Architecture

Historic building slated for demolition

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

The Hope Engine Company No. 3 building was designed and built in 1871­-72, and occupied for the first time in 1872. It is the oldest existing municipal building of any kind in the entire city of St. Paul and the station served the community until 1956, or 85 years of service. The building is structurally sound, and is considered a landmark in the neighborhood. It is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and is also eligible for local historic designation by the Heritage Preservation Commission. The building is in a high state of preservation, with much of its original fabric intact.

Local developer David Brooks has aims to take down the city’s oldest standing public building, the former St. Paul fire station located at the corner of Leech Street and Grand Avenue in St. Paul and replace it with a 109-unit Marriot, according to information provided by the city and Brooks, Friday, March 18, 2016. (Pioneer Press: Jean Pieri)

Many in the neighborhood strongly oppose the pending demolition of the Hope Engine Company No. 3 firehouse at 1 Leech Street (a.k.a. 200 Grand Avenue).  The demolition and development of the site are both  inconsistent with the mission, values, and wishes of the neighborhood. The firehouse belongs to all of us and it can never be build again. It is one of a kind.

I sent an email to our city council person as soon as I found out and will stand with my neighbors who want to fight this. The building should not be demolished. We just found out about this a few days ago. Opposition will need to organize quickly.

Fire house
Antique St. Paul Fire House
Leech Street
Firehouse

Please join neighbors at the firehouse at 3:00 PM on Sunday March 20th. To learn more about the building and maybe help save it.

 

 

A old house that is really a bar

Posted on by Teresa Boardman

There was this old house on Smith Avenue made of limestone that was apparently built to be a bar or a saloon as they were once called.  There is another limestone home close by that is just the summer kitchen of a much larger home that was never built due to a cholera epidemic. St. Paul has a rich and interesting history.

To some folks these older homes are treasures and to others they are just old houses.

Limestone bar
Stone saloon

 

 

Residence in a residential area

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
schmidt brewery
Schmidt brewery

It is so nice to see the renovated  Schmidt Brewery all lit up at night. There are people walking, biking and driving to and from the buildings. The brewery was vacant for a decade and it was lie a black hole at night. It is nice to see people in the area again and I like seeing the sign all lit up like it was waaaaay back when we first moved into the area and it is wonderful to see these old buildings put to good use again.

Robert street

Posted on by Teresa Boardman
robert street
Robert street at Kellogg
Robert street bridge
Robert street bridge

Robert street is one of the original 15 streets that made up St. Paul in 1849. Did you ever who is was named after? Well wonder no more. It was named after Captain Louis Robert who was a French Canadian  fur trader. He owned some boats and part of St. Paul and he named the road.

I know this is all old news but I was driving over the Robert street bridge yesterday and was wondering how it got it’s name so I did a little research.