Author: Jake Spitzack
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A glimpse into the past: the Ryan Hotel
(September 2023)Tim SpitzackEditor In the summer of 1885, St. Paul welcomed the opening of what was arguably the most elegant hotel in the Twin Cities: The Ryan Hotel. Located in the heart of the city at 6th and Robert, the Ryan was an impressive Victorian Gothic structure rising seven stories, the first building in St.… Read more
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A sticky situation at Stickney: Safety issues plagued South St. Paul’s first school building
(August 2023)Tim SpitzackEditor You’ve heard of school closures in Minnesota due to blizzards and extreme cold. But what about high winds? That’s what educators dealt with in the early 1900s at Stickney School, South St. Paul’s first public school building.Located near the site of the present-day secondary school, Stickney was the first of five red… Read more
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West Side bodybuilder takes gold at 60
(August 2023)Jake SpitzackStaff Writer the urge to compete. One day last year, Burt marked his calendar for the International Pro Elite (IPE) Pro North American contest, held this past May in Bloomington, and began to train in secret, rather than at his regular gym in West St. Paul. Twenty weeks of a strict regimen –… Read more
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The significance of the Armour Gates
(July 2023)By Tim Spitzack It’s been 33 years since the wrecking ball tore into the long-vacated remains of the Armour & Co. meatpacking plant in South St. Paul. Swing after swing, the once 22-building complex that sprawled across 47 acres was reduced to a pile of rubble. When the dust settled, all that remained were… Read more
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Time marches on: A look at the historic clocks at Union Depot
(July 2023)Tim SpitzackEditor The two clocks in the Head House at Union Depot have marked the passage of time for a full century, each tick serving as a bridge between the past and the present. Since the depot first opened in 1923 the clocks have been prominently displayed between the stately marbled columns at opposite… Read more
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Meet Treehouse Mary: An Octogenarian who lives among the birds and the squirrels
Meet Treehouse Mary: An Octogenarian wholives among the birds and the squirrels (July 2023)Tim SpitzackEditor Mary Nelson was 75 years old the day she abruptly decided that the towering 60-foot-tall oak tree in her backyard needed a treehouse. The tree, she estimated, had been there long before her home was built in 1930. One day… Read more
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An up-close look at our national mammal: the American bison
(July 2023)Tim SpitzackEditor For the first time in nearly 150 years, American bison are once again roaming the prairie along the Mississippi river. Our nation’s national mammal was reintroduced to Spring Lake Park Reserve in northern Dakota County last fall and the 8-head herd has already expanded by 50% – four calves were born this… Read more
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The history of Kaposia Days
Tim SpitzackEditor The year was 1976 and communities across the country were busy planning celebrations to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial. Old Glory was flying everywhere, and patriotic messages filled business marquees from coast to coast. But here in South St. Paul, the mood was far from celebratory. Many residents were in a state of shock… Read more
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Historical scavenger hunt at the Central Library
Historical scavenger hunt at the Central Library Tim SpitzackEditor The next time you visit the George Latimer Central Library you should check out something other than a book, namely its exquisite architecture and the historical gems of the century-old building. The library was designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style by architect Electus Litchfield in… Read more