DISTRICT FORUM Volume 18, No. 10 www.daytonsbluff.org December2005

This month in 1991...

“The morning after the nightbefore.” Halloween 1991 scared usall when it surprised us with two feetof snow.Photo courtesy Greg Cosimini

Discover the identity of this manand unearth his connection to apresent-day Dayton’s Bluff residenton page 6.

A Christmas Story...........Page 2

Upcoming Events..............Page 2

Free Concert.............Page 2

Community Meetings.........Page 2

Crime Alert...................Page 3

Rec Center Listings..........Page 3

Church Directory ..........Page 3

History of Dayton’s Bluff..Page 4

Letter to Editor.............Page 6

A Bad Hair Day...........Page 6

‘Doctor’s Office’ Open....Page 7

Reverend Hamilton....Page 8

CDC Open House..........Page 8

Mounds Theatre..........Page 8

Inside This Issue

At large representatives are ScottVan Cleave and Walter Waranka Subdistrict A: Roy Carlson, CandiceParker and Emily Shively Subdistrict B: Jean Comstock,Sharon McCrea, Erica Schneeklothand Erin Stojan Subdistrict C: Greg Auge, MirandaGodfread, Jen King and BarbaraRiopelle Subdistrict D: Jacob Dorer ,

Members of the Community DesignCenter’s East Side ConservationCorps received a Junior Ranger Awardfrom First Lady Laura Bush, Chair ofthe National Park Service Foundation,on July 27, 2005. Community DesignCenter’s Conservation Corpsmembers were awarded for their workat the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary,a 27-acre former toxic dump on theMississippi River in East St. Paul thatis being transformed into a sanctuary

First Lady Laura BushPresents Conservation Award

for birds and other wildlife. This yearthe youth corps members have:· Planted 2800 wetland plantsincluding sedges, forbs, and grasses;· Planted, mulched, and watered 400trees and shrubs;· Removed nonnative and invasivespecies including burdock, Commonbuckthorn, purple loosestrife, andcommon and giant ragweed;· Installed erosion control silt fencingon slopes;

Dayton’s Bluff District 4 CommunityCouncil 2005-6 Board Members

Stephanie Harr, Linda LaBarre andDavid Murphy There is one opening on the boardin Subdistrict A, which is roughly thearea bordered by East 6th Street,Forest, Phalen Corridor, and JohnsonParkway. To learn more about the CommunityCouncil call Executive DirectorNachee Lee or Community OrganizerKarin DuPaul at 651-772-2075.

Hamm’s BrewerySunset Picnic

By Karin DuPaul The Hamm’s Brewery Picnic inSwede Hollow on Friday, October28th was a great success. The weatherwas good, the food was excellent, andeveryone had a great time. Planning for the evening startedabout a year and a half ago whenFriends of Swede Hollow (FOSH)member Murph Dawkins returnedhome from a long business trip. Torelax she walked into Swede Hollowas the sun set on the red brickbuildings. The glow of the sunimpressed her so much that she wantedeveryone to experience it, so westarted planning the event. The evening started with aroundfifty people gathering at “SwedeHollow Henge” in Swede HollowPark and watching the glow of the sunon the red brick brewery walls. Peopleattending included Hamm’s Clubmembers, who formerly worked at theHamm’s Brewery; Joe Sanchelli whogrow up in Swede Hollow; Friends ofSwede Hollow members; and manyneighborhood people. Murph spokebriefly about the glow of the sun onthe red brick buildings. Carol Carey,Co-Chair of the Hamm’s Brewery AdHoc Advisory Committee, spokeabout the work of the committee andthe reuse of the brewery buildings. Then as the sun set the picnic beganwith the Swede Hollow and the SaintPaul downtown skyline as a backdrop.Live music was provided by JoeSanchelli and everyone had awonderful time. The door prize waswon by former Hamm’s employeeBill Daley. FOSH is planning to makethis an annual fall event. Enjoying a Swede Hollow Sunset

‘First Lady’ continues on page 2

Page 2 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum December 2005

A Christmas StoryReturns to the Mounds

A Christmas Story is returning to thestage at the Mounds Theatre thisDecember. It’s everyone’s favoritestory of the Parker family’s attemptto celebrate a peaceful, old-fashionedChristmas while son Ralphie schemesto have Santa Claus bring him anofficial Red Ryder BB gun and theOld Man displays his “major award”in the living room window. This holiday classic was firstproduced live on stage at the MoundsTheatre in December 2004 and was agreat success. This year’s productionwill be even bigger and better. Createor continue a holiday tradition at theMounds Theatre. A Christmas Storyis appropriate for all ages and this yearthere is discount pricing for children.

Performances:Friday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m.Saturday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.Sunday, December 4 at 2:00 p.m.Friday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m.Saturday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 11 at 2:00 p.m.Friday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m.Saturday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m.Sunday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m.

Based on humorist Jean Shepherd’smemoirs of growing up in theMidwest in the 1940s, A ChristmasStory follows 9-year-old RalphieParker in his quest to get a legendaryofficial Red Ryder 200-shot CarbineAction Range Model Air Rifle underthe tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleadshis case before his mother, his teacherand even Santa Claus himself. Theirconsistent response: “You’ll shootyour eye out.” All of your favorite moments fromthe film are brought to life on stage,including the family’s temperamentalexploding furnace; Scut Farkus, theschool bully; an unfortunateexperiment with a wet tongue on acold flagpole; the Little Orphan Anniedecoder pin; Ralphie’s father winninga “major award” – a lamp shaped likea woman’s leg in a net stocking;Ralphie’s fantasy scenarios; and, ofcourse, the big day itself. Ian Buck, a Dayton’s Bluff resident

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who starred as Mowgli in the MoundsTheatre’s summer production ofDisney’s Jungle Book, is playingyoung Ralphie, while Michael Ruth,another local resident, plays adultRalph. The rest of the cast includesactors from all over the Twin Cities. A Christmas Story is being producedby the Portage for Youth under theguidance of Raeann Ruth, ExecutiveDirector of the Portage for Youth andthe Mounds Theatre. Richard Jackson,Associate Artistic Director of StartingGate Productions, directs. Amber Ruthis stage manger, assisted by MarquisHarris and Janine Cummins. Ticket prices are: $15 Adults; $10Student/Senior; and $5 Children (12and under). Tickets to A Christmas Story are theperfect early Christmas gift for thewhole family or for those hard-to-buy-for people on your Christmas list. Butdon’t delay! Tickets are going fast.Contact the Mounds Theatre to orderyour tickets. Visitwww.moundstheatre.org or call 651-772-2253. The Mounds Theatre is located at1029 Hudson Road.

Gardening Ideas Exchange

By Mary Mac Will you be wondering what to doafter the Holidays have passed? Comejoin fellow gardeners in an exchangeof ideas on Gardening andLandscaping on the Bluff. All levelsof Gardeners are welcomed. We willlook at landscaping principles, talkabout various types of plants fromherbs to Minnesota Natives to WaterGardens, discuss stepping stones andbird feeders, and listen to speakers onPlanting for Wildlife, Front Gardens,Herbs and Gardening on a Budget. Come join our first meeting onThursday, Jan. 19, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.at the Dayton’s Bluff District 4Community Council meeting room,798 East 7th Street for treats and ideas. For more information call Karin at651-772-2075.

December EventsMOUNDS PARK UNITEDMETHODIST CHURCH- Dec. 18, 2005=Hand Bell Concert10:30a.m.- Every 3rd Saturday of the month,Glorious Grocery Give-A-Way(Haircuts, Music and Church Servicesfor the People)10:30a.m. to 12:00a.m.- Every 3rd Sunday of the month,Mounds Park United MethodistChurch also has a Tutor Program withVolunteers for the 2nd and 4th gradersevery Tuesday and Thursday from3:30pm.m to 5:15p.m.AMERICANFor more information, please call(651) 774-8736.

BETHLEHEM LUTHERANCHURCH- Saturday, December 3 – CookieWalk, 10:00am – noon- Wednesday, December 7 – SoupSupper, 5:00 – 6:15 pm

PARKWAY ELEMENTARYSCHOOL1363 BUSH AVE.ST. PAUL, MN 55106- Dec. 7, 2005=Early Release Day-School Dismissed at 1:05p.m.- Dec. 15, 2005=Grandparents DayWinter Concert- Dec. 19, 2005=Winter BreakFor times of events and information,please call (651) 293-8845.

AMERICAN INDIAN MAGNET1075 E. THIRD AVEST. PAUL, MN 55106- Dec 9, 2005=POW WOW (IndianEducation Program) 6:30pm-9:00pm(2nd Friday of each month)No smoking on school propertyFor more information, please call(651) 778-3100.

Mark Your Calendar:Monthly CommunityMeetings The Dayton’s Bluff CommunityMeetings will work with block clubsand neighborhood residents onproblem properties, both nuisancebehavior and code enforcement issues,as well as other neighborhood issues,concerns, and improvements.

The group will meet monthly on thefirst Wednesday of each month. Thenext meeting will be on Wednesday,December 7, 2005 at 798 East 7thStreet at 6:30 p.m. At this meeting arepresentative from the Saint PaulPolice Department Gang Unit andgraffiti expert Meredith Vogland willdiscuss the gang and graffiti problemsin Dayton’s Bluff. Please come or callwith your problem addresses. Pleasecall with your problem addresses.

Mark your calendar with the Januaryand February meeting dates becausethe next issue of the Dayton’s BluffDistrict Forum won’t be publisheduntil March 2006. The January 2006meeting is on Wednesday the 4th andthe February 2006 meeting is onWednesday the 1st. If you need moreinformation call Karin at 651-772-2075.

· Prepared the slope between MoundsPark and the Sanctuary for nativeprairie seed planting. In addition to their work at the BruceVento Nature Sanctuary, theConservation Corps spent the spring,summer and fall planting andmaintaining rain gardens throughoutthe East Side, planting native plantsand removing invasive plant speciesat Lake Phalen, and maintainingHamms Park. Partnering with the Dayton’s BluffCommunity Council and localbusinesses, the Conservation Corpsalso planted 24 pots of flowers andornamental grasses on East 7th Street.This fall and winter these young EastSiders are also making Power Pointpresentations of the history of theBruce Vento Nature Sanctuary to the3M Corporation, the Science Museumof Minnesota, local schools, andcommunity organizations. Please contact Ruth MurphyCommunity Design Center at 651-228-7073 for more information.

FREE HANDYMAN SERVICESIf you are a senior and/or handicapped,a Dayton’s Bluff resident, and needsome help with repairs on your house.Call Karin at 651-772-2075.

Metropolitan State ToHost Free Concert.

Metropolitan State Universitypresents “Holiday Pops” by theMinnesota Sinfonia, conducted by JayFishman, on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m.in the university’s Auditorium, 700East Seventh Street, Saint Paul. Theconcert is free and open to the public. The Minnesota Sinfonia willperform holiday favorites. Featuredguest soloist is Chad Hoopes, violinistand winner in the junior division ofthe 2005 Young Artist Competition.He will perform the third movementof the Bruch Violin Concerto. For special accommodations callDisability and Special Services at 651-793-1540 or 651-772-7687 (TTY). This concert is the first in a series offour free performances atMetropolitan State by the MinnesotaSinfonia, thanks to a grant from theAnna M. Heilmaier CharitableFoundation. The next concerts are onFridays, Jan. 13, Feb. 3 and 24. Metropolitan State University, amember of the Minnesota StateColleges and Universities System,provides high-quality, affordableeducation programs for adults seekingbaccalaureate and master’s degrees. It is the only state university in theTwin Cities metropolitan area.

‘First Lady’ from page 1:

INTERPRETER NEEDEDAssist human services staff to servenon-English speaking clients bytranslating / reverse translatingHmong, Somali, Oromo, orSpanish and English and performrelated duties as assigned.Volunteers must be at least 16 yearsof age. Contact Ramsey CountyCommunity Human Services—Volunteer Services at 651-266-4090 for additional information

December 2005 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum Page 3

Amazing Grace Assembly of God1237 Earl St.651-778-1768Sun 9:30 am - Sunday schoolSun 10:30 am - morning WorshipSun 6:00 pm - evening Worship

Hmong Asbury United Methodist815 Frank St.651-771-0077

Bethlehem Lutheran Church655 Forest St.651-776-4737Sun 9:00 am - Morning ServiceSun 10:15-11:15 am - SundaySchool & Bible HourSun 11:15 - Hmong Service(see more information to left)

Faith Temple - Templo De Fe1510 Payne Ave651-778-0096Sun 10:30 am - Spanish BilingualServiceSun 6:00 pm – Spanish BilingualServiceWednesday family night

First Lutheran Church ELCA463 Maria651-776-7210Sun 9:00 am – Worship serviceSun 10:15 am - Education all agesFellowship following worship.Christmas services are on December24th at 4:30 pm and 10:00 pm

Mounds Park United Methodist1049 Euclid St.651-774-87369:15am Sunday School, 4-year-oldthrough Adult. 10:30 am worship(see more information to left)

Our Savior’s Lutheran ‘LCMS’674 Johnson Pkwy651-774-2396Sun only - 8am Worship, 9:20education hourSun 10:45am - Worship

Sacred Heart Catholic Church840 E. 6th St.651-776-2741Sat 4:00 pm – MassSun 9:00 am – MassMon, Wed, Fri 8:00 am – WeekdayService

St. John’s Catholic Church977 E. 5th St.651-771-3690Mon-Fri 8:00 am – MassSat 8:00 am & 4:15 pm - MassSun 9:00 am, 11:00 am – Mass

St. John’s Church of God in Christ1154 E. 7th St.651-771-7639Sun 9:30 am - Sunday School;Sun 11:00 am - WorshipWed 7:00 pm - Bible Study

St. John Ev. Lutheran765 Margaret St.651-771-6406Sun 9:30 am - WorshipThurs 6:30 pm - Worship

Community Recreation CentersDayton’s Bluff800 Conway St.651-793-3885

Margaret1109 Margaret St.

651-298-5719

Phalen1000 E. Wheelock Pkwy

651-793-6600Winter-Spring Program will be outthis month! (Jan.- May 2006 Events& Activities) Stop by the center topick up your copy or visit us on lineat www.ci.stpaul.mn/depts/parks

SPRING SPORTS REGIS-TRATION - Volleyball, IndoorSoccer, Floor Hockey. Feb. 6-17.Ages 5-12. Registration formsavailable Feb. 6PARENT TOT PLAY TIME -Mon., Wed., Fri.’s 10 am-12 pm.Free. Ages 0-5SENIOR CARDS - 500 - Friday’s12:30-4 pm Fee: $2 weekly fee for thekitty.JUDO - Ages 7-12 Sat.’s 12-2pm Fee: $15/month = 4 weeksOn-goingJUDO FOR TOTS - Ages 4-6Tues.’s 5-7 pm Fee: $15/month =4 weeksCAMP FIRE COMMUNITYFAMILY CLUB This cluboffers an opportunity for families tointeract together positively withexperiences and activities that arestructured, educational and fun.Meetings are led by two or moretrained adults, using the nationallydeveloped CampFire USA outcome-based curriculum. Includes food &activities. 6-8 pmDec. 19, Jan. 30, Feb, 27, Mar. 27,Apr. 24, May 22, June 26 $4 persession or $20 per family if youregister for all of them.OVER 30 VOLLEYBALL &BASKETBALL Thurs., Dec. 8. 11am-1 pm. $1 / week On-goingICE SKATING LESSONSAges 4-7. Wed., Jan. 11 6-7 pm $126 ses.Ages 8-12 Wed., Jan. 11. 7-8 pm $126 ses.MOVIE MYSTERY NIGHT A l lages Wed.’s, Jan. 11. 6-8 pm. Free.12 weeksCRIBBAGE Adult/Seniors Tues.,Jan. 11 12-3 pm. $0.50 per week. 10wks.SCOTTISH DANCING Ages 7-12.Tues., Jan. 17 6-7 pm. $40. 8 ses.IRISH DANCING Ages 5-12Wed., Jan. 26 6-7 pm. $30. 6 ses.CHEERLEADING (Cheer America)Ages 5 & up. Mon., Feb. 6. 6-7:30pm. $5 registration fee + $6 / week.12 ses.YOUNG AMERICANS SELFDEFENSE Ages 5 & up. Wed.,Feb. 8 6-8 pm $5 registration fee &$6 / week 12 ses.PRE-BALLET Ages 4-6Fri., Jan. 27 12-12:30 pm $40+ costume fee 10 ses.BEGINNING BALLETAges 7-12 Fri., Jan. 27 12:30-1:30pm . $44 + costume fee 10 ses.INTERMEDIATE BALLET Ages13-18. Fri., Jan. 27. 1:30-2:30 pm.$44 + costume fee. 10 ses.CONTINUING BALLET FORRETURNING STUDENTS Ages 7& up 5-6 pm $44+ costume fee10 ses.

TUMBLING TOTS Ages 3-4 Sat.,Jan. 28 10-10:30 am $22. 6 ses.KINDER TOTS Ages 4-6. Sat., Jan.28. 10:30-11:20 am. $26. 6 ses.MOM, DAD & ME TUMBLINGAges 3-5. Mon., Jan. 30. 2:10-2:40pm. $22. 6 ses.BUBBLING POTIONS Ages: 2-5Thurs., Mar. 2 11-11:45 am. $4 perchild. Limit 20. 1 ses.SPORTIES FOR SHORTIES(TEAM GAMES for TODDLERS)Ages: 3-5 yrs Tues., Feb. 21. 1:30-2:30 pm. $12. 6 weeksTEENS IN ACTION - The groupmeet on Tuesday & Thursday’s from5-7 pm. Free New members arewanted.WOMEN’S SELF DEFENSEMon., Feb. 6. 6:15-8:15 pm. $45. 8ses.KICKBOXING FOR ADULTSTues., Feb. 21. 6:30-7:30 pm. $45.6 ses.ADULT CO-ED VOLLEYBALLFriday’s6-8:45 pm $1 / weekSWIM, GYM & MOVIE TRIPGr. 6th & under Fri., Jan. 27. 9:30am-4 pm $7SEASAME STREET LIVEPRESENT SUPER GOVER!READY For ACTION Fri., Jan. 279 am-12:30 pm $14TUBING AT GREEN ACRES G r .K-6th Fri, Feb. 3. 2-7 pm. $12.50WINTER BLASTGr. 6th & under Mon., Feb. 13/20. 4-7 pm. $4 per day.Gr. 6th-12th. Mon., Feb. 13/20 6 - 9pm. $4 per dayICE FISHING Ages 6-12. Thurs.,Feb. 2 4-6 pm. Free. 1 ses.MAPLEWOOD COMM.CENTER SWIMMING Ages 7 & up Fri., Mar. 10 1 2 -4 pm $10 youth, $12 adultsWINTER ADVENTURES G r .K-6th Fri., Mar. 10 9 am-4:30pm $25DISNEY ON ICE – THEINCREDIBLES IN A MAGICKINGDOM ADVENTURE Sat.,Mar. 11 10 am-2 pm. $15PARENT’S NIGHT OUT Ages 6-12. Fri., Feb. 10. 6-9 pm. $10. 1ses.TEN DOLLAR PROM Gr. 9-11.Fri., Feb. 17. 7-10 pm. $10 percoupleFIRST AID FOR CHILDRENTODAYAges 5-8. Sat., Feb. 18. 11am-1 pm. $1. 31 ses.MUSICAL BABIES Ages 6 mo.-3 yrs. Fri., Feb. 3. 9:30-10:15 am.$180. 15 ses.MUSICAL TODDLERS Ages 2-4.Fri., Feb. 3. 10:30 -11:15 am. $180.15 ses.WINTER CARNIVAL TEENDANCE Gr. 7-9. Fri., Jan.20 7 -10 pm. $5INFANT / CHILD CPR COURSEAdult. Wed., Mar. 1. 5:30-8:30 pm$45. 2 ses.COMMUNITY CRAFT & BAKESALE Sat., Mar. 4. 9 am-2:30 pm$10 per table

CRIME ALERT The Saint Paul Police Departmentis alerting all residents of an ongoingcrime. Two white males have beenapproaching homeowners asking formoney, rides or to use their phone. THIS IS UNSAFE! The two suspects are described aswhite males, 25-32 years of age. Theyare polite and convincing which leadsresidents to give them rides, money,or even allow them into their homes. Police are tracking residentialburglaries possibly connected to thesesuspects. They are believed to havetaken wallets, cash, and keys fromresidents.* DO NOT BECOME A VICTIM!* DO NOT open the door if you don’tknow who it is - suspects have claimedto be a neighbor in distress. Offer tocall 9-1-1 for them but do not openyour door!* DO NOT give money to a stranger -suspects have stolen cash, wallets,credit cards, and keys.* DO NOT allow a stranger into yourhome - suspects have stolen fromhomes once they are let in* DO NOT give strangers a ride. BE ALERT, SHARE THISINFORMATION WITH YOURNEIGHBORS, AND REPORT ALLSUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY!! Call 291-1111 or 9-1-1 Be prepared to give as muchinformation as you can includinggender, race, age, height, weight,clothing description, facial hair,possible vehicle, and direction thesuspect went. A partial description isbetter than nothing! For more information call Karin atthe Dayton’s Bluff CommunityCouncil 651-772-2075.

Bethlehem Lutheran ChurchAdvent Worship Service, 6:30 pmWednesday, December 14 – SoupSupper, 5:00 – 6:15 pm.Sunday School Christmas Program,6:30 pm.Saturday, December 24 – ChristmasEve Service, 4:00 pm.Christmas Eve Service, 11:00 pmSunday, December 25 – ChristmasDay Festival Service in both English&Hmong,10:00 am Saturday,December 31 – New Year’s EveService, 7:00 pm.

Mounds Park United MethodistDec. 11, 2005=Children ChristmasPageant and Potluck. 10:30a.m.Contemporary Worship 10:30a.m. (Month-to-Month events)Christmas Eve (Dec. 24, 2004)10:30a.m.Christmas Day (Dec. 25, 2005)10:30a.m. Worship.

FREE CURTAIN ROD/BLINDS

Free 60” to 110” curtain rod andnine plastic window blinds (somewhite and some blue) 27” x 64”.Stop by and pick them up at theDayton’s Bluff CommunityCouncil, 798 East 7th Street or call651-772-2075.

Page 4 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum December 2005

A Short History of Dayton’s Bluff by Steve Trimble

Chapter #12: The Twenties The decade between World War Oneand the Depression are usually portrayedas a period of social abandon. Books aboutit are named “fords flappers and fanatics”or call it the jazz age. St. Paul historiesusually focus on prohibition and thecriminals who lived freely in the wide-open city. But a close look at the experience ofDayton’s Bluff suggests that the story ofthis and other neighborhoods is richer andfar more complex. It is true that theautomobile did have a major impact, butpeople should not overlook the newbuilding boom, changes in the urbanlandscape, social shifts as well as culturalcontinuity. The increased use of automobiles hadseveral effects on the community. Landthat had remained vacant because it wasnot served by the streetcars- the MoundsPark area comes to mind- was filed in withbungalows, duplexes and other newhousing styles. On the east, new housesstarted to be built as far out as JohnsonParkway. The commercial areas of Dayton’s Bluffmade way for automobile -orientedbusinesses. This was never more evidentthan on East Seventh Street where theSix Corners garage arrived with fourmechanics on duty for “auto repairing.”A new Kemper Chevrolet Building wentup on the street and Tower AutoWrecking Company a few doors downoffered car parts. There was also thebeginning of a continuing tradition ofused car lots in the community. Car use had social effects and the newterm “motoring” began to appear. InAugust, 1924, the East Side Journal notedthat the Kochsiek family who lived at1097 McKean had made a “motor trip”to Duluth, Superior and Hibbing andreturned home via Mille Lacs. A yearlater the paper reported that Al Schaber,995 East Sixth and Fred Dunkel, 813 EastMinnehaha, had come back from alengthy “motor trip” to Michigan. Local organizations were quite aware ofthe growing love affair with theautomobile. The need to get rid of the“chuck holes” on arterials was oftenbrought to the attention of city officials.In 1924 the Dayton’s Bluff ImprovementAssociation took credit for theinstallation of “go and stop” signals atMinnehaha and Earl and Seventh andArcade. That year the community held alarge parade up and down East Seventhfollowed by a street dance to celebrate thecompletion of paving from Hope toDuluth Streets. But like today, this new form oftransportation brought some problems.Even before the 1920’s, newspapers werestarting to bemoan the lack of parking for

automobiles in neighborhood retail areas.In 1924, a group called the Dayton’s BluffProperty Owners ImprovementAssociation had a safety chairman, whowas said to be actively working against“reckless and drunken drivers ofautomobiles.” The Twenties saw a major buildingboom in all cities and theirneighborhoods. Prosperity and increasingpopulation brought the need for newer,larger, buildings and more homes. Ingeneral, the homes built in Dayton’s Bluffin this era were smaller as well as a largenumber of duplexes. Businesses were growing and neededlarger quarters. In 1925 the Dayton’s BluffBank moved to East 7th and Reaney.“The new building is the last word inmodern bank construction,” the East SideJournal stated. Its two large vaults wereso well constructed that “it would beimpossible for the most expert burglars toenter them after they had been closed andlocked for the night.” For instance, analarm will go off if the dial is touchedduring the night. “Workmen are busy putting thefinishing touches to the interior,” a localpaper said. “To say the least,” the article

continued, “the new building lends addedprestige to the street and is a structure ofwhich the Bluff can well be proud.” 2,000people attended the bank’s “HouseWarming” and every lady who showed upwas given a carnation. Changes were occurring throughoutDayton’s Bluff. The growing populationand the aging of old construction requiredupgraded facilities. A new brick buildingreplaced an 1880’s frame structure thathoused the Sacred Heart school. A newAsbury church was built at the corner ofFrank and Ross. It would have a fullbasement and a pipe organ. By the early 1920’s, St. John’s CatholicChurch also needed more room. Thecornerstone of the building, designed by aparish member, was laid on August, 1921and on Easter Sunday, March 25, 1923,the parishioners attended their firstsolemn service in the new brick and stonestructure. It was almost double the size ofthe old church, seating 710 people. A changing population was behindsome new congregations. The ethnicitythat had been fairly prominent began tofade. In 1920, for instance, the Dayton’sBluff Methodist church, founded in 1884,changed all of its services from German

to English. The “English LutheranChurch of Our Savior’ was started at Earland Minnehaha in 1924. Its namereflected the fact that they also serviceswere catering to a new generation. Educational developments included theopening of the Hand Memorial library atVan Buren School on May 24, 1928. Itwas named in honor of the highlyrespected Laura Hand, who was principalfrom 1893 to 1917. The furniture andmany of the books were given in memoryof Miss Hand by her friends. The room,located in the basement, was open everyMonday afternoon and all day Thursday. The library, that was an official branchof the St. Paul system, opened toward theend of the tenure of Miss Justine Long,another long-time principal who headedup Van Buren from 1918 to 1930. Thefollowing reminiscence of her was pennedin the 1940’s: “Holidays at the Van Buren will alwaysbe remembered by pupils and teacherswho were associated with Miss Long. AtThanksgiving, children brought their giftsof food. The fruits, vegetables and otherfoods were spread out on long tables inthe spacious halls by some of the Mothers.Each of the classes came in turn to seethis interesting Thanksgiving display andstood around the bountiful tables and onthe stairway singing beautiful autumnsongs. “At Christmas time, the children wentto the markets and came back laden withbranches of pine and spruce. The olderpupils made wreaths and one was hungin every window. The railings of stairwayswere trimmed with garlands of evergreen.In each of the lower halls there was anenormous spruce tree where childrenwould gather to sing the lovely Christmascarols and read stories. “The two large trees were always sentlater to the children’s ward of AnckerHospital. The fragrance and beauty of theevergreens brought into the building fora number of days, that old-time genuineChristmas spirit that can hardly be putinto words but which can never beforgotten.” In addition to the holiday activities,there were many other special events atVan Buren that were implemented byMiss Long. “Several times a May fete wasgiven on the lower playground. each childtook part and the variety of colorfulcostumes, the gay Maypole, and the folkThe Margaret Recreation Center, built in the 1920’s. Photo from 1983 Dayton’s Bluff History Calendar

Chickens in the foreground, the Kelly residence in the back, circa 1920. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society.

December 2005 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum Page 5

A Short History of Dayton’s Bluff continued

dances brought in the real; spirit of theEnglish May Day.” More students and an increasingnumber of students continuing beyondthe eighth grade led to the need foradditional classrooms. In 1925 thecornerstone was laid for a Junior-SeniorHigh school at Third and Earl that wasnamed after president Harding. Thecelebration, sponsored by severalcommunity groups, drew an estimated3,000 people. Children from Sibley, VanBuren and Mounds Park elementaryschools sang songs. An even larger crowd, said to bearound 10,000, turned out for the grandopening of the new municipal ski slide inMounds Park in January, 1925. It waslocated near Johnson Parkway and BurnsAvenue and had been an expensiveproject. The Dayton’s Bluff CommercialClub had raised money and many St. Paullumber companies had donated materialfor the slide to help out. According to the paper,“ dedicationceremonies were under the auspices of theSt. Paul Ski Club and much excitementwas manifest as the different events tookplace and when the high jumps weremade.” In February the inter-city ski meetwas going to be held at the new facilityand East Side resident Ray Solie waspredicted to be a strong competitor. Large crowds also came to the annualpicnics of the Dayton’s Bluff CommercialClub, often held at Lake Phalen. The1925 event would be kicked off with abaseball game at 11:00. There would be aputting green contest and balloonsbearing tickets for a chance at $150 ingold were released. Since members of allother commercial clubs in the city wereinvited, they were expecting around15,000. There were many other smaller socialget-togethers. In the fall of 1924, a groupcalled the Five Corners ImprovementAssociation was going to sponsor a“chicken bouillion” at Casey Heights. 250people attended. “Electric lights had beeninstalled for the occasion.” Theactivities—besides eating—includedvolleyball, horseshoes and throwingbaseballs at dolls for money prizes. Like other urban areas, Dayton’s Bluffwas experiencing social changes as itentered the modern era. There were stillmany “upper crust” families in theneighborhood and their activities werenoted. In October of 1924, for example,the Hamm twins Marie and Theodorawould leave for “the east” to attend

college football games. At the same time, local newspapers werestarting to mention the need to help areapoor families. People were concerned withwhat seemed to be an increase in East Sidevice. One local newspaper vigorouslyattacked various scourges and urgedincreased city efforts to end them. Oneillegal activity that was singled out wasthe presence of what they labeled the “so-called soft drink” establishments. There was also a growing concern overthe attitudes of youth and fears of“delinquency.” One man recalled hisexperiences at the Margaret RecreationCenter, “We used to go down to theplayground and find three or four kidsganged up on the director,” he said. “Itwas getting so bad you couldn’t keep adirector more than a few months. Wedecided to do something about it.” As a result, the Margaret Boosters wasorganized in November of 1920. Theywent to the city to see if they could helpwith the running of the playground. Theywent around, “signing up new membersand holding dances, bingo games,playground festivals,” and, “mooching”money from local merchants. Within ayear, the group had thirty members. Things were apparently turned around,because and by 1924 Margaret continuedto break attendance records. Dailyactivities were horseshoes, tennis,kittenball, O’Leary, track work andefficiency tests.” Tennis was “always astrong feature with Margaret men.”Eighteen men had participated inhorseshoe pitching contest. Thirty-fivegirls enrolled in basketry, which met threetimes a week. In 1926 an organization named the EastSide District Recreation Council wasformed. The group discussed concernsand how to deal with what they saw asgrowing problems. At one early gatheringthey discussed the impact of movingpictures and the need to ensure thatchildren were exposed only to healthycontent. They wanted an increase in athleticprograms at the recreation centers andschool-sponsored clubs to keep kids busywith what they saw as positive activities.In 1929, the group again stated its desireto increase its educational programs,especially for “the underprivileged.” Whether or not they were a cause forconcern, movies were obviously becomingan important social force. While theatersdid exist in the previous era, mosthistorians would agree that the Twenties

the “musical accompaniment ofexcellence by the Mounds Ladies StringOrchestra.” There was no need to go downtownfor entertainment. A person could walka few blocks and see a different moviealmost every night. Here is a typicalweekly offering at the Mounds: Sundayand Monday featured Richard Dix, in“Manhattan” and on the first night therealso were ten vaudeville acts. Tuesdaythrough Wednesday was a showing of“The Border Legion.” On Thursday andFriday, Bebe Daniels appeared in “MissBluebird” and Saturday, featured thebiggest movie of the week—“Wolves ofthe Border.” While it was still a bit of a novelty, airtravel was starting to become importantin the twenties. The end of the decadesaw the construction of an arealandmark- the navigation beacon. Builtin 1929, the 110 foot high beacon withits twenty-four inch rotating light waspart of a network that helped pilots findtheir way at night as they delivered mail. At one time over 600 of these beaconsdefined nighttime airway corridors acrossAmerica. The Mounds Park beacon waspart of the system that lighted the routebetween St. Paul and Chicago. Butelectronic guidance equipmenteventually made the beacons obsolete.Our beacon is the last of its kind. People were fascinated with thedevelopment of flight. The Dayton’s BluffCommercial Club even went on recordasking the city to create an “airportlookout.” According to a 1929 newspaperarticle, “during the summer months largecrowds of onlookers throng the bluffsoverlooking the airport.” It thought that“if the territory south of McLain Streetwas utilized for the purpose ofaccommodating these people, animportant improvement to Mounds Parkwould be effected.” On June 24, 1929 crowds did, indeed,gather in and near the park to gaze at anairplane. Unfortunately, it was not takingoff or landing, but was a NorthwestAirlines tri-motor Ford passenger/air mailplane that had lost power and crashednear the intersection of MoundsBoulevard and River (Wilshire) Street. It smashed against two houses anddamaged but did not destroy them. Theveteran pilot died in the initial impact.The plane caught fire but all of the sevenpassengers escaped, thanks to severalneighborhood residents who rushed tohelp, sustaining serious burns. A few months later another crashwould signal the end of the era. This time,however, it was a stock market crash. Itwould mean and end to the era ofprosperity and community building andthe arrival of economic hard timesfollowed by the war years. However, that’sa story for another issue.

were the beginning of a heyday for movies. In 1916, for instance, the DaytonMoving Picture theater was established at894 East Seventh, run by the Andreasbrothers, along with C. I. Graham’s ForestTheater a little further down the street at924 East Seventh. In 1922 J. M. Velatstarted the Radio Movie Theater at 1195East 7th. The Mounds Moving Picture Theaterat 1029 Hastings (today’s Hudson Road)in 1922. The silent films of the timescreened at “The Pride of Dayton’s Bluff,”had “musical accompaniment ofexcellence by the Mounds Ladies StringOrchestra.” Like other theaters at thetime, the Mounds However, had amateurand professional live acts on stage alongwith movies. As is often the case with new ventures,the initial movie theaters were bought upby larger operations. In April, 1925, anEast Side Journal said that “Finklestein &Ruben had purchased “three leadingmovie houses” located on the East Side.They were the Mounds and RadioTheaters in Dayton’s bluff and the Venuson Payne Avenue. The first picture the new managementoffered at the remodeled Mounds was“North of 36,” was said to be typical ofthe “romance and action” movies thatwere going to be offered. “The pride ofDayton’s Bluff” had the added feature of

Crowds gather to inspect the remarkable plane crash June 24, 1929. Photo courtesty of the Minnesota Historical Society

The layout of Dayton’s Bluff, from an 1884 insurance map.

Page 6 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum December 2005

Help Stop Graffiti inDayton’s Bluff

Dayton’s Bluff has suffered from anincrease of graffiti over the last severalmonths. We need the community tohelp in order to stop it. Residents needto report graffiti if they see it on aneighbors’ property, city property oron their own property. Report graffitias soon as you see it to Citizen Serviceat 651-266-8989 or emailcitizen.service@ci.stpaul.mn.us If you see someone making graffitiin Saint Paul and they are still therecall 9-1-1 If you are the victim of graffiti onyour property call 291-1111 to makea police report. Police reports areimportant tools for the police to trackand identify the culprit. Graffiti is notan art: it’s a crime.

Graffiti vandalism is an ongoingproblem in Saint Paul. Youths agedfrom twelve to their mid-twenties areresponsible for approximately$300,000 to $500,000 in propertydamage each year. The Saint PaulPolice Department has taken thiscrime very seriously and has been veryaggressive in identifying graffitivandals, as well as arresting them fortheir crimes. In response to concerns frombusiness owners, block clubs anddistrict councils, the Saint Paul PoliceDepartment has formed theMetropolitan Task Force On GraffitiVandalism to crackdown even harderon these crimes. The task force beganmeeting June 17, 1997 in an effort toshare information among allmetropolitan-area police departmentsabout graffiti vandals and planstrategies to apprehend thesecriminals. One of the things the task force haslearned is that most parents have noidea their children are involved inthese crimes and are not aware ofsome of the indicators of graffitivandal activity.Tips for Parents

· Check backpacks for markers and/or spray paint, as well as sketch books,pieces of paper with graffiti “tags” onthem, aerosol can caps and/or nozzles,white shoe polish and photographs ofgraffiti pieces/murals.

· Check school papers for graffiti“tags” and/or sketches of murals

· Know who your children are hangingout with, and make sure they are homeat curfew time: age 15 or younger by10 p.m. and age 16-17 by midnight.

If you have any questions aboutgraffiti and the typical graffiti vandal,email meredith.vogland@ci.stpaul.mn.us in the FORCE Unit or callher at (651) 266-5625. You may wantto try talking to your children aboutgraffiti and the cost of this “innocentcrime.” Once people are aware of allthe information, things can become alot clearer and decisions are madefrom a position of knowledge and notignorance.

Teacher MeetsChallenge

Trinity Catholic School teacher,Mr. David Heller, has his hair cut &colored after the K-8 students atTrinity surpassed their Marathonfundraising goal. Mr. Heller challenged the studentsto meet and exceed the $8,000 goaland he would allow one of thestudents to “cut” his hair. Thestudents raised $9,800 in their AnnualMarathon for Non-Public Education. One of the students did the honorson Friday, October 14 and gave Mr.Heller a totally new look with a cutand new color.

Letter to the editor: I wanted to second a letter to theeditor thanking Steve Trimble for hishard work. The paragraph about oldermansions that “split off their excessland and had it platted out into newlots” held a particular interest for me.You see, I think I live on one of those“two and a half story homes.” My home is located on Maria andEuclid Street…I have other housesaround me that have pretty much thesame design, but with different stainedglass, built in buffet and other uniquedesign elements. A few years ago our sewer line brokeand got a copy of the original permitfor the sewer line and it listed one P.H. Kelly as the owner in 1908. So thanks, to Steve Trimble forteaching me about the history of myhouse. Now could you tell me aboutP. H. Kelly? Namely, where exactlywas his residence or the TuxedoPlayground? What grocery storechains did he own and any other funfacts you can dig up.Sincerely,Diane M. May

Response to the letter to the editor: Here are some fun facts our crackForum research team was able touncover. We even found a sketch ofKelly and a real estate map showingsome of his holdings. First, who was Mr. Kelly? PatrickH. Kelly was born in County Mayo,Ireland and came to this country viaCanada as a teenager. He arrived InMinneapolis with his brother in 1857

and entered the grocery business.Kelly relocated to St. Paul in 1863,where he bought into a food wholesalebusiness that was eventually locatedat Third and Sibley. He and his family lived in Dayton’sBluff and by the 1880’s were living inthe old J. F. Thompson house at 230Hoffman, an old name for MoundsBoulevard. The Northwest Magazinedescribed it this way in 1885: Hon. P.H. Kelly may sit upon thespacious veranda of his stone mansionon Dayton’s Bluff and look almostdirectly down upon every businesshouse in St. Paul. From the cupola ofthe dwelling house one may enjoy abird’s-eye view of the entire city.... alandscape that Turner could not haveimagined... “Mr. Kelly’s house is,architecturally, much like the famousgrocer-square and solid to look upon.The mansion is built in the center ofthe entire block of ground, and a

private park reaches from the oppositeside of the street upon which thehouses fronts, to the bluff line, so thatthe priceless panorama upon which themansion looks may never be hiddenfrom full view. Always a strong Democrat, Kellyserved two terms in the statelegislature from 1892 to 1894.According to his obituary he waspivotal in making sure the news capitolbuilding remained in St. Paul andmaking the city the permanent locationof the State Fair. He also served onthe city water board for many years. Kelly was said to be worth amillion dollars at one time, and eventhough he had some reverses towardthe end of his life, he remained welloff financially. When he died in 1900at the age of 69 he was living at 489Holly Avenue. In its obituary, the St. Paul Dispatch“It was his Irish generosity that madehim loved and it was his Irishrecklessness that lessened his success.” As to the second query of theletter—where the old Kelly estate (andthe Tuxedo Playground that later saton the land0 was located. A look atthe plat map shows that the home wasbetween Hoffman (MoundsBoulevard) and Maria and south ofEuclid Street. It also shows that Kelly had otherholdings nearby and this may explainwhy he was listed as an early ownerof our letter writer’s home. As anowner and/or developer, Kelly wouldhave been responsible to pay for theinitial sewer work. Keep those cards and letters comingin and we’ll try top answer any otherquestions you readers may have.

Photos from the Ramsey County Judges Forum. About fifty East Side residents attended and hadquestions for the judges. The Judges offered to come to Dayton’s Bluff and meeting with our community.If you are interested call Karin at 651-772-2075.

December 2005 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum Page 7

Leo’s Chow MeinWe specialize in Chow Mein,

Fried Rice,Egg Foo Young

Dine In or Take OutLunch Buffet

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.$4.25

Hours 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. 6 Days a Week

1059 Hudson Road

By J. Wittenberg I met John, who is also known as“John the Baptist,” during a ramblethrough the Bruce Vento nature walk.He followed us and asked if we wouldwish to hear his philosophy about anew state capitol. I thought, with sucha potentially stimulating topic as thisbefore me, and being a futurecandidate for mayor myself, howcould I refuse? So I gave him his say. “The capitol should really be in thecenter of the state, because peoplewant to be in the middle, like planetsin the solar system, you know. Theyneed this,” John delcared. “It’s humannature. Kandiyohi would be better,and it’s the geographical center. It’s notquite inhabitable, and a little wild, butit would keep out the riff raff. Ourpopulation needs to go down, we needmore emigration by the thousands.People should go to Kandiyohi! It’sparadise, and quiet. I think we havetoo many people here in St. Paul. Lookat the traffic, and the development, it’shorrible!” I asked John about his nickname,and he said – “I’ve been known tobaptize people in my day. And I’vealso trained as a minister.” John told me he is homeless, andlives where many of the engineers cansee him upon their daily routes, far

below the 3rd Street Bridge. I askedhim if he was worried about theupcoming winter. “My skin must begetting tougher and thicker…I justdon’t get as cold as I used to…ormaybe it’s global warming. Life usedto be grand for me, and I guess it stillis, when I think about it. Out here, eventhe coffee tastes like wine,” John said,before breaking into a smile and givinga deep belly laugh. John told me about the simplepleasure of seeing bald eagles belowthe bluff, and then we sat down topeople-watch. Before long, politicscame to the fore, and he said – “Thesepoliticians don’t care about thehomeless, but then again who does?People die down here, and maybethey’ll print a sentence in the paperabout a body found by the railroadtracks or someone floating in the river.But usually, the public doesn’t hearabout it…it’s just not news.” John wore an old khaki army coat,and has long black and gray hair. Hisgloves were leather, with holesexposing more than half the fingers.Even with his difficult circumstances,he smiled often and easily. John spokeof having a fine car once, a Pontiac,and a “happy home.” He said howangry he is about the outsourcing inthis state and country. “We need jobs

As part of a month long unit called“All About Me,” preschoolers in theDayton’s Bluff Early ChildhoodFamily Education Program canexplore many aspects of what happenswhen you go to a clinic or hospital.They can pretend to be the receptionistanswering the phone, makingappointments, and greeting patients.They can play many other roles:doctor, nurse, patient, patient’s motheror father. If they want to be the peoplegiving the shots, listening to hearts,applying bandages, and the like,parents, teachers, and dolls are willingpatients. The “doctor’s office” like any goodtheme in an early childhood programsextends itself in multiple directionshelping children build and consolidateknowledge and skills in many areas.Social and emotional growth occursas children take turns playing differentroles and sharing syringes, bloodpressure cuffs, stethoscopes and thelike. They begin to master theirfeelings about getting shots, being sickand other experiences they may havehad like having a broken limb set orx-rays taken. They experiencereceiving and giving empathy.

Playing “doctor” or “patient” is alsoa rich intellectual experience forchildren introducing and reinforcingthe science of human growth anddevelopment. Children bring picturesof themselves as newborns helpingthem understand that all of us beginlife as infants, a huge leap inknowledge for those who as recentlyas a year ago may have identified theirown baby pictures as those of their

Lowertown LiquorLends a Hand

By Barry White Back in early October, ourneighborhood held a very specialfundraising event in the Mounds Parkneighborhood. The money was raisedto promote community programmingin District 4. We received a lot of helpfrom many people in Dayton’s Bluffand beyond. Two bands entertained atthe event, whose members come fromboth St Paul and Minneapolis. Thegroups, The Very Idea and TheBenevolent Dictators sounded greatand everyone enjoyed the show.Lowertown Liqour donated beer forthe event. I spoke to owner GerryMcInerney about his business.What do you love about yourbusiness?Gerry; “The people. The neighbors,people who come in, we believedowntown St Paul should be vibrant”.What is your demographic?Gerry: “We see a lot of people fromthe surrounding arts community. Alsodowntown employees after work, andcondominium dwellers. We arebeginning to see people fromDayton’s’ Bluff more and more”.What would you like folks to knowabout the store?Gerry: “Our Motto: yourneighborhood specialty beer and winesource. It is the communities store, weare just here to manage it.”What are your top bottles right now?Gerry: “Grey Goose is just greatvodka. Panarroz is a Spanish red thatreceived 90 points from RobertParker, the Wine Spectator. Hop Devilbeer is a Pennsylvania brewed beerthat is hoppy and different”.Who is in business with you?Gerry: “My business partner is formerCouncilman Jerry Blakey. We ran ablock club together in the Summit-University neighborhood. We alsoemploy two people, Larry in thecooler and Drew who does wines andcashiering.How long has the store been here?Gerry; “Since October 27 2004.Lowertown Wine and Spirits is locatesat 262 E 4th Street, across from the StPaul Farmers Market. 651-222-3661

baby siblings. They look at books thatshow “what’s inside” the human bodyand use their senses to hear a humanheartbeat or feel their bones in theirarms and legs. They read stories aboutother people’s experiences andfeelings when they are hurt or sick.They are weighed and measured on thescale borrowed from the Dayton’sBluff school nurse and can thencompare their size to other people orobjects in the classroom. They canmake a “First Aid Kit” and count outfor themselves “5 cotton balls, 1 barof soap, 3 band aids, 2 plain and onefancy” practicing their counting skills.When they tell the stories of their ownbad “owies” they are practicing storytelling, an important pre-readingactivity. If they wish, they can writetheir names in their “charts” atwhatever skill level they have reached.

The experience of playingwith doctor themes will be similar inmany ways for all children but everychild makes the experience personalin a unique way. All of them growand learn while having fun. They alsoincrease their understanding ofthemselves and of their world.

‘ Doctor’s Office’ Open for Appointments

A Homeless Voice

here, in St. Paul…I think it’s worsethan people believe it is, you know. Itjust keeps getting worse and worse.” John, it turns out, is an artist, andgave me a small wood carving of adog’s head for proof. If you happento encounter John, maybe he’ll showyou some of his woodcarvings, andtruly they are of fine quality. He said– “The dog is my favorite animal, andI can’t think of nothing I’d rathercarve. I like to carve other things too,but not as much as dogs. It’s the highpoint of my day, you know.” John really seemed to enjoy ourvisit, and was in light spirits upon ouramiable parting. “I think I’ll go for myfree coffee at a place on E. 7th. Theydon’t seem to mind seeing me when Icome by,” John said, before adding –“But other than that there’s mycarving, and the trains and the eagles.I’m very grateful…maybe as gratefulas a man can be.”

UofM Natural Resources Capstone Class working with the Dayton’s Bluff CommunityCouncil to research and evaluate Dayton’s Bluff parks, trails and recreational facilities.

Page 8 Dayton’s Bluff District Forum December 2005

MUELLERMORTUARY

PARKWAY CHAPEL835 Johnson Parkwayat East Seventh StreetSaint Paul, MN 55106

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LAKE MORTUARY4738 Bald Eagle Avenue

at Third StreetWhite Bear Lake, MN 55110

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Call anytime for service or information

Dayton’s Bluff District Forum798 East 7th StreetSaint Paul, MN 55106Phone: 651-772-2075FAX: 651-774-3510E-mail: KarinDD@msn.comMonthly Circulation: 5,000.Also available online atwww.daytonsbluff.org This is apublication of HopewellCommunications, Inc. and is intendedto provide a forum for the ideas andopinions of its readers and to be aninstrument for developing communityawareness and pride. No materialcontained in this paper may bereprinted without consent of theeditor. Articles and letters to the editorare welcome and may be emailed toKarinDD@msn.com or faxed to 651-774-3510. The Dayton’s Bluff DistrictForum is delivered to every home inthe Dayton’s Bluff area. Outside thisarea, subscriptions cost $12 and maybe arranged by calling 651-772-2075.Board of Directors: Allen Clausen,Greg Cosimini, and Karin DuPaul.Editor & Layouts:Gabriel Garbow.Next issue: March 2006!Deadline for material: Feb. 10.

Community DesignCenter’s Holiday OpenHouse!

At the open house, CommunityDesign Center’s youth interns will beselling a variety of handmade productsthat will make great holiday gifts.

Products for sale include:

1. Herbal Vinegars. Made withherbs grown in our seven organicgardens in St. Paul’s East Side.Vinegars come in 5 ounce bottles andare $4 each. Types include:Champagne Vinegar with Thyme,White Wine Vinegar with Thyme, RedWine Vinegar with Basil &Peppercorn, Red Wine Vinegar withRosemary and Red Wine Vinegar withSage.

2. Wreaths. Dried flowers and herbsfrom our gardens are used to createthe wreaths. Wreaths are six inchesin diameter and are $10 each.

3. Garden Ornaments. These hand-sewn felt garden ornaments are greatfor any decoration. Ornaments are $4,$5, $6 each and come in a variety ofgarden themes.

4. Notecards. Youth in ourinternship program use theirexperiences as inspiration to createthese notecards. A set of five cardswith envelopes is $5.

5. Fresh from the GardenCookbook. A collection of 32delicious recipes from our staff,friends, local restaurants and chefs.Cookbooks are $10.

Our Open House is a great time tomeet our staff and youth interns! Theopen house will take place: Wednesday, December 7 from 2:00- 7:00 p.m. at our office, 731 East 7thStreet, Suite 100, St. Paul, MN 55106.(We are located next to the SwedeHollow Café) Light refreshments will be served.We look forward to seeing you andthank you for your support! If you are unable to attend and wishto purchase something please feel freeto call us at 651.228.7073.

Meet The Reverend Mr.HamiltonBy June Bennett Rev. Hamilton is what we would calla go-getter. He has the drive and abilityto build up the community and toextend all of his services and programsto the community. Rev. Hamiltonalready has a church and a restaurantand his next dream is to open a foodshelf for the people of the Dayton’sBluff and East Side area. He hopes todo this at 1150 East 7th Street wherehis church and restaurant are located.He is not afraid of hard work orworking long hours and will dowhatever it takes to fulfill his latestdream. He established St. John’s Church ofGod in Christ on East 7th Street nineyears ago and the restaurant, knownas Pastor Hamilton’s Bar-B-Que, hasbeen open for 8 months now. He isvery satisfied with the way it is going.The restaurant’s hours are: Tuesday -Thursday: 11a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday -Saturday: 11a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday andMonday: closed. Rev Hamilton is also involved withthe Urban League and was onceoffered a job to teach cooking at theSt. Paul College. He is very concerned about youngpeople. He is a good example foryoung people by showing them thatall things are possible. To stand up andsay “I am a faithful user for God” isnot a statement that can be madeeasily. The church does not have manymembers but the members put forthevery effort to offer their services tothose who need them. Thanksgiving Day will be a greatevent for the church. The church willbe feeding the homeless on that dayand the members will help. Otherchurches have offered to makedonations of food. Rev. Hamilton has other ideas forthe community and with the help ofchurch members he believes all thingsare possible. So make a little time inyour day and drop by to visit and enjoythe food and the conversation at PastorHamilton’s Bar-B-Que. Andremember - the restaurant is closed onSunday but the church is always opento the people. For more information, please call651-772-0279.

Start Your Business Have you ever wanted to start yourown business? Or, have you startedone and are realizing that you needmore education to make it successful?If so, sign up for the Dayton’s BluffNeighborhood Entrepreneur Trainingand Support Program. This programhelps start-up and young businesseson the East Side. Class training lasts approximately16 weeks and includes topics such asoperations management, marketing,financial management, one-to-oneassistance with creating a successfulbusiness, and preparing a businessplan. Those who complete the courseand locate their businesses in targetneighborhoods are eligible forongoing business support services. Some of the businesses that peoplewho took the course have startedinclude graphics, photography, foodservice, restoration of wood furnitureand works of art, and custom floraldesign for weddings. The course issponsored by the Dayton’s BluffCommunity Council and theNeighborhood Development Center.There is a small registration fee basedon a sliding fee scale. The next sessionwill start in March and class size islimited. Please call Karin at 772-2075for an application.

This Winter at theMounds Theatre

If you feel the need for someentertainment this winter but don’twant to waste expensive gas drivingall over the Twin Cities, check outwhat’s happening at the MoundsTheatre this winter. The live stage production of AChristmas Story will be playing fromDecember 2nd to the 18th. Continueor start a family tradition by watchingthe Parker family try to celebrate aquiet, old fashioned Christmas whilenine-year old Ralphie schemes to haveSanta Claus bring him an official RedRyder air rifle and the Old Mandisplays his “major award” in theliving room window. The 2006 season of the KineticKitchen dance series kicks off onSaturday, January 7 at 8 p.m. withperformances by Danielle Robinson-Prater, Carla Bode (Dance ProgramCoordinator from the DanceConservatory in Mankato), Cara DeLavallade and Sharon Mansur(Faculty at Winona State University). Starting Gate Production’s inauguralseason at the Mounds Theatrecontinues with Butterflies are Free, thestory of how blind Donny learns thelessons of freedom while he strugglesto establish his identity. This innocentand passionate comedy runs fromJanuary 13th to the 28th. St. Bernard’s High School will bepresenting their annual Night ofComedy and Desserts on February 2– 5. Magnolia Musical Theater moves infrom February 10 – 26 with one oftheir special musical presentations. Kinetic Kitchen returns on FridayMarch 3rd at 8 p.m. withperformances by Maria Tierney(Faculty at Gustavus AdolphusCollege), Third Rabbit DanceEnsemble (Directed by John Munger),Maria Boscaino and MichaelYonkers. Winter ends and spring arrives withCHAT presenting Hmong CIA fromMarch 5th through April 16th. The Mounds Theatre is located at1029 Hudson Road. For moreinformation and updates, contact theMounds Theatre at 651-772-2253 orvisit www.moundstheatre.org.

Advertise in the District Forum: call Karin at 651-772-2075