Maplewood Area Historical Society

LOCAL HISTORY PROGRAMS AT WORK

2009-01-29T12:13:00.001-06:00

The Maplewood Area Historical Society is working ,this year, to develop exhibits and activities that explain and interpret the community, civic and agricultural history of Maplewood.
We are looking for people who are interested in history who may be long-term residents of Maplewood or who may be newcomers to the community.

If you would like to learn more or have questions, please call Carolyn at 651-748-9009 Thank you, Char Wasiluk

Bruentrup Master Plan

2008-02-04T16:14:00.000-06:00

INTRODUCTION

"YOUR PAST REMAINS BOUND UP IN YOU; IT LIVES IN THE PRESENT, AND IT WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE FUTURE."

- STEINER

The purpose of the Bruentrup Heritage Farm is to preserve and tell the story of farming and farm life in the township of New Canada, and later in the City of Maplewood.

The Bruentrup Heritage Farm is located at 2170 County Road D, between White Bear Avenue and McKnight Road. The farm occupies about 3.5 acres of a 32-acre open space site that is owned by the City of Maplewood. The Parks chapter of the updated City of Maplewood Comprehensive Plan indicates that the farm and open space site are a "Special Use Park". The city plans to select a name for the open space site, and restore the cultivated fields to original prairie grasses and flowers.

The Bruentrup Heritage Farm consists of the farmhouse (original part 1890's, new part 1912), barn (circa 1900 - 1910), granary, metal shed/blacksmith repair shop, machine shed, and the bricks and front door from a smokehouse (will be rebuilt). Two other buildings from the original farmstead were not saved: machine shed and a chicken house/garage.
The saved buildings were moved from the original Bruentrup Farmstead that was located at the southeast corner of White Bear Avenue and Lydia Avenue. The site where the buildings now sit is part of the Conklin - Howlett Farmstead, which had dairy cows, boarded horses, and was active until the 1970's.

In May of 1999, the Maplewood Area Historical Society and the City of Maplewood succeeded in obtaining a $100,000 special grant from the Minnesota Legislature, to help in the relocation of the farmhouse and farm buildings. This money was matched by a donation of $100,000 (later increased to $150,000) by William and Raydelle Bruentrup to the Historical Society as the local matching funds for the relocation project. The Bruentrups also donated the house and farm buildings to the Historical Society. After the buildings were moved to the present site, the Historical Society donated the buildings to the City of Maplewood. The city now owns the buildings and they are covered under the city's insurance. In May of 1999, the city granted a conditional use permit for the Heritage Farm. In December of 2000, the city and the Historical Society entered into a 99-year lease, under which the Historical Society will operate and maintain the Heritage Farm.

PURPOSE OF THE BRUENTRUP HERITAGE FARM

As noted above, the Bruentrup Heritage Farm will interpret the history of agriculture in New Canada-Maplewood. Information may also be presented about trends and changes in agriculture in Minnesota and the rest of the United States. The Heritage Farm will use exhibits, demonstrations, and involvement of visitors in typical farming activities during the period from 1891 (the year William A. Bruentrup started the farm) to 1999, when the farmland was sold for commercial development.

A majority of people living in Maplewood and in Minnesota have no personal connection to farming or to the land resource. A primary emphasis of the Heritage Farm is (a) to help people who are not farmers to understand the challenges of farming during the twentieth century, and (b) to re-connect non-farm people to the source of their food: farms and farmers.

PURPOSE OF THE MASTER PLAN

The master plan for the Bruentrup Heritage Farm provides a written and graphic explanation of how the historical interpretive facility should be operated. The master plan includes goals and objectives, a site analysis, economic feasibility, and a concept plan for historical interpretation and education that will guide the development of exhibits, activities, and programs.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goal 1 - EDUCATION AND INTERPRETATION

The Heritage Farm will tell the story of agriculture in Minnesota as it happened in a once-rural community (New Canada Township) on the edge of Saint Paul that has now become a fully-developed suburb (City of Maplewood).

Exhibits, demonstrations, and visitor participation in typical farming activities will connect people to the various aspects of agriculture between 1891 and 1999; farmers, farm families, and farming; and historical events that affected farming.

Goal 2 - LEARNING BY PARTICIPATION

The Heritage Farm will emphasize exhibits, displays, and activities that involve people through their senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and imagination.

For example, visitors will see and learn about authentic old farm machinery. Visitors will see (and to the extent possible participate in) the process of cultivating the soil, preparing it for planting, planting the crop, coming back to see how the crops are growing, and helping with the harvest of the crops.

Goal 3 - HISTORICAL AUTHENTICITY

The Heritage Farm will accurately and objectively portray the stages and changes of farming in Maplewood and in Minnesota. In cases where information, artifacts, or exhibits either did not come from the Bruentrup Farm or were not used there, members of the Historical Society and their volunteers will provide that explanation to visitors.

Goal 4 - ATTRACT PEOPLE, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The Heritage Farm will offer year-round activities of interest to individuals, families, schools, and civic or cultural groups. For these activities to happen, the Heritage Farm will need the continuing support of the Maplewood Area Historical Society, the City of Maplewood, and donations and grants from public and private organizations, as well as the time, talents, and energy of volunteers interested in their community's history. The fact that the Historical Society has been certified by the Internal Revenue Service as a "501(c) (3)" non-profit organization may encourage donations of money, materials and services, since such donations may be tax-deductible.

Goal 5 - HOME FOR THE MAPLEWOOD AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Since December of 2000, the Historical Society has been holding its monthly meetings at the farmhouse. A portion of the farmhouse basement has been converted to serve as an office for the Historical Society. Historical artifacts, files, and information about Maplewood will be stored there.

SITE ANALYSIS

The purpose of this section is to establish baseline data that can be used to guide initial recommendations for development and future opportunities for the Bruentrup Heritage Farm.

1. LOCATION - ACCESS

The Heritage Farm is located on the northern edge of the city of Maplewood, on County Road D, between White Bear Avenue and McKnight Road. (See area location map.)

Approximate distances to other cities from the Heritage Farm:

A. White Bear Lake = directly across I-694 to the north
B. Oakdale = 2.5 miles east, via I-694 or local roads
C. North St. Paul = 1.0 mile southeast, via local streets
D. Roseville = 6 to 7 miles west, via I-694 and Hwy. 36
E. Saint Paul = 3 miles to city limits by bus or car, 5 or 6 miles to downtown
F. Stillwater = 10 miles east, via I694 and Hwy. 36
G. Woodbury = 10 to 11 miles southeast, via I-694
H. Minneapolis = 15 miles to downtown, via I-694 and Hwy. 36

Visitors to the Farm by automobile can access the site from the freeway interchange at I-694 and White Bear Avenue, or take local roads to County Road D. A parking lot for the Heritage Farm and the open space area is being planned by the city. Handicapped parking access will be provided at designated spaces.

Visitors who travel by bus to the Farm can access the site by taking the route 69 bus that runs from downtown Saint Paul east on Seventh Street and Minnehaha Avenue, then north on White Bear Avenue to Larpenteur Avenue, then east/north to North St. Paul, then west/north to Woodlyn Avenue. Signs on Woodlyn Avenue will direct visitors to take a walking path north through the open space area to the Farm site.

The main driveway to the Farm will be used by visitors until the parking facilities are installed. After that time, only the farm caretaker and their visitors, handicapped visitors, and special event vehicles that need access to the house or barn will be allowed to use the main driveway.

2. CONDITIONS AT THE HERITAGE FARMSITE - 1999 AND LATER

In 1999, the land was vacant and unused. All of the original farm buildings were gone. Parts of the concrete floor in the barn were still visible, the foundation wall of a garage was still in place, part of the front sidewalk to the house was still in place, and the foundation for the wellhouse remained.

The trees and bushes were overgrown and in need of trimming. Several trees that were dead or growing at dangerous angles were removed. Trees were also removed to make room for the septic system mound located east of the house. None of the large oak trees on the site were disturbed. Some of the original barbed-wire fencing remained along the west edge of the trees. This was removed in 2001, when crews removed buckthorn.

As part of the site preparation for moving in the house, a basement was excavated at the site of the original house. Work crews discovered that remnants of the burned-down house had been dumped in the old basement and buried. This material was removed, and an old well was properly abandoned and sealed.

After the house was moved in, concrete block foundation walls were built, and the house was lowered onto the walls. The walls will be covered with fieldstone to look like the original walls under the house.

A basement was excavated for the barn, a foundation wall was built, and the barn was lowered onto the walls. Extra bracing was added on the outside of the walls, after it was discovered that the foundation walls were not built wide enough to give adequate support for the weight of the barn. The walls will be covered with fieldstone to look like the original walls.

3. SOILS

Note: Insert information from city or county soil survey records for the farmsite, and site development factors.

4. TOPOGRAPHY AND SIGHT LINES

The immediate area where the farmhouse is located is level, and is framed by trees to the east and west. Some trees remain to the north along the edge of the property. The house is visible from County Road D, immediately in front of the site.

At the location where the barn was installed, the terrain starts to slope downward in a southerly direction. This is all right, since the barn is designed to sit in the side of a hill, and the terrain will allow for construction of ramps to three sides of the upper level of the barn, and construction of doors to provide access to the basement of the barn at the south end of the building.

Parts of the farmsite are visible from the south along Woodlyn Avenue. However, this will mainly be the upper parts of the taller buildings, since Woodlyn is at a lower elevation, and the ridge on which the powerline is located acts as a visual barrier. At certain times of the year, the upper part of the barn may be visible from I-694, when leaves on trees do not block the view.

Some of the townhouses on the north side of Woodlyn Avenue can be seen from the farmsite. To block the view, evergreens or thick-growing bushes could be planted along the edge of the powerline right-of-way. This vegetation could also screen the farmsite from a future walking/biking trail that may be constructed along the powerline right-of-way. These and other planting ideas for the farmsite will need to be coordinated with the city's open space coordinator.

One or two of the existing houses on the north side of County Road D may be visible from parts of the farmsite. However, this should not be a problem, since the Heritage Farm is not planned to be a "living history farm" and so modern-day aspects of farm life and adjacent land uses can be compatible in the historical interpretation of the site. The same comments apply to the sound of traffic on I-694, which is about one-half block to the north.
Note: insert a map or drawing of topography and/or sight lines.

5. UTILITIES

As of September, 1999 there was no electricity, natural gas, water or sewer service at the farm site. The old well was drilled to a shallow depth, was determined by the city to be not usable, and was sealed. After the buildings were moved to the site in November of 1999, telephone, water, gas, and electric utilities were provided to the house. Sewage treatment for the house was provided by an on-site septic system. The tank and an above-grade mound system were installed east of the house. Portable toilets will be rented and used for activities that draw large crowds. Electricity was also provided to the barn.

ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY

1. THE MARKET AND VISITORS

Marketing of the Heritage Farm will depend on the time required to properly develop and set up displays and demonstrations, and upon the availability of volunteers to help operate the facility. During the first year, operation of the Farm will begin with visitor hours mainly on the weekends from approximately Memorial Day to Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Visitors to the Farm will come from the following sectors:

• Families from the "east metro" area of the twin cities;
• Students from area schools on Saturdays, or on a weekday by appointment if volunteer interpreters are available;
• People living within a 25 - to - 50 mile radius of Maplewood;
• Tourists passing through the area on the freeways.

(The Historical Society needs to work with the city, Ramsey County, and MNDOT to get informational signs placed at major roadway intersections. Information also needs to be placed in major newspapers, chambers of commerce, area hotels and restaurants, MN Dept. of Tourism information centers, and elsewhere.)

Annual estimates of visitors from these market sectors during the first year of operation may range from ____ to ____. Special events held at the Farm could add more people.

For example, in September of 2001, the Historical Society held an open house/dedication of the Farm (from 10 AM to 3 PM). Even though it was cold and rainy all day, at least 150 people came. A second example of potential attendance is the Christmas Open House held in December of 2001 (from 1:00 to 5:00 PM), where people came to see the decorations in the house and also walk through the barn. Again, at least 150 people attended.

2. OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, COSTS AND REVENUES

Historical Society members will continue to work to secure additional funding to support the operation of the Farm. A five year plan and budget of program needs, costs, and revenue will be prepared to guide ongoing operations.

The Historical Society will select a caretaker to live on the premises, in order to provide general oversight of the property and watch for would-be vandals and thieves. The caretaker will sign a lease with the Historical Society that will allow the caretaker and family to live in the upper floor of the house and use the main kitchen and laundry area in the basement as needed. Caretaking duties such as grass cutting and snow plowing will also be specified in the lease agreement.

The Historical Society will provide expenses and fees for people or groups that want to bring in special exhibits or conduct demonstrations. Special fund-raising events may be held as needed to bring in extra revenue. These events may be held at the Farm or off-site, depending on the type of event.

The Historical Society needs to budget for operational costs and set visitor fees, before the Farm is opened to the public. Funds raised from visitor fees and donations will be used for program operations.

The economic viability of the Farm will depend upon the sustained efforts of the Historical Society to secure annual and multi-year funding. Effective marketing and advertising can help to develop the expected visitor levels, which in turn will demonstrate the value of the facility and its programs to potential visitors. Word-of-mouth support in the community and regular notices in "Maplewood In Motion" will also help.

In regard to programs, the Heritage Farm will occupy a unique niche in the historical sites of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, because the Farm will cover all aspects of farming and farm-family life from 1891 to 1999. Unlike other historical sites, the programs will not be confined to any single time period. The goal of this interpretive site is to show how farming and the Maplewood area has changed over the last 108 years, during the transition from rural township to developed suburb. This comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to programs should help to engage the interest of a wider audience of visitors.

CONCEPT PLAN

As noted at the beginning, the Bruentrup Heritage Farm will emphasize changes in agriculture in Maplewood and in Minnesota from 1891 through 1999. A primary emphasis of the Farm is to help non-farming visitors develop a better understanding of the challenges of family farms. A second primary emphasis is to re-connect people to the source of their food - the soil, the farm, and the farmer.

The orientation of the house and buildings at the original site of the Bruentrup Farm will be re-created at the County Road D site. Farm buildings that could not be relocated will eventually be rebuilt, or historically comparable buildings may be acquired and moved onto the site.

The restored farm will be the setting for exhibits of the Bruentrup and Howlett/Conklin farm families, as well as "hands-on" demonstrations of historical farming practices which will allow supervised participation by visitors. Some of the demonstrations will be related to activities in the house, and others will concern activities related to the farming operation.

The first floor of the farmhouse will be used for public tours and for Historical Society meetings. The basement will be used for an office, storage, and for laundry needs of the caretaker. The caretaker will use the second floor, and other areas, as specified in the lease. The Historical Society will develop a policy to guide the rental use of the first floor by civic groups.

The barn and other farm buildings (existing and yet-to-be rebuilt or replaced) will be used to store and display farm machinery and exhibits of historical farming artifacts. The farm buildings will also be included in an interpretive program which will explain why farmers needed to have certain kinds of buildings, implements, tools, animals, machinery, and other resources to successfully operate a farm.

The barn may also be used for special programs and events, such as arts and crafts exhibits, parties, etc. The basement of the barn will be used for displays or exhibits about the horses and dairy cows which occupied that area. The Historical Society will also consider requests by the Maplewood Parks and Recreation Department or the Maplewood Nature Center to use this area at specified times.

Parts of the open space on the farm site may be used for demonstrations that use farm animals or farm machinery for planting and harvesting of certain crops using historical methods and implements, and for other activities which require outside space.

FOURTH OF JULY RESERVED

By special arrangement with Bill and Raydelle Bruentrup, the Farm will be closed to the public on the 4th of July each year, so that the Bruentrup family may celebrate their annual family get-together. The Bruentrup family may also use the kitchen in the farmhouse and the yard outside on that day.

TIME PERIODS FOR RESEARCH AND INTERPRETATION

This concept plan recommends that four general time periods be researched and interpreted at the Heritage Farm:

1. Horse and steam-powered farming (1870 -1920)
2. Early mechanized farming (1920 - 1945)
3. Farming after World War II (1945 - 1975)
4. Farming of today (1975 - 2000)

Note: Farming before 1870 (the Pioneer Farming era) preceded the time period of the Bruentrup Heritage Farm. There are other historical farms in the Twin Cities area which portray the pioneer farm era, such as the Oliver Kelley Farm near Elk River, and the Gibbs Farm at Larpenteur and Cleveland Avenues near the University of Minnesota's Saint Paul "farm campus".

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TIME PERIODS

1. Horse and Steam-Powered Farming (1870 - 1920)

This was a period of changes in general on the farm.

The steam-powered machinery of the 1870's was still used in the 1890's. However, the conversion from hand-powered and horse-powered labor to mechanized labor began during this time period.

The political and social changes of this time were evident by the impact of the Grange (started by Oliver Kelley), the anti-monopoly party, and major farm protest movements.

During this period, the influence of people on agriculture reached a particular level of importance.

Typical activities of this era would be best represented by interpretive programs, and secondly, by farm festivals (barn-raisings, group harvests, quilting & husking bees, etc).

2. Early Mechanized Farming (192O -1945)

The 1920's were the end of a "golden age of agriculture and the onset of one of the country's most troubled times" (the Depression of the 1930's).

Technological advances, such as gasoline - powered farm machinery and electricity (which dramatically changed farm life), were gradually made available to farms during this time period.

The "dust bowl" soil erosion problem of the 1930's began to be addressed by the federal government through new methods of cultivation that conserved the topsoil by preventing erosion by wind or water.

3. Farming After World War II (1945 - 1975)

During this time, larger machinery and powerful chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides were introduced.

Research and development of hybrid seeds (which produced larger yields) also started during this time.

The size of a typical farm increased, and farms became less diversified as farmers concentrated on growing one or two "cash crops" (wheat, corn or soybeans in Minnesota) or raising livestock exclusively.

4. Farming of Today (1975 - 2000)

In the mid-late 1970's, farmers were encouraged by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to plant crops "fencerow to fencerow", in order to take advantage of the high prices for grain and other farm products at that time.

Farmers responded by producing more, buying more land, bigger tractors, and other farm machinery. The high prices soon returned to lower levels. However, the loan payments that farmers had to make on their land and machinery purchases did not decrease. In addition, the lower prices for farm products translated into a lower value of the farm land compared to the high debt level.

The lower equity in the farm made it harder for many farmers to get affordable financing to operate their farms, or to have the cash flow to make regular payments on their loans. As a result, many farmers were forced to auction off their farms or give them back to the lenders, in order to settle their debts.

In the 1990's, increased competition from corporate farms and "soft" foreign markets combined to place even more pressure on today's family farmers. Some farmers have turned to specialty crops and organic farming methods to gain a better return on their investment. In this time period, most family farms relied upon income from one or more jobs held outside the farm in order to "make ends meet".

Some of the topics to be covered for each time period are:

1. Family farms and farming families
2. Farms on the edge of urban areas
3. Farm machinery and tools
4. Seeds and crops
5. Livestock and feedlots
6. Farm service businesses
7. Farm economy, prices, and farm management
8. Education, skills, and experiences to be a farmer
9. Role of farm research and extension services
10. Pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals
11. Organic farming and other specialty crops
12. Changes in farm implement technology
13. Changes in soil cultivation and conservation
14. Environmental impacts/benefits from farming
15. Transfer of farms to new generations, new farmers
16. Urban development pressures and farm preservation
17. The farm community and social life

VISITOR ACCESS

When this plan was prepared in 1999, the temporary plan for visitor access was to have parking on Woodlyn Avenue, and then walk or ride a hay wagon up to the farm site.

The permanent solution to visitor access was a proposal to have an off-street parking area, with a trail leading to the farmstead. Initially, a parking area site was proposed west of the oak trees located across the driveway from the farmhouse (see site plan).

Recent discussions (late 2001) between the Historical Society and the City of Maplewood now favor a parking area located east of the trees that are east of the farmhouse. This parking area is to be financed and built by the City of Maplewood, and will serve both visitors to the farmsite and people using the recreational trail that is planned to pass by the northern edge of the Heritage Farm.

A small building or structure should be located on the edge of the parking area, to serve as the initial contact point for visitors to the Heritage Farm. Admission fees and general information about the Farm would be handled at this building. After visitors pass through this building, they would follow a trail leading to the farmhouse, where they would be greeted by volunteer interpreters and/or Historical Society members. The trail to the farmsite would be accessible to visitors whose physical movements are limited by disabilities.

POTENTIAL HERITAGE FARM PROGRAMS

Examples of seasonal programs include:

1. Spring
• Planting things by hand or machine
• Easter or Earth Day activities
• May Day or Arbor Day activities
• Memorial Day/weekend activities
• Livestock shearing (Visiting animals)

2. Summer
• "Barn-raising" for repair & construction projects
• Outdoor games from different time periods
• Plays, concerts, ice cream socials, arts and crafts
• Harvesting and baling of hay
• Fence building
• Fruit harvest

3. Autumn
• Harvesting and canning of produce
• Making apple butter ,apple cider
• Corn husking and roasting
• Butter churning
• Barn dances
• Arts and crafts, plays, concerts
• Livestock butchering (if allowed by the city)
• Thanksgiving events

4. Winter
• Quilting bees
• Christmas, New Year, Groundhog Day
• Winter games or sports
• Candle making
• Repair of tools and other farm equipment

COORDINATION OF PROGRAMS WITH GROUPS

Development and design of interpretive programs and special events at the Heritage Farm should reach out to the general public, and also to the special interest groups that are involved with agriculture in Minnesota. Examples include:

• agribusiness
• farm organizations (farm bureau, farmers union, etc.)
• youth groups (4-H, Future Farmers of America, scouting)
• area farmers, students from foreign countries
• government sponsored events
• educational groups (schools, U of M extension, the new urban agricultural high school in Little Canada)
• area and state historical societies
• research & preservation groups (Preservation Alliance of MN)
• arts and theater groups
• service organizations
• religious organizations
• musical groups
• professional and technical organizations
• foundations and other financial support groups

CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Primary Author: Robert Overby, Maplewood Area Historical Society

Contributors: Bill and Raydelle Bruentrup, Carolyn and
Glenn Peterson, Char Wasiluk, Al Galbraith

Reference: "A Master Plan For The Minnesota Agricultural
Interpretive Center", RCM, Mankato, MN (1980)

History of Maplewood

2007-12-18T10:45:00.000-06:00

The history of Maplewood goes back about 150 years. Before settlers arrived the land in Maplewood was inhabited by the Dakota Indians. The landscape was a mix of scrub oak and prairie, with many marshes and lakes.

In 1850, a group of families ventured out from St. Paul along an old Indian trail which is now Hazelwood Street. They were the Bells, Caseys, Conlins, and the Vincents. At today’s County Road C they turned to the east and began to build their log cabins. The sound of their axes alerted the nearby Dakota who quickly surrounded the homesteaders. The Dakota asked them to leave and the newcomers quickly retraced their steps. The settlers made repeated attempts to claim the land they had bought for 2 dollars and acre. But again and again they were driven back. Finally, in 1853, they found that the Ojibway had pushed the Dakota out of the area. The Ojibway just wanted to hunt on the land and they didn’t mind the clearing of trees. At about this same time southern Maplewood was being settled as well. In 1852, Thomas Carver began farming to the west of Carver Lake. This area, the south leg of Maplewood, later became McLean township. Northern Maplewood was included in the township of New Canada in when it was formed in 1858.

The first organized transportation in this area was a stagecoach line that was along present Edgerton Street. This line began in 1856, and it cost 10 dollars for the trip from St. Paul to Duluth. This stagecoach line remained in service until the first railroad was built to Duluth in 1870. This was the Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad and followed the Vento Trail. By the 1880’s the line was owned by the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. This owner would play a big part in Maplewood’s development.

In 1886, the Wisconsin Central Railroad built a line that intersected with the St. Paul and Duluth Railroad. A townsite was planned at the junction of these two railroads that was predicted to “rival St. Paul.” William and Mary Dawson platted out a town and decided to name the place “Gladstone” after William Gladstone, a popular British statesman of the time. Dawson planned to relocate his plow work business there and was able to entice The St. Paul and Duluth Railroad to put its shops in Gladstone. For a time, the little village prospered. In the 1890’s the town employed 1,000 workers. It had a post office, a hotel, at least two saloons, a brothel and a population of about 150.

Gladstone suffered a series of misfortunes that was its demise. First, a fire destroyed the Plow Works. Then the founder of the town, William Dawson filed for bankruptcy. The last straw was when the railroad shut down the shops sometime around 1917. Gladstone became a ghost town with many people leaving or burning their houses for insurance. Trains still remained an everyday sight in Gladstone for many years after. The depot stayed in service through 1950’s but the railroad changed the name to Gloster in 1910 to avoid confusion with Gladstone Michigan.

The people who stayed behind were the farmers. Truck farming was the main business in the areas adjacent to St. Paul through much of the first half of this century. The farmers were the local government for many years. In 1878, a town hall was built for New Canada along the north shore of Lake Phalen and was moved to Gladstone in 1900. Annual meetings were a big event and the little building was packed with people. By the early 1950’s the old building was run down. The town decided to have its meetings in a room in the back of the Gladstone Fire Building.

After World War II, the housing boom began in New Canada Township. Veterans could receive discounts on new homes and developments began around Wakefield Lake. Residents wanted improved services like sewer, water, and better roads. These items were the subject of debate at the township meetings. In 1953, Little Canada broke away from the township and became a city. Many new people were hired to replace the empty spots on the town board. These were the people who set the wheels in motion for the City of Maplewood.

Not only was the population of New Canada increasing, industry also had interest in the area. 3M was looking for expansion and bought a large chunk of land in the southern leg. This land was outside of the city limits of St. Paul. Rumors began that St. Paul wanted to annex the area where 3M was going to be. An offer was made to the New Canada Township to swap a connection to St. Paul’s sewer and water to add the 3M land to the city limits. The township didn’t like this idea and decided that the best action was to form a city on its own. On February 26, 1957 the vote was 5 to 1 in favor of becoming a village.

Waldo Luebben was the fist mayor and many of the former New Canada Township board members became village officials. Ed O’Mara was one of the persons who suggested the name “Maplewood” Warren Berger went out to his backyard and traced a maple leaf and that became the village logo. Maplewood had a population of 14,200 people when it incorporated. For a few years, life in Maplewood was much like that of the former township. The village operated out of the same building attached to the Gladstone Fire Building. The township constables slowly evolved into the Maplewood Police Department. Len Pepin became a constable in 1954, was later Maplewood’s first chief of police. Fire protection for the Village of Maplewood was by the Gladstone, Parkside, and East County Line Fire Departments. These organizations merged into the Maplewood Fire Department in 1997.

In the late 50’s and early 60’s the city continued to use buildings in the old Gladstone site. The Police Department had a converted house and the engineering department was in an old barber shop and grocery store. According to legend, work on the new village hall was so slow, Building Inspector Oscar Londin grabbed a shovel and said “I’ll do it myself!” The two story city hall was built on Frost Avenue in 1965. It only took 20 years to outgrow the new city hall and a new one was built in the woods off County Road B and White Bear Avenue.

The Village of Maplewood was changed to the City of Maplewood by the 1970’s and adopted the council manager form of government. The Maplewood Mall opened in the early 1970’s and became the major center of retail business in Maplewood. In the late 60’s and 1970’s there was a Maplewood Fall Festival with parades and a Miss Maplewood pageant. The main event of the city became the 4th of July celebration held at Wakefield Park in the 1970’s and 80’s and at Hazelwood in the 1990’s. The highlight of each event is the fireworks display. By 1990, 30,954 people lived in Maplewood. The city was rapidly being developed, especially the southern leg. Open space became a concern. The home of the Post It Note became one of the first cities in Minnesota to buy land and set it aside to remain undeveloped.

History of Bruentrup Heritage Farm

2007-12-18T10:20:00.000-06:00

The Bruentrup Heritage farm was established in 1891. William Bruentrup married Ida Wagner and the brides family gave them 40 acres of land along White Bear Avenue as a wedding present. They added land until it reached 175 acres. Four generations of the family have farmed there. The farmhouse was somewhat modernized in 1912.

Over the years the surrounding land was being developed. A large part of the Bruentrup property had been sold, including the many acres where Maplewood Mall is now located. In 1997 the developers offered the Bruentrup family a very good price for their land. The Bruentrup's offered the City of Maplewood the first chance to buy it. The City sent out a questionnaire to the citizens of Maplewood. The responses were very positive to the idea of saving the farm in that location. The City was not willing to put the raising of funds to a referendum at that time.

The newly formed Maplewood Area Historical Society became interested at that time. The involvement of the community has been the focus of our work. Private citizens and local businesses were sent pledge forms. We raised over $20,000, but time was running out and the developers purchased the property. A group of Society members convinced our State Legislators to carry a bill to fund the moving of the farm buildings on to City owned Open Space. The bill passed with the help of many citizen lobbyists. The farm buildings were moved in 1999. The house, barn, granary, machine shed and metal foundry building and one hundred years of farming artifacts were all moved to 21/2 acres donated by the City. This land is adjacent to 25 acres of City owned prairie preserve.

This preservation effort was a winner of the Histsoric Preservation Award in the year 2000.

Because of the hundreds of volunteers, individuals, local businesses, labor unions and the Bruentrup family we have been able to get the house, some of the buildings and the grounds in excellent condition. The work will continue. We welcome visitors.

Information compiled by Char Wasiluk, Pres. MAHS 2007

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2007-12-18T10:16:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the Maplewood Area Historical Society's Virtual Library site. More info will be posted soon.