Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter

Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter
AUGUST 2016
VOLUME 43, NUMBER 7
INSIDE
President’s Letter......................................Page 2
Selby-Western Parking Study …………Pages 3, 13
Social Events ………………………………...Pages 4, 5, 6
A Taste of the Hill….…………………….………….Page 6
Partnership Grant Report…………………Pages 7, 11
Ask the Laundry Doctor ………………………….Page 8
Crime Prevention News ………………………..Page 9
Other News …………………….…Pages 5. 6, 9. 11, 12
UPCOMING EVENTS
RHA BOARD MEETING
Date: Monday, September 12, 2016
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: St. John the Evangelist
MCQUILLAN PARK REDESIGN ADVISORY COMMITTEE PUBLIC MEETING
Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center,
270 N. Kent.
RHA to Host a Fundraising Gala
this Fall!
Plans are underway for a RHA Gala for Sunday,
November 6th!
 At the Beautiful St. Paul Athletic Club (SPAC);
 Sponsors include SPAC and Solo Vino;
 We are looking for volunteers to join our committee;
 Plans include fantastic music, food, beverages and fun!
As RHA’s new Social Chair, I have learned a lot in six months and
am thrilled to be part of such a terrific organization and board of directors.
SAVE THESE DATES
When approached about RHA hosting a Gala to help raise funds
for our projects and community partners, I was a bit skeptical. It seemed
like such a big undertaking.
RHA ANNUAL MEETING
Date: Thursday, October 13, 2016
Time: TBA
Location: TBA
But the more I worked with our board, members and the community partners, I became confident and committed to keep RHA’s momentum going and growing.
RHA FALL FUNDRAISING GALA
Date: Sunday, November 6, 2016
Time: TBA
Location: St. Paul Athletic Club
We have a wonderful nucleus of volunteers on the Events Committee and are looking for additional energetic neighbors to help us put
together a wonderful event that will further the causes that we have
supported.
At the June Wine Tasting fundraising event, the positive reactions to the viewing of the trailer for our documentary: Ramsey Hill:
from Reviled to Remarkable in a Generation were gratifying and remarkable. People feel very strongly that these stories have to be captured and shared. The film explores the rich history, entertaining stories,
and unprecedented resurgence of the Ramsey Hill neighborhood in one
generation.
This project is vital and some of the funds raised at the gala will
go towards paying for the film’s creation.
Moreover, after listening to the appreciative representatives
Social News Continues on Page 6
Shaping the future of a historic neighborhood
2 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
RAMSEY HILL ASSOCIATION 2016
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President’s Letter
Executive Committee
President: Aaron Gjerde, 651-815-0189;
[email protected]
Vice President: Nancy Zingale, 651-2909961; [email protected]
Treasurer: Terri Stander; 651-293-1776;
[email protected]
Secretary: Mitch Rubinstein; 651-2246429; [email protected]
Dear neighbors,
Amidst the many challenges our society faces, some of which
have been brought very close to home and require careful reflection, we
can be thankful that we have each other as friends and neighbors. But is
that all? Do we just end at that? Is it good enough to just live near
someone?
Not really. But I think we know that in this neighborhood. We try
to get to know each other. We look out for each other. We help each
other. Whether it’s lending a hand during a house renovation project,
watching your neighbors’ house while they’re out, distributing flyers for
crime alerts, bringing the kids for a playdate at the park, or working together to plan a neighborhood get-together, and so very, very much
more, we aren’t merely satisfied by our existence. WE DO STUFF TO BE
GOOD NEIGHBORS.
Ramsey Hill hasn’t always had this kind of active support network
and we are chronicling the efforts that vaulted Ramsey Hill & Cathedral
Hill from “Reviled to Remarkable” in the course of a mere generation.
What were the keys to this story? That’s for YOU to answer in our listening sessions so we can pull all our inspiring, funny, and heartwarming stories together into our film project led by Dan Reed. Stay tuned!
And much thanks goes to a group of neighborhood moms for organizing an absolutely delightful National Night Out. The intent of the
event was to bring neighbors — ANY AND ALL neighbors; not just RHA
members — together for a fun night in Boyd Park. We very much want
Boyd Park to be safe and to be a happy place where children play. We
wanted to bring some “good vibes” to the park after the tragic kidnapping of and sexual assault on a sweet, innocent 7-year-old girl earlier this
year. And what a fun night filled with good feelings it was — thanks so
much for all the effort!
We took action to make things right. I could not be more proud
to live here.
Thanks to all of you for being such good neighbors.
Sincerely,
Aaron Gjerde
President, Ramsey Hill Association
Board of Directors
Business Liaison: Sue Zumberge; 651-3878803; [email protected]
Community Partnership: Joan Higinbotham;
651-292-1551; [email protected]
Crime Prevention: Joseph Wethington;
[email protected]
Fundraising: Lori Olson; 612-747-5502;
[email protected]
House Tour: Bryan Bedessem; 612-3828415; [email protected]
Historic Preservation: Mason Riddle; [email protected]
Land Use: Peter Carlsen; 651-227-4571;
[email protected]
Membership: Kevin O’Brien; 651-206-2820;
[email protected]
Parks & Gardens: Doug Olson; 651-2274358; [email protected]
Public Relations: Marcy Wallace; 651-2476721; [email protected]
Social Events: Dan Reed; 651-228-1618;
[email protected]
Summit-University District Planning Council:
Judith Tande; 651-224-3772; summituplanning @ramseyhill.org
RHA Newsletter
Deadline: The 15th of each month.
E-mail articles, comments, letters or
ads to: [email protected].
Advertising
Rates: 1/2 page ad 11 times $400
1/4 page ad 11 times $200
Specs: 1/2 page horizontal: 7.5 wide x
4.875 high; 1/4 page: 3.638 wide x
4.875 high
Got news for the newsletter?
Contact
[email protected]
3 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Selby-Western Commercial Area
Parking Study
On July 11, 2016 the City held an “open
house” for all interested parties about the SelbyWestern Commercial Area Parking Study it has commissioned. Approximately 80 people attended. The
meeting room at the Dayton Avenue Presbyterian
Church was filled with “story boards” that provided
basic information about the study and that posed
survey questions to the attendees who were to respond to them by affixing sticky dots to the story
boards.
There was also a presentation. Hillary Holmes
of the City’s Department of Planning and Economic
Development and Councilmember Dai Thao spoke
briefly and in general terms about the study which
began in April and is expected to culminate in September in recommendations for long-term and shortterm parking solutions.
The main speaker was Lance Bernard of SRF
Consulting Group, which has been retained by the
City to conduct the study. The study area is bounded
by Marshall Avenue, Dale Street, Ashland Avenue,
Maiden Lane and Summit Avenue. Bernard said that
SRF has been meeting with business owners and residents since April, but did not have solutions yet. Bernard also said SRF had conducted parking counts on a
Thursday and a Saturday, both in the afternoon and
evening. RHA President Aaron Gjerde offered to recruit volunteers to conduct more parking counts, but
Bernard said that he believed the data that had already been collected was adequate.
Bernard advised the attendees that the
meeting was not an open forum, and, although he
took some questions, he did not allow attendees to
express their views. Instead, he encouraged them to
take part in the survey.
Respondents to the survey were asked a few
questions about their role in the neighborhood and
their travel and parking practices. They were then
asked whether they agreed strongly, agreed, were
neutral toward, disagreed, or disagreed strongly with
the following statements:

“The Selby-Western area is a vibrant and prosperous neighborhood.
 Parking is important to the success of SelbyWestern businesses.
 On-Street parking has become an issue in the
residential neighborhoods.
 There is enough parking for businesses and
customers.
 There is enough parking for Selby-Western
employees.
 The Selby-Western neighborhood should
better accommodate other modes of transportation, including bikes, pedestrians and
buses.
 It is easy to understand the parking restrictions in the Selby-Western area.
 I would support metered parking on Selby Avenue.
 I would support paid parking lots to serve the
commercial area.
 Stronger parking enforcement needs to occur
in the Selby-Western area.
 Two hour parking for on street parking is an
adequate amount of time for Selby Avenue.”
The same survey questions were on the
City’s website until July 29. As of that date only
26 persons had participated in the survey online.
Assuming everyone at the open house took the
survey, the City now has only approximately 100
responses to an issue of interest to many more
than that. This may be because the existence of
the online survey was not well publicized.
At the open house an open-ended comment form was also distributed. Presumably SRF is
still accepting these. The form is reproduced on
page 13 of this newsletter. We encourage you to
fill it out with your views and mail it to:
SRF Consulting Group, Inc.
Attn: Lance Bernard
1 Carlson Parkway N. Suite 150
Minneapolis, MN 55447
4 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Neighbors Enjoy National Night Out Picnic
On Tuesday, August 2, RHA hosted a familyfriendly National Night Out picnic in Boyd Park,
starting at 5:00 p.m. Though there were several
other National Night Out events in the neighborhood, attendance was excellent. The picnic was a
favorite for families with young children, and many
children, of all ages, were at the event.
Participants brought
snacks and
drinks to share.
While the
items brought
by home cooks
were great,
Summit
Manor’s curried vegetarian
empanadas
were a special
treat, as were
Naked Nina’s
probiotic
drinks.
Andy
and Whitney
Blessing’s children ran an old
-fashioned lemonade stand.
As the temperate soared to
over 90°, icecold lemonade
really hit the spot.
There was also a food truck, Faemhouse
Hot Dogs & Catering, offering delicious all-beef hot
dogs with a variety of condiments. The hot dogs
were also relatively nutritious, as they were made
from beef never exposed to antibiotics and nitratefree. An ice-cream truck also made an appearance
just in time for dessert.
Several law enforcement officers attended
and mingled with the crowd for most of the even-
ing. A member of the St. Paul Police Department's
Mounted Patrol made an appearance along with
his horse. The horse was a favorite among the
youngsters, who were allowed to pet him and feed
him hay.
There were plenty of activities for children.
Of course, there is ample playground equipment in
Boyd Park, and
it got plenty of
use. In addition,
there was
equipment for
pick-up soccer
games, water
balloons for
splashing and
throwing and a
piñata. The
Park, with its
wide-open spaces, is also perfect for running,
and many kids
did a lot of that.
The Virginia Street
Swedenborgian
Church also
hosted a backpack give-away
for children who
needed them.
RHA thanks the
church for its
generosity.
Many adults also attended and enjoyed
watching the children, eating and drinking and
chatting with their neighbors. Among the notables
mingling with the group were Councilmember Dai
Thao and 4th District Commissioner Toni Carter.
The Summit University Planning Council also had
an informational booth.
National Night Out Continues on Page 5
5 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
National Night Out Continues from Page 4
RHA has not always had a National Night
Out event. This year the decision to have one and
to hold it in Boyd Park was motivated in part by a
desire to bring positive energy to that part of the
neighborhood where a heinous kidnapping and assault of a little girl took place only weeks ago. In
that, the event clearly succeeded. It was such a
success that hopefully it will be repeated in future
years.
The RHA Board had no work to do for this
event. It was organized by the following volunteers:
Casey Woelk, Amy Gjerde, Whitney Blessing,
Amber McLaughlin and Julia Burgess. Many thanks
to them for their work in organizing this great family event.
Final McQuillan Park
Redesign Meeting Set
The Advisory Committee for the redesign
of McQuillan Park will hold its third and final public meeting on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at
6:00 p.m. at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, 270 N. Kent Street. The City of St. Paul has
allocated $261,000 for capital improvements in
the park.
The first meeting, held in June, was very
poorly attended and resulted in tentative plans to
eliminate the tennis court. A number of RHA
members objected to this. The court is mainly
used by neighborhood children. Most of them
can walk more quickly and safely to that court
than the courts at MLK Center, which may require a child to encounter dangerous traffic. After
a second meeting in July the Committee appears
to be in agreement that the tennis court will remain. It will, however, need repairs, which will
require application of some of the budget. Also,
there will be less funding for playground equipment.
The third meeting is intended to achieve
approval of a final plan. The Historic Preservation
Commission will need to approve that plan. It is
expected that the HPC will hold public hearings
on the subject.
Save the Date!
RHA 2016 Annual Meeting
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Location, Time and Program
to be Announced.
6 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Clafouti!
A Celebration of Stone Fruit
This time-tested recipe would likely be served
as dessert in a French home, but we also love it for
weekend breakfast and brunch. Feel free to select
the stone fruit of your choice – cherry, plum, pluot,
peach – just be sure to put them in the oven for a bit
to dry up the juices or the batter will not set properly. Also, don’t forget that wee bit of cinnamon, no
matter what fruit you use. If you happen to have a
cast iron skillet with a slanted edge the end result will
be a bit prettier. Bon Appétit!
Cherry Clafouti
Serves 6
1 ½ pounds fresh sweet cherries, pitted and halved
or – 1 ½ pounds of other stone fruit, pitted and cut
into 3/8 inch slices
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour – plus another ½ cup
flour for the batter
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 large eggs
1/3 plus 2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup whole milk
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
Adjust oven racks so one is in the lowest position, and the other is in the upper middle position. Place a 12 inch oven-proof skillet on the lower
rack and heat oven to 425 degrees.
Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment or
aluminum foil and place fruit on pan. Roast fruit on
upper rack until just tender – about 15 minutes for
the cherries, less for other fruit if it is not as juicy.
Transfer fruit to a medium bowl and toss with
lemon juice, then let cool for 5 minutes. In a small
bowl, combine 2 teaspoons flour and cinnamon; dust
flour mixture evenly over fruit then toss to coat thoroughly.
While fruit is roasting, whisk eggs, sugar,
vanilla and salt until smooth and pale – about 1
minute. Whisk in remaining ½ cup flour until
smooth then add cream and milk to incorporate.
Remove skillet from oven with oven mitt and set
on a wire rack. Add butter and swirl to coat the
bottom and the sides of the skillet. Pour batter
into the skillet and arrange the fruit evenly on
top. Transfer the skillet back to the lower rack of
the oven and bake until clafouti puffs and turns
brown – 18-22 minutes. It should have an internal temperature of 195 °– but I also just use the
“clean knife” test on the custard.
Place the skillet on a wire rack and cool for
25 minutes before serving. It may be garnished
with a wee bit of sugar.
Salt Cellar Closes;
Will Reopen
The Salt Cellar restaurant closed for business after service on July 30, 2016. C o-owner Joe
Kasel has told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that the
facilities will be renovated to expand the bar and
will reopen sometime this fall as a casual dining
restaurant. It will retain its name. The restaurant’s craft beer selection will be extended, but the
new menu has not been set.
Social News Continues from Page 1
speak at the Wine Fundraiser in June regarding
their programs and how much RHA’s generosity helps their organizations, it became obvious
that we should do more to support them.
So, please give it some thought and contact me at 612-363-5308 or
[email protected] if you have any
questions or would like to join the committee.
Thanks,
Your humble social events chair,
—Dan Reed
7 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Community Partnership Grant Recipient
Report — the Fifth in a Series of Reports
The Hallie Q. Brown Community Center has
been a part of our neighborhood since 1929. It
started out as a settlement house that provided services to African Americans denied help by other social service agencies. Today people throughout the
Twin Cities can access the services available at Hallie
Q. Brown (HQB).
The name of the center was the result of an
essay contest on the topic of outstanding leaders. A
Hamline University student won the contest with his
essay about Hallie Quinn Brown, an African American educator and the daughter of freed slaves. She
was an educator, teaching school and serving as a
college administrator. Politically active and a wellknown public speaker, she was a frequent lecturer
on African American issues, the temperance movement and women’s suffrage.
In its nearly 90 years of existence, the Center
has grown from a settlement house to a multiservice center. In 1972 HQB moved to the Martin
Luther King Center at 270 North Kent Street, and is
the administrative body of the Center which is home
to other groups, including Penumbra Theatre Company, which is also a recipient of a RHA community
partnership grant.
Hallie Q. Brown has five core programs:
Early Childhood Education, Youth Enrichment,
Basic Needs, Senior Programming and MLK Center Administration. Upon entering the Center
you will see young children who are part of the
Early Learning Center which provides childcare
on a sliding fee scale. Families of all ages are at
the center to access the food shelf and Clothing
Closet. Youth activities are what draws 5 to 11
year olds in through programs to improve academic performance, enhance leadership and
communication skills, and practice other skills
needed to build strong and healthy communities. Executive Director Jonathan Palmer emphasized that the wide variety of programs and
events at Hallie Q. Brown are open to all in the
Grant Recipient Report Continues on Page 11
8 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Ask the Laundry
Doctor
By Jeff Gardner,
Sel-Dale Laundry
Dear Laundry Doctor:
What’s the big deal about laundry pods?
Is there an advantage to using them? It seems
like they’re just a marketing ploy with their cute
shapes and bright colors, and they don’t seem all
that cost-effective.
Pod-Skeptical
Dear Pod-Skeptical:
Laundry pods are actually a great choice,
particularly for front-loading machines. All the
ingredients you need for a clean, fresh wash are
in there, in premeasured quantities. The average
person uses far more detergent than what is actually needed to freshen laundry, which is what
we’re doing when we wash a load of clothes,
unless they are heavily soiled. If they’re heavily
soiled, we’re pre-treating them and maybe soaking them prior to laundering, which we’d do
whether using a pod or a traditional dose of liquid or powdered detergent. Overuse of detergent results in buildup on our garments, linens
and towels, which in turn causes them to wear
out more quickly. Detergent buildup is also hard
on the machines themselves, and results in
premature wear and a funky-smelling laundry
room.
A few caveats are in order. Remember
that if you use a front-loading machine, the pod
goes directly into the drum with the laundry, not
into the detergent reservoirs on the top of the
unit. Don’t puncture it, or squeeze it; just toss it
in! There is no need to add supplements to get
the clothes clean. If clothes are stained or heavily soiled, and you’ve pretreated them and/or
soaked them, the pod is all you need.
Be especially careful around very young
children! Laundry pods can look like candy to
little ones.
According to a Wall Street Journal article
in May 2015, accidental poisonings caused by children under six years of age exposed to laundry pods
– particularly by biting into them - were being reported to U.S. poison control centers at a rate of about 30
per day, in spite of warnings on the packaging.
If you pretreat stains, remember to place the
pods directly into the drum of front loaders, and use
caution around small kiddos, laundry pods are the
way to go! For other tips on all things Laundry, visit
www.thelaundrydoctor.com.
Thanks for writing,
Laundry Doctor
Many thanks to
Nancy Zingale
for proofreading every
issue of the RHA
Newsletter & catching all
those pesky typos.
9 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
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Crime Prevention
News
Developments at
Summit Park
With the new Police Chief Axtell assignment
there has been a leadership change for the
Western District. The new contacts are:
Senior Commander Shari Gray
651.266.5526
[email protected]
Investigations Commander Ed Lemon
651.266.5528
[email protected]
Patrol Commander Bryant Gaden
651.266.5533
[email protected]
Police resources have been heavily impacted by
recent events and protests.
Two officers per car is impacting neighbor
hood patrols.
New Bicycle unit of 4 Riding Patrol Officers will
be seen across the city.
Burglary attempts are up, as is typical in summer
and this year also due to police pre-occupation.
We encourage neighbors to take the necessary
precautions to secure their property and look
out for their neighbors’ property.
A request has been made for a mobile camera
unit to be placed in and around Boyd
Park. There is only one camera unit available to
the Western District, and the request will be reviewed. A more permanent solution is being researched.
Police calls are being screened and prioritization
is underway resulting in longer response times
for low priority calls.
Special Investigations monitors social media and
national trends for insight into planned protests.
People are encouraged to visit the Western District Face Book page to stay informed and provide feedback to the police.
—Joe Wethington
Last October Christine Podas-Larson, the
previous executive director of Public Art St. Paul,
addressed the annual meeting of the Ramsey Hill
Association regarding past public art projects in the
neighborhood, including the restoration of the Nathan Hale Statue in Nathan Hale Park and relocation of the New York Life Eagle to Look Out Park.
Podas-Larson also mentioned a new project by
Public Art St. Paul to restore the Civil War Soldiers
and Sailors Memorial, also known as the Josias King
Memorial, located in Summit Park, which is the triangle of land bounded by Kellogg Boulevard on the
north, John Ireland Boulevard to the west, and Old
Summit Avenue to the east. The memorial is a historically important testimonial to Minnesotans who
served the Union's armed forces and to the subsequent generation of Minnesotans who revered
their memory. Fund-raising for the project is underway.
Recently, members of the Summit Hill Association have expressed interest in enhancing the
appearance of Summit Park. Exploratory communications between RHA and SHA regarding cooperation in this effort and restoration of the Civil War
memorial have occurred.
—Mitch Rubinstein
Join RHA
Needlework Group
Meets Every Monday
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The third Monday of each month we meet
in a member’s home.
All other Mondays we meet at W.A. Frost
(lower level or patio).
10 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
90 North Dale Street
651-221-0919
Your
“Neighborhood Friendly” collision shop has gone GREEN!
*GREEN FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD*
*GREEN FOR OUR EMPLOYEES*
*GREEN FOR OUR FUTURE*
Proudly offering
a 5% discount to members of the Ramsey
Hill Association.
www.RoeringAutoBody.com
11 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Grant Recipient Report Continues from Page 7
Craft Cocktail Recipes
At the June Meet & Greet Great Harvest owner, Bonnie Alton, and her husband, Bryan Alton, had
a craft cocktail show-down. They served the following drinks to visitors and asked them to vote for their
favorite. Bryan won by one vote!
Both drinks are delicious and perfect to enjoy
during the dog days of summer. Thanks to Bonnie
and Bryan for their hospitality during the Meet &
Greet and for allowing us to publish these recipes.
Amaretto Stone Sour (Bonnie’s Drink)
2 ounces Gozio Amaretto (This brand of Amaretto is
critical to the drink.)
½ ounce 11 Wells Orange Curacao (Any brand or Curacao will be fine.)
juice of ½ orange
juice of ½ lemon
juice of ½ lime
(Optionally, use bottled juices that are not from concentrate.)
Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a lowball
glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a brandied cherry.
(From The Sheridan Room, Minneapolis)
Gin Basil Smash (Bryan’s Drink)
2 parts Hendrick’s Gin (This brand of gin is critical to
the drink due to its floral aromatics.)
1 part fresh lemon juice
½ part simple syrup
8 torn basil leaves
Add basil to base of cocktail shaker and muddle gently. Add remaining ingredients and shake hard over
ice. Strain over an ice-filled rocks glass.
(To make simple syrup mix equal parts water and
granulated sugar in a saucepan, heat until the sugar
melts and then cool before using.)
community.
Ramsey Hill has been a long-time supporter
of Hallie Q. Brown, and this past year the Center
received a grant
for a stand-alone
portable sink for
the Youth Enrichment Program.
The sink is an important addition to
the program, since
children cannot
leave the classroom unaccompanied by a teacher.
This meant that
when one child
needed to wash his or her hands, the teacher and
the entire classroom had to accompany the child
out of the classroom and down the hall and wait
while the child washed up. This took up much valuable classroom time since almost every activity
young children engage in includes a need for hand
washing. Executive Director Palmer reported that
the sink is in use already, saving class trips to wash
hands.
HQB is working with the University of Minnesota and Rondo Avenue Inc. to create a physical
and virtual archive on the history of the Rondo
neighborhood. It will include information on the
history, origins, educational and business aspects of
that important part of our community’s history.
October 1 is the date of the annual HQB Gala, to which all are welcome. This year’s theme is
“Fly Around the World without Leaving St. Paul.”
According to Palmer, the Clothing Closet will have a
Paris theme, there will be an open air market with
a Barcelona theme, and the education program will
feature Nairobi. (More information is available on
the Hallie Q. Brown Website.)
HQB hosted a National Night Out community get together again this year on August 2. All in
the neighborhood were welcome to drop in and
share in the food and activities.
—Joan Higinbotham
12 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Corban Manor Inn is Newest Ramsey Hill B & B
As Pam Biladeau was preparing for her retirement from a career as an emergency medical
services manager and a part-time firefighter three
years ago, she and her husband Cory planned to
downsize from their home in Roseville to a condo.
However, as soon as their realtor showed them
the big house at 96 Virginia St., Pam knew that it
had to be their new home. Built in 1875 for the
newly wed Clarks and expanded and remodeled by
architect Clarence Johnston in 1910, the house
includes an attached apartment and expansive living spaces. Gradually, the Biladeaus realized that
their new house was too big for just the two of
them but would make an ideal inn.
the classic elements of the house. As long-time antique collectors they purchased some 17th and 18th
century pieces and have spread some of their personal collections throughout the inn.
Less visible tasks included learning about
the business side of operating a B and B, such as licensing requirements, setting up a website, security, hiring staff and marketing. A friend is catering
full breakfasts which are delivered to guest rooms,
via “Silver Tray Service.”
Extensive remodeling included moving a
wall in the apartment to make a guest lounge and
reception area in the main inn, adding another
bathroom and renovating three others, as well as
reconfiguring the second floor bedrooms and
bathrooms to create the Summit Suite and the
Maiden Lane and Cathedral Hill rooms. The separate two-story Gahrlynn Garden apartment includes two bedrooms and a bathroom, as well as a
full kitchen and living room.
Although Cory has continued to work as a
railroad engineer, both he and Pam have worked
long hours preparing the inn. In addition to coordinating the remodeling, they scoured Craigslist,
estate sales and antique stores to furnish the
rooms in an early American style to complement
On the day in mid-June when their first guest
was scheduled to arrive, workmen were still finishing projects and nearly 50 friends and family members were helping them ready the public spaces and
the only room that was completed. Since that time
they have had guests every day and have been completely filled several times. Pam and Cory note that
they’ve had great support from the Minnesota Bed
and Breakfast Association, Visit St. Paul, as well as
from the innkeepers of the Cathedral Hill, New Victorian and Como Lake B and B’s.
Despite the long hours, the couple said that
they now get to enjoy the fun part of being innkeepers—meeting and getting to know their guests.
Guests have come from as far away as China and
are often in St. Paul on business, visiting family
members or attending family reunions or other
functions. For more information visit the Corban
Manor Inn website at www.corbanmanorinn.com.
—Judy Tande
13 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
14 |Ramsey Hill Association Newsletter | August 2016
Ramsey Hill Association
420 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55101
Shaping the future of a historic
neighborhood for 40 years!
The Ramsey Hill Association, founded in 1972 for
charitable and educational purposes as they
are legally defined, works toward, but is not
limited to, maintaining and improving the
quality of its neighborhood by, among other
activities, providing opportunities for neighborhood
social interaction, supporting architectural and historic preservation within its defined boundaries in
the City of St. Paul, and functioning as a conduit of
information to and from governmental authorities.
www.ramseyhill.org