Something in the Water is a book about the history of St. Louis Park that was edited and published in 2001 by Park native Don Swenson (Class of 1945). From his home in Arizona, Don tracked down his childhood friends and the descendants of old Park families and asked them to tell their stories about growing up in what was a sleepy industrial village before World War II. Don, and many of the people he interviewed, have passed away since the book was written, but it remains an invaluable resource when researching prewar St. Louis Park.
Don has assigned the rights to the book to the St. Louis Park Historical Society.
Nonmembers may purchase a copy are available for $20 (includes U.S. shipping) You may place an order by sending a check for $20 to the St. Louis Park Historical Society, 3546 Dakota Ave, Suite C, St. Louis Park, MN 55416.
The chapters of the book are as follows:
INTRODUCTION
EARLY HISTORY
Palace for a Lady: The Laycock Family
Adventurer, Soldier and Farmer: Charles Rye
The Williams Family and Early Village History
Train Whistles – Day and Night
The Milwaukee Depot
Postal Service for the Park
Joseph Hamilton’s Legacy
Goodrich Avenue and the Depression
Union Congregational Church
OAK HILL
Oak Hill and the Republic Creosoting Company
The Hansons of Oak Hill
The Ruedlinger Nursery
National Lead Company in St. Louis Park
A Paper Route Trio
Rodgers Hydraulic Inc.
A Swedish American Family in St. Louis Park
BROOKSIDE AND EXCELSIOR BLVD.
The Hanke Family and Their Farm
The Fletcher Family
The Finnegan Farm
The Downings on Hanke Avenue
Canfield-Dietrick Lumber Company
Golfing History on Excelsior Blvd.
Brookside Drug
Brookside Market
Thompson’s Grocery
The Colonial Inn
Excelsior Blvd. and the Gravel Pits
Overlooking Minnehaha Creek
FERN HILL
Two Fern Hill Families
Grade School Memories
Fern Hill’s Pest House
Garden Club Pioneer
The Dresser Family on Salem
Fitch Pet Hospital
Herb Allen and the Pastime Arena
Manhattan Park
Photography and St. Louis Park (Don Byers)
The Park Theater
LENOX DISTRICT
The Carlstroms on Hampshire
My Nelson Relatives
The Stasney Family
THE PARK’S HOME TOWN BUSINESSES
Lydia Rogers, Pacesetter
Doc Brown and the Walker Building
Swenson and Redeen – A Charge and Delivery Food Store
Reiss’s Restaurant
The Jenkins Family and Eclipse Electric
The Christy Family and the Service Station
Bradley Transfer
Seirup Concrete, Coal and Cars
Park Bus Company
John Applequist and the Ice Business
Minnesota Rubber Company
Kuempel Clocks
Pockrandt Lumber Company
Browne Plumbing Company
E.H. Renner and Sons
Sandvig and Sandvig
PROMINENT CITIZENS
Morten Arneson
Joe Justad
Torval Jorvig
Earl Ainsworth
C.L. Hurd
Marie Hartmann
The Werner Family
The Downing Family
Forsyth Recollections
Galli-Curci
Halsey Hall
The Ralles and Santrizos Families
The Sewall Family
SCHOOLS
Pratt School
Erwin Hatch, Superintendent
Little House Behind the School
High School in the 1940s
Favorite Teachers
St. Louis Park Schools in 1945
WORLD WAR II
Frank Lundberg American Legion Post 282
Serving their Country in World War II
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
INDEX
