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ST. PAUL 2005: Downtown, August

St. Paul, the capital of Minnesota, had a population of 275,000 when I was born (1933). That's also it's current size, although the population climbed above 310,000 by 1950 and stayed there until 1970. I revisited some old haunts while in St. Paul for my 55th high school reunion.
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  • St. Paul Athletic Club, 4th and Cedar Streets.

    St. Paul Athletic Club, 4th and Cedar Streets.

  • St. Paul Athletic Club. I taught swimming here from age 14 to 17, 1946 to 1950. Swimming pool was on 7th floor (tall arched windows).

    St. Paul Athletic Club. I taught swimming here from age 14 to 17, 1946 to 1950. Swimming pool was on 7th floor (tall arched windows).

  • Athletic Club lobby. Ellerbe Associates, architects.

    Athletic Club lobby. Ellerbe Associates, architects.

  • Looking down 4th Street from the Athletic Club to First National Bank, once the tallest building in St. Paul.

    Looking down 4th Street from the Athletic Club to First National Bank, once the tallest building in St. Paul.

  • First National Bank. Built 1931, Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, architects. Renovated 1971.

    First National Bank. Built 1931, Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, architects. Renovated 1971.

  • Looking up 4th St. to First National Bank. It’s a Saturday morning in late August. Notice the downtown traffic.

    Looking up 4th St. to First National Bank. It’s a Saturday morning in late August. Notice the downtown traffic.

  • The Old Federal Building opened in 1902. The US post office operated from here until the Kellogg Boulevard building was built in the 1930s.

    The Old Federal Building opened in 1902. The US post office operated from here until the Kellogg Boulevard building was built in the 1930s.

  • South façade of the Old Federal Building (75 W. 5th St. between Washington and Market), seen from Rice Park. Built 1894-1904 in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style named for Massachusetts architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886). Willoughby J. Edbrooke, archiect; restored by Winsor Faricy Architects and Stahl Bennett, architects.

    South façade of the Old Federal Building (75 W. 5th St. between Washington and Market), seen from Rice Park. Built 1894-1904 in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style named for Massachusetts architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886). Willoughby J. Edbrooke, archiect; restored by Winsor Faricy Architects and Stahl Bennett, architects.

  • The Old Federal Building was sold to City in 1972 for one dollar and reopened as the Landmark Center in 1978 after a 6-year renovation.

    The Old Federal Building was sold to City in 1972 for one dollar and reopened as the Landmark Center in 1978 after a 6-year renovation.

  • Brick-paved street; entrance to Old Federal Building.

    Brick-paved street; entrance to Old Federal Building.

  • The St. Paul Café is located in the building’s atrium.

    The St. Paul Café is located in the building’s atrium.

  • Atrium and skylight.

    Atrium and skylight.

  • South (rear) façade of the Public Library along E. Kellogg Boulevard. Built with Tennessee marble, 1917. Architect, Electus Litchfield with Charles Soule. Renovated 1979. I was an avid pre-teen reader and took the trolley down to the library every Saturday for years. Tokens were 7.5¢.

    South (rear) façade of the Public Library along E. Kellogg Boulevard. Built with Tennessee marble, 1917. Architect, Electus Litchfield with Charles Soule. Renovated 1979. I was an avid pre-teen reader and took the trolley down to the library every Saturday for years. Tokens were 7.5¢.

  • Paddleboats docked along the Mississippi River across from downtown St. Paul. The Capitol Steamer was my favorite.

    Paddleboats docked along the Mississippi River across from downtown St. Paul. The Capitol Steamer was my favorite.

  • The High Bridge across the Mississippi (Smith Avenue, Highway 149) to the West Side.

    The High Bridge across the Mississippi (Smith Avenue, Highway 149) to the West Side.

  • US Post Office, 180 E. Kellogg Boulevard (between Jackson and Sibley). My dad worked here until 1956. As a child I visited to have lunch (or cookies) and look out the back windows at the trains and boats.

    US Post Office, 180 E. Kellogg Boulevard (between Jackson and Sibley). My dad worked here until 1956. As a child I visited to have lunch (or cookies) and look out the back windows at the trains and boats.

  • US Post Office entrance, 180 E. Kellogg Boulevard. Built 1934, Bassingdale, Holabird and Root, architects.

    US Post Office entrance, 180 E. Kellogg Boulevard. Built 1934, Bassingdale, Holabird and Root, architects.

  • Union Station, 4th St. between Sibley and Wacouta, built 1917-1923. Classical revival architecture by Charles S. Frost. I boarded trains here for Chicago and Ohio. My family and I rode the Burlington Zephyr between Chicago and St. Paul in the 1960s.

    Union Station, 4th St. between Sibley and Wacouta, built 1917-1923. Classical revival architecture by Charles S. Frost. I boarded trains here for Chicago and Ohio. My family and I rode the Burlington Zephyr between Chicago and St. Paul in the 1960s.

  • The Sibley Building (now Park Square Court), 6th St. between Sibley and Wacouta; J. Walter Stevens, architect. Built 1886 in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style after Massachusetts architect H. H. Richardson (1838-1886).

    The Sibley Building (now Park Square Court), 6th St. between Sibley and Wacouta; J. Walter Stevens, architect. Built 1886 in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style after Massachusetts architect H. H. Richardson (1838-1886).

  • My Aunt Ida worked at the B. W. Harris Company, located until 1971 in this building. Among other things, my aunt sewed (and I got to wear) Zero King Stormcoats , a line established in 1917.

    My Aunt Ida worked at the B. W. Harris Company, located until 1971 in this building. Among other things, my aunt sewed (and I got to wear) Zero King Stormcoats , a line established in 1917.

  • The Minnesota State Capitol, northwest of downtown, north of interstate 35E. Built 1895-1905, Cass Gilbert, architect.

    The Minnesota State Capitol, northwest of downtown, north of interstate 35E. Built 1895-1905, Cass Gilbert, architect.

  • The Cathedral of Saint Paul on Summit Hill, as seen from the Minnesota History Center downtown. The dominating Renaissance Revival building was inspired by the cathedrals of France. Built 1907–1927. First service 1915.

    The Cathedral of Saint Paul on Summit Hill, as seen from the Minnesota History Center downtown. The dominating Renaissance Revival building was inspired by the cathedrals of France. Built 1907–1927. First service 1915.

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    Looking up 4th St. to First National Bank. It’s a Saturday morning in late August. Notice the downtown traffic.
    The Old Federal Building opened in 1902. The US post office operated from here until the Kellogg Boulevard building was built in the 1930s.
    South façade of the Old Federal Building (75 W. 5th St. between Washington and Market), seen from Rice Park. Built 1894-1904 in the Richardsonian Romanesque Style named for Massachusetts architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886). Willoughby J. Edbrooke, archiect; restored by Winsor Faricy Architects and Stahl Bennett, architects.