A comprehensive book about this small first-ring suburb takes you on a fun tour of the community and spills over into the neighboring communities like nearby “Nordeast”!
Take a walk down memory lane and read about things from the past. How about that iconic Apache shopping at Apache Plaza? Do you remember shopping there? Learn about the tornado that struck in the eighties!
Of course, this book also addresses current happenings. It’s filled with a variety of fun facts and it even has a calendar of annual events, as well as other fun content!
Come along and see the beauty this community has to offer in this 264-full color page book! You’re guaranteed to find something that will grab your interest. You’re gonna love it! Order your copy today!
It may be the shortest day of the year when we receive the least amount of daylight, but we’re extending our pick-up hours before Christmas this week! For you last-minute shoppers, this unique book “What Makes Saint Anthony Village” won’t be a thoughtless type of gift—but, instead, one that will be well-received by recipients of most all ages. There are plenty of colorful visuals for the non-reader as well!
SAD TO GLAD!
With the weather getting colder and the daylight shorter, some people may feel gloomy. This is the time of year when seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can occur. There are helpful ways to counteract this disorder.
Last week, the Village had one surefire way to turn any SAD into GLAD, when our local St. Anthony Fire Department carried out their sweet tradition of Santa on the Fire Truck. Once again, this event brought so much cheer to residents—young and old alike!
What does winter mean to you?
Typically when we have snow this time of year, many people find outdoor activities such as sledding, ice skating, cross-country or downhill skiing, building snowmen, having snowball fights, building a fort or an igloo to be the most common activities.
In our current winter weather situation, if we are able and willing, it would be healthy and wise to “get off the device and move to the ice” with more and more local rinks being flooded. However, common sense and caution must be used on the nearby lakes to ensure their safety!
For those with more land, they may turn to snowmobiling.
Winter usually brings us unpredictable snowstorms and the wild weather Minnesota is well known for.
Of course for us hardy specimens who live in these harsh winters that historically translate to commuting on slippery roads that need snowplowing, we have to first break out the shovels to clear pathways on our own sidewalks and driveways.
Many have been working remotely during this pandemic, so that coupled with the lack of snow only adds to the strangeness. Will we have a white Christmas this year?
Even though there is a savings in not having road travel on the snowless roads, there may still be the occasional ice patches here and there can make commutes to wherever we are going a bit dangerous and treacherous if we let our guard down.
During the earlier days in this cold region, often with the stretch of unbearable temperatures and wind chills that dipped way below zero, the weather certainly had an even greater impact in many ways. The white outs from the blizzards that made it challenging to get from the house to the barn. Remember the description of the rope that served as a guide in the southeastern Dakota Territory in the book “The Long Winter” by Laura Ingalls Wilder?
The indigenous peoples had their many activities for the proper time and place based on the seasons. There were specific times for the growing, gathering and the hunting of food. Here in Minnesota, the Chippewa Tribe—the Ojibwe—had the practical and natural choice of traditional storytelling reserved for the winter months, as was the case for many of the tribes.
It only made sense in the wintertime with the long, dark evenings. While there was a peaceful sort of silence in the woods, wolves could often be heard howling in the distance. The animals were in hibernation and the snow was blowing outside, while the children were safely tucked inside listening to and learning from the engaging and entertaining stories that were told to them.
Even in this place and time in Minnesota, when it’s time to go indoors, we can find ourselves curled up by a warm, cozy fire chatting and sharing stories from the past. This book about the Village will likely inspire you to recall your very own memories and special people that you may have experienced here.
Nov. 11, 2020 . . . Eighty years ago, the morning of November 11, 1940, dawned with unseasonably high temperatures. However, as the day progressed the temperature sharply dropped and the wind picked up.
The sky began releasing rain, sleet and snow.
The intense early-season snowfall surprised and caught many people off guard.
The end result: A fast-moving, raging blizzard that created snow drifts that crippled communication and transportation. The weather switched so rapidly that people were not dressed appropriately for the cool front that moved in.
Minnesota recorded 27 inches of snow at Collegeville and the Twin Cities had 16 inches.
The cold was described as severe. It was difficult to breathe, as the air was so moisture laden it was described by those who survived as a “thick-like syrup”. The cold just “seared the lungs”.
Duck hunters who were out at the time were the ones who were especially ill-prepared for what was to come.
Many hunters claimed that the animals were well aware of the upcoming weather shift, as they quickly scurried and moved rapidly. There were hundreds upon hundreds of ducks that were in the area and on the move across the skies.
Hunters could have easily shot their limit, had they not been so focused on their on survival due to the weather instead.
Several hundred duck hunters had taken time off from work and school to take advantage of the ideal hunting conditions. The weather forecasters had not predicted the severity of the oncoming storm, and as a result many of the hunters were not dressed for the cold weather.
Many hunters along the Mississippi River were stranded and they froze to death when the temperature moved in. Other hunters who tried to make it to shore, drowned.
Duck hunters constituted about half of the 49 death in Minnesota.
During the blinding snow, in Watkins, Minnesota, a passenger train and a freight train collided, killing two people. The residents in Watkins formed a human chain to lead the remaining passengers to safety!
Navigating in the Twin Cities was rough as well. There are many stories local people have told.
Here are the Top 5 Minnesota weather events of the 20th century:
#1 – 1930s Dust Bowl
#2 – 1940 Armistice Day Blizzard
#3 – 1991 Halloween Blizzard (which is in the Village book)
#4 – 1997 Red & Minnesota River Flooding
#5 (a tie) – 1965 Fridley Tornado Outbreak (read my book “Pea Soup & Tomatoes”) & 1965 Mississippi & Minnesota River Flooding
November 11th marks Veterans Day. It’s always the same date each and every year.
Why is that?
World War I ended on the 11th month on the 11th day—at the eleventh hour.
You can read more about the veterans highlighted in the Village book.
You can also learn about the poppy. The poppy should always be worn on the right side. The red represents the blood of all of those who gave their lives. The black represents the mourning of those who did not see their loved ones return home. The green leaf signifies the growing grass and crops marking the hope – and future prosperity. The war destroyed so much.
Dad was only in his early twenties when he went on a boat to Korea to serve in America’s “Forgotten War”. Not only did he help assist injured soldiers, he had the duty of identifying the corpses of the fallen ones. There were days where he wasn’t sure if he’d ever return home again. He knew that his mother was praying for him though. She and grandpa had four sons who served our country. Thanks Joe, Louie, Bernie and Ed!
My Uncle Louie barely survived his traumatic injury. When he was eighteen-years-old, he was with a group of soldiers that were all returning home from Christmas Eve Mass. On the way back to their barracks, they ran into a hidden machine gun nest. Every soldier he was with died—most were instantly killed. Bullets hit both of his legs. He barely held on and played dead until January 6th. He had enough reserve, but barely, to survive his blood loss and shock from the injury he sustained. He was discovered and cared for by medics who did what they could do for his ravaged legs that were littered with bullets. Gangrene set in. His right leg was amputated 3 times: below the knee, above the knee, and eventually half-way up his thigh. They could never remove the bullets from his left leg without causing muscle damage. His severe pain and suffering lingered. It was truly a miracle that he survived! He eventually made it back to his beloved Saint Paul, Minnesota where he married Laura—the love of his life–his Italian beauty. The young couple built a life together—raising their children and providing the very best for them. His health struggles plagued him and tested his physical endurance and strength, but he had to adapt to a burdensome prosthetic leg for the rest of his life. He had no choice! He would have to learn to live with this severe injury he endured. But through it all, he was a resilient man who would flash his ready smile and enjoy and participate in life to the fullest. He was very skilled at building, creating, inventing and providing the very best for his family. His God-given talents were never set aside by his physical limitations.
Here’s a photo of Uncle Louie’s grandson, Paul, who served as a Green Beret!
There are two more special men I would like to recognize. These once-young men bravely served our country and fought for our freedom as faithful and devoted servants. My other uncles—Dan and Mark.
Thank you, my brave heroes! Your strength and valor kept America safe.
The carving of the pumpkin was always a highly anticipated event. The careful spreading out and layering of the sheets of newspaper all across the old kitchen table happened first.
Having a strainer and large spoons on hand was a must.
Dad would design a face with a pencil before he began. We’d all watch with anticipation as the ridged, round pumpkin soon came to life after the carving was completed.
The spooky, yet somewhat cheerful appearing face came about before our eager eyes. It seemed the angle of the eyebrows defined the final expression. No matter the result, it was always a unique look that surprised and delighted us immensely.
We each had a hand at scooping out the stringy, gooey pulp. It plopped down onto the newspaper. We’d sift through the orange gunk to find the hidden, slippery seeds that would sometimes jump away from us and land down onto the floor.
No matter though, as the seeds were placed into the strainer and mom would rinse and wash them off thoroughly before laying them on the cookie sheet. She would lightly salt them and set them in the oven for roasting.
The smell of the pulp coupled with the roasting seeds added to the scent of what Halloween smelled like.
Hallowed Eve is a time to remember all of the saints and beloved who once graced our lives while residing here on Earth among us. We have the fond memories of those who have gone before us. Recalling those fun and beautiful times together is something we can always carry with us.
This small Village has 6 city parks and 1 county park. The 1 county park, Silverwood, is excellent if you’re looking for that Up North experience. The wonderful thing about this getaway is that you don’t have to drive long at all to get there, so you avoid the notorious clog of cabin traffic.
Outdoor experiences allow you to see the natural beauty in all of our amazing seasons. If you want to wet a line and do some fishing at Silver Lake you can. You may even get hooked on this enjoyable summer or winter activity!
Best of all—these park visits are free! Go be a kid and spend some time playing in the GREAT outdoors!
This was no easy task and it was one that took oodles and oodles of patience, persistence, self-discipline and time!
My persistence was driven by the ambition of my heart that kept telling me to continue, keep going and persevere. Why was I so motivated? Mainly because I wanted to capture and save the memories we made while living here. When our first grandbaby was born, I knew I had to wrap this project up. Both of my granddaughter’s parents grew up in the Village and I wanted to be sure to capture some of what they may want to share with their own kids someday. I hope this colorful guide/scrapbook will help with storytelling and at least capture some of the key points of what it was once like living here. At the very least it will inspire others to be reminded of what they recall and this will help in triggering personal memories they can share.
Sharing with Others
With the uninvited visit of COVID-19, I also wanted to these pages to bring some light and joy to those who may need a tap on the shoulder to remember just how unique life has been here. We’ve had special things happening in this community. And, yes, controversial events have also put us on the map as well.
We’ve all heard the quotes:
“Life Is What You Make Of It” (Author Unknown)
“To Find the Beautiful You Must Carry It With You” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Here’s what my walls looked like during production. The multi-colored sheets of paper made a unique wall covering for sure!
The Village book opens with a scavenger hunt of state symbols. From the Honeycrisp apple to the Norway Pine. Once spotted, you can read more about them!
# 1 Those sharp teeth on your dog?
#2 Leather gloves?
#3 Equipment that chips trees after they have been taken down?
#4 Untrained person with scissors who attempts to cut your hair during Covid?
Well, I think any of the above answers may be correct. However, in this case, I’m talking about the hand coverings that keep our extremities from getting numb in the colder weather.
Thanks to Dave’s Sport Shop who does customizing for St. Anthony Village High School sports teams. They do customizing in-house, except for the Choppers.
The Kent and Beth Horsager Family used to host the Honey Harvest at their home when they lived on Edward Street in the Village.
As you will read in the book, they earned a ribbon for their honey. Quite an honor after years of perfecting their recipe! They are featured on the “green” page.
The Horsager’s raised their three children in the Village and the empty nesters sold their home and moved to a new style of city living!
How many of you missed seeing the honey bees at the State Fair this year??
We always had to bring home a bag of the original honey candy, as well as the apple flavored pieces. So yummy!
