses
   Here are two homes that were part of the close-knit German-American community of Dayton’s Bluff and that reflect some aspects of nineteenth century women’s culture.
   Families entertained one another. One descendent remembered times in the Muench house at 653 E 5th.  Because of the size of the lawn, it was a natural gathering place for children. The wooden stairway down from Hoffman (today’s Mounds Boulevard) was a special treat. 
   There was always a traditional Fourth of July party when the lawn was dotted with Japanese lanterns and carriages crowded up in the turnaround. Every summer there were ice cream socials among the lilac bushes and oak trees.
   She also fondly remembered that Mrs. Hinrich of 334 Mounds Boulevard had “at home” day every Thursday. According to her: “There would be preparation of baking and cleaning. Linen dust covers were removed from the furniture in the formal front parlor.”  For many hours family and neighborhood friends would drop by to talk and share refreshments.
[Take a right on East Fifth and return to Maria Avenue]
348 Maria Avenue: The Miller-Marlowe Building
    In 1884, the Pioneer Press noted that Catherine Miller had built a four-story grocery store and flats at Maria and Fifth.  It was then common to put living units on the upper floors of retail space. However, it appears that she never lived there and remained in her downtown residence. The 1885 city directory recorded that Catherine (widow of Mathias) was living at 234 West Fifth. 
     The same directory also showed that Caroline Miller (widow of Stephen) was running a grocery store at the northeast corner of Fifth and Maria. It is probable, but not yet known that they were related. By 1930 it was called the Marlowe Apartments. It was at the outset of the Great Depression and three of its twelve units were listed as vacant. 
[Take a left and continue on Maria Avenue].
700 E. 7th: St. John’s Hospital and Metropolitan State University
   It is often difficult to find historic documents that describe the lives and contributions of women. But our neighborhood is lucky to have the reminiscences of Martha Willius Clausen. In the 1870s and 1880s, the Willius family lived in a house on the bluff where St. John’s Hospital stood and Metropolitan State University now stands.
   “Those were the days when we had horses,” she wrote. “The barns were for the horses, a pair for carriage use…and a pony which I could use.”  “We had a cow and plenty of good milk, and chickens so we always had fresh eggs.” Her friends, almost all of German heritage, used to gather at various homes on Saturdays to sew and crochet while their mothers read to them. They were known as W. O. R. B., which stood for “wreath of rose buds.”
   The history of St. John’s Hospital is filled with the stories of women. One of them is that of Madgdelana Rau who was hired in 1911 to be the institutions first Superintendent—a job that ended up lasting forty-two years. In addition, a small training school for nursing was established and the first class of ten was graduated in 1914. When a new hospital was completed in 1915, the former building was then used as a nurses quarters.
   Metropolitan State University, which came to the site in the 1980’s, had three women presidents. The first was Reatha Clark King who was president from 1977 to 1988.  Raised in an African American family in the south, she gained a PhD in chemistry and taught before going into educational administration. She later went on to become a vice-president of the General Mills Company.
[Cross East Seventh and take a right on East Eighth]
700 East Eighth: Former Petra Howard House
   For many years this structure housed a unique program that dealt with the mental health issues of deaf people. It was named after Petra Howard, who was a well-known leader in the field who advocated for culturally appropriate treatment for deaf people while working for the state.
[Continue down Eighth Street to Bates and enter the small   park. You will be walking through it to get to East Seventh]
Bates and East Seventh: Gauger Park/Maria Bates Rain Garden
   Look closely at the base of a tree and you can find a memorial plaque for Bonnie Luke, an academic advisor at Metropolitan State from 1988 to 1994, the year of her death. Along with other students, staff and community volunteers, she worked to develop August Gauger Park, named for the architect of the adjacent Stutzman Block.
   The Maria Bates Rain Garden, on the northwest corner of Gauger Park  is an urban green space designed to filter and purify groundwater runoff. It is located ob the land that was donated to the city in the early 1900’s as a triangle park named after Maria Bates Dayton.
725 E. Seventh: Swede Hollow Café
   The Swede Hollow Cafe was founded in 1996 by two Dayton’s Bluff women-Sandi Younkin and Carol Carey. Its creation was part of the community effort to buy and restore the Victorian Stutzmann Block that had become a neighborhood eyesore. The unique restaurant, now under new ownership, has become a popular community gathering place. 
[Go left on Seventh Street. When you get to Greenbrier take a left]
735 East Seventh: The Old Protestant Home
   The history of the institution on your right goes back to 1869 when a group of twelve women of the Presbyterian Church began to help house St. Paul’s destitute women and children. They started “The Home For the Friendless” in nearby Railroad Island and in 1917 moved into the old Mayall homestead on the corner of East Seventh and Maple. As the years passed they found that they were caring for more elderly folks, built a new structure and made additions.
   Thankfully, in 1935, the name of the thirty-nine single rooms was changed to the Protestant home and the term “inmate” was changed to “resident.” Initially people could buy a life membership the home for $1,000. It has undergone several recent changes and is now one of the Cerenity Homes for senior citizens.
Greenbrier and Margaret: Upper Swede Hollow Park
   Olivia Irvine Dodge was president of the Saint Paul Garden Club and was the leading force for getting funding to create Upper Swede Hollow Park on the site of the former Hamm Mansion. She made this her pet project in the mid-1970s, bringing new members to the area and speaking with government officials countless times. She and her group also did many of the initial plantings in the new park.
Greenbrier and Margaret: The Hamm Mansion
   Louise Hamm was a classic behind the scenes leader at the famous Hamm’s Brewery, which made its century-long appearance in 1865. Although initially inexperienced , she became an excellent businesswoman, managing the storeroom and keeping the books for the two plants.
   Some of her efforts were linked with food. Louise planned and prepared the noon meals for the workers. She also operated a boarding house for single male employees. When her husband invited farmers who came to use the gristmill to stay around for food and, she brought out the repast. With all that cooking, she finally came up with the idea of starting the Hamm’s Beer Garden which became a longtime attraction. Her story can be found in a recent book entitled Louise’s Legacy: Hamm Family Stories by Moira Harris.
[Head down Margaret Street]
732 Margaret: The Defiel House
   This house was built for the Defiel family in 1890.  Henry Defiel was the eldest son of a German immigrant who had made his fortune dealing in ice. The business was called the People’s Ice Company.
   Hilda was very active in the women’s culture of Dayton’s Bluff and a major participant in what was then called the club movement. For instance, the December 1928 issue of the East Side Journal said that Mrs.Defiel gave a talk to the women of the Dayton’s Bluff Study Club. The lecture was  “The Origins of Christmas Legends and Customs of Different People.”
[Keep going on Margaret until you reach East Seventh]
797 East Seventh: The Cervantes Room in the CLUES Building
   When the Cervantes came to Minnesota in the 1940’s as Mexican immigrant farm workers they settled on St. Paul’s West Side. When the river flats were developed away in the 1960’s, they settled on the East Side on Maria Avenue. 
   Maria de Carmen Cervantes was a highly religious Catholic who emphasized education as the key to advancement. She had never graduated from high school, but her dream was to see that her children did.  In fact all seven of them received degrees from Macalester College.
   In September 1999, shortly before her death, Maria was recognized by the National Council for Education and presented the Trio Achievers Award   for those who have made worthy contributions to educational efforts.
   In January 2000 Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) dedicated the Cervantes Room in her name. They wished to honor the philosophy of a widowed mother of seven children    who proved that you can succeed in spite of difficult situations and to acknowledge her struggle and strength of belief. If you go inside, you can see an oil painting of Maria.
[Cross East Seventh and you are back at the starting point at 798 E. 7th St.]
   So there you have it. The first Dayton’s Bluff Women’s History Walk. And perhaps the last, unless someone - hopefully of the female gender - steps up and offers to be the next tour guide. And, of course, we hope that if you have any people you think should be added or suggestions to make, you will contact Karin DuPaul, our community organizer, at 772-2075.

Mound Park Grade School class of 1959 50th reunion

From L to R: [Front row] - Kathy (Anderson) Vollmer, Darlene (Wulfing) White, Madeline (Kush) Schmidt, Annette Nordstrom. [Second row] - Linda (Salchow) Vickers, Kathy (Continenza) Whitney, Gloria (Brisson) Gebhard, Myra J. Peterson, Dale Sweno. [Third row] - Richard Peterson, Dick Tubbesing, Judy (Smith) Anderson, Pam Hopkins, Diana (Riehm) Doherty, Harlan Hanson, Bob Roberto, Bill Rahm (8th grade teacher). [Fourth row] Bill Roth, Frank Damon, Rich Walker, John Kolb, Dave Petrie, Jerome Anderson, Greg Hartman, Dick Dufresne. (Attending but not shown - Arnie Miller)

An interview with Phoenix Market owner Ali Artoli

Set of 12 Dayton's Bluff postcards available

The Dayton’s Bluff area has always been picturesque.  It has so many scenic views—and now they are available in postcards! There are 12 different scenes, including  the Seventh Street Improvement Arches, the Mounds Park Pavilion, the Scenic Overlock at Mounds Park, the Margaret Recreation Center, the Stutzman Block, the 3M water tower and six others.    A set of 12 is $10—only $5 for Dayton’s Bluff residents. Buy one to keep and one to send. Photography and printing of the postcards was donated by Dayton’s Bluff resident Steve Trimble. All proceeds support our local paper, the Dayton’s Bluff District Forum. Call 651-772-2075 for more information

Amazing Grace Assembly of God
1237 Earl St.
651-778-1768    
Sun 9:30 am - Sunday school all ages
Sun 10:30 am - morning Worship
Sun 6:00 pm - evening Worship

Hmong Asbury United Methodist  
815 Frank St.  
651-771-0077

Bethlehem Lutheran Church  
655 Forest St.  
651-776-4737
Sun 9:00 am - Morning Service
Sun 10:15-11:15 am - Sunday School & Bible Hour
Sun 11:15 - Hmong Service

Faith Temple - Templo De Fe
1510 Payne Ave
651-778-0096
Sun 10:30 am - Spanish Bilingual Service
Sun 6:00 pm – Spanish Bilingual Service
Wednesday family night

Mounds Park United Methodist 
1049 Euclid St. 
651-774-8736
9:15 am -  Sunday School, 4-year-old through Adult
10:30 am - Worship

Our Savior’s Lutheran  ‘LCMS’
674 Johnson Pkwy 
651-774-2396
Sun only - 8am Worship, 9:20 education hour
Sun 10:45am - Worship

Sacred Heart Catholic Church  
Iglesia Sagrado Corazón
840 E. 6th St.
651-776-2741
Sat 4:00 pm English Mass &
   5:30 pm Spanish Missa
Sun 9:00 am English Mass &
   11:00 am Spanish Missa
Mon, Wed, Fri 8:00 am Mass

St. John of Saint Paul Catholic Church
977 E. 5th St.  
651-771-3690  
Mon-Sat. 8:00 am – Mass
Sat 4:15 pm - Mass
Sun 9:00 am, 11:00 am - Mass

St. John’s Outreach Ministry
1154 E. 7th St.  
651-771-7639
Sun 9:30 am - Sunday School
Sun 10:45 am - Worship
Wed 7:00 pm - Bible Study

St. John Ev. Lutheran
765 Margaret St.
651-771-6406
Sun 9:30 am - Worship
Thurs 6:30 pm - Worship