Minnesota – Page 38 – Valerie's Voice

Young Quinlan Department Store

After we walked out of Macy’s Department store on Saturday afternoon, we continued down the mall to the majestic, limestone “Renaissance Revival” Young Quinlan building. When looking online for information to use in a previous post I discovered there is a “mini-museum” of Young Quinlan’s memorabilia in the building so we checked it out.

We entered the store, which is now Hudson Jewelers, on 9^th and Nicollet. It’s very beautiful inside, as well as outside, with a wide staircase leading to the mezzanine level that was a part of Young-Quinlan. We rode the elevator with the original “door handle” that I remember was operated by a white-gloved woman back in the day. We got off on the 2^nd floor where there were poster displays and cases filled with photos, boxes and old merchandise. The store opened in this building in 1925, the year it was built, and closed its doors for good in 1985.

My photo didn’t turn out well of this original door handle in the elevator.

Here are excerpts from the displays which we found very interesting.

“Minneapolis in 1894 was still a town on the edge of the prairie with a population of 190,000 people. Nicollet Avenue was lit with gas lamps and paved with red cedar blocks.

Two young and ambitions retailers, Fred D. Young and Elizabeth Quinlan, conceived the daring idea of opening an exclusive store for “ladies’ ready-to-wear.” At the time there was only one other store like that in the country, in New York City.”

“The building was designed by the renowned New York architect Frederick Lee Ackerman. It was built for the then-staggering price of $1.25 million.”

“Opening day drew a crowd of over 20,000 0people for Elizabeth’s “housewarming party.”

“The first day, they sold out of their entire inventory of coats, capes, mantles*, wrappers*, and gloves.”

“With its Old world grace and elegance, it quickly became a landmark in the heart of the city.”

*Mantle: a loose sleeveless garment worn over other clothes. Wrapper: an article of clothing worn wrapped around the body.

A French artist (Rateau) created a symbol for Elizabeth’s Minnesota business. Originally nude, the artist adorned the Lady with pearls to appease Elizabeth so a more modest Lady became Elizabeth Qunilan’s symbol. The plaque of the Lady can be seen on the Ninth & Nicollet Mall corner of the Young Quinlan Building.

I’m thinking I’m missing the old grace and elegance that we no longer find in the department stores in our shopping centers and outlet malls.

Macy’s in Downtown Minneapolis

We spent Saturday afternoon in downtown Minneapolis. It is not a frequent outing for us but my husband suggested we go visit Macy’s before it closes. It was a great idea. I have fond memories of the store. In high school, my girlfriend and I would often take the bus downtown for fun and explore Dayton’s, the name at the time, and ride the elevator to the 12^th floor to use the bathroom which seemed unique and elegant to us. We would have fun looking around on all the floors but not buying anything.

And for a short while I worked downtown Minneapolis and I would go to Dayton’s on my lunch hour so I had some familiarity with the store back then.

Always elegant Dayton’s/Macy’s…first floor.

I do remember buying my first purse at Dayton’s when I was in junior high. It was a navy blue, leather purse on Dayton’s first floor, just off 7^th street entrance. I’m pretty sure I paid $6 for it- which was a lot of money at that time. In my mind I can still see it on display. I have always liked purses so maybe that’s why it stands out in my memory.

On Saturday we parked in the 7^th street ramp, walked trough Macy’s shoe department to the elevators. I wanted to go to the 12^th floor to see the bathroom (I knew we missed eating at the Oak Grille since closed for good a month ago) but I didn’t know the 5-12 floors were closed off for good. So we got off the elevator on the fourth floor where there was a huge “garage sale” of all behind the scenes equipment and props…including those from the flower shows and Christmas displays. Everything was still expensive, even at the sale prices, but it was fun to look around.

These props greeted us as we got off the elevator on Macy’s 4th floor.

I was surprised to see how many people were shopping. We walked around the floors that were open to us and I took a couple of photos inside and out.

Although I never shopped there much I will miss Macy’s (still Dayton’s in my mind)…especially the flower show in the spring and the 8^th floor Christmas display.

“Jacob Marley” from my favorite Christmas story, The Christmas Carol.

The Nicollet Mall is under construction right now so the statue of Mary Tyler Moore was not in its usual place. The mall will never be the same again…hopefully something will move into the beautiful building that has been an anchor in downtown Minneapolis since 1902.

History Lessons

Into the woods, heading towards Loon Lake.

Our time with my aunt (87) and uncle (my father’s brother, 89) was delightful. We enjoyed staying in their beautiful home on 150 acres in northern Minnesota. The farm, with lake shore, was very picturesque with the clean, fresh fallen snow covering the fields, and lake.

We did some snowshoeing on their property, took a walk down their lane to pick up the mail, helped fill a wooden trough with corn because my uncle feeds six deer each day, and filled two large bird feeders outside their kitchen window, but mostly we visited. After catching up with family talk we spent hours reminiscing of days gone by, focusing on their lives but including tales of my father, who passed away when I was twenty, and my grandparents who came over from Norway. These history lessons come alive when told from a personal perspective and we listened intently to the stories. We asked questions and they in turned asked questions of us to show their interest in us too…it was a very special time as we slowed down our lives to be with these fine folks.

Young At Heart

We are heading up to my aunt and uncle’s farm on Bay Lake in northern MN. We haven’t seen them for over a year. My uncle turned 89 last September. We look forward to visiting with them, my only living aunt and uncle. Below is a story from a summer visit with them in August, 2012.

*****

I am sitting here on the deck, breathing in the fresh air, hoping it infuses me with the youthfulness around me. I hear loons calling and the water fountain gurgling and look out to see the sun slowly exposing the field where eight cattle are leisurely grazing.

My uncle, age 84 11/12 (85 next month) has embarked on a new adventure this year. In order to keep his land deemed agricultural he bought eight steers and is fattening them in his field. Not only that, he adopted a new puppy too, Max. And did I mention he plays tennis three times a week?

We came up for a weekend get away before the busy fall season. My aunt and uncle are my relatives still living who have known me since I was born. It’s always fun to come up to their lovely home on Bay Lake.

Yesterday afternoon they arranged to take us on a pontoon ride with some friends of theirs. It was a glorious sunny day with blue skies and wispy white clouds. We climbed aboard the boat and the skipper (Jack) and his wife (Jean) maneuvered the boat away from the dock and we were off on a leisurely ride along the lake shore of Bay Lake, admiring cabins, seeing other boaters and skiers, and getting quick glimpses of loons before they dove under water.

Back on shore their friends invited us to stay awhile. She showed us her lovely garden and picked a stunning white and violet dahlia for me. We ate snacks and then headed back to my aunt and uncles place. On the way back we find out this very hospitable, lively couple are both 87 years old!

As we drove up the lane to my uncle’s place we are greeted by two strategically placed plastic penguins that my uncle found in the pool-house and placed playfully in the yard.

Oh to be young, like 85 or 87!

Frosty Snow

We drove to Wilderness Park after the snow stopped falling excited to get out and play in it. Ours were the first tracks in the park, except for lots of animal tracks. The trees were frosted with an inch or two of the fresh-fallen, white fluff. We strapped on our snowshoes and stomped in the woods, along the river, through the winter wonderland. I kept stopping in awe to take pictures so we got off to a slow start but after awhile I just kept walking to enjoy the beauty and get some fresh air and exercise. It was Minnesota at its finest in winter. Not too cold…no wind… fresh snow cover…beautiful.

First Snowfall of the Season

Piling high on our deck and still coming down.

A Place Inside Me

There is a place inside that needs white –

Seeing the first snowfall draws a quick breath of content.

There is a place inside that needs brown –

Smelling the aroma of fresh ground coffee brewing.

There is a place inside that needs golden yellow –

Feeling the warmth of a fire on this cool morning.

There is a place inside that needs green –

The beauty of an evergreen tree standing tall.

There is a place inside that needs God –

To bring it all together in peace.

There is a place inside that needs movement

Rocking in a rocker moving closer to God in prayer. (11/02)

And a hint of red from the cardinal is an added bonus!

Northfield’s Winter Walk

Last night Northfield’s main street was closed to traffic and luminaries were placed along the curbs and downtown business stayed open late for holiday shoppers. There were carolers, and horse-drawn wagon rides and store-front windows decorated for the festive, annual Winter Walk. I remember the first Winter Walk 18 years ago. I bought a Santa hat at Jacobsen’s Department Store and have worn it to every Winter Walk since. Jacobsen’s closed in 1998. It was a “store with a heart” – so they advertised – a wonderful, old fashioned department store where you could find anything.

Many stores offer treats during the Winter Walk. My friend makes cookies for a corner store on main street with windows are always decorated creatively, no matter what time of year. My friend is a great cook and baker. If she asks me for a recipe I feel special. One year she asked for my mom’s ginger cookie recipe and somehow it was decided she would make 1,000 ginger cookies using my moms recipe to hand out at the corner store during Winter Walk this year! My mother would been surprised and I was delighted to stop by and taste a delicious ginger cookie.

I have always said of Ruby’s ginger cookies…there cannot possibly be anything unhealthy eating a fresh baked, (especially warm from the oven) ginger cookie!

Minneopa State Park

We visited a Minnesota State Park that we have not been to before. Minneopa State Park near Mankato has a lot to discover. It has a two tier waterfall with a drop of about 30’+ on the second tier. I didn’t know before we went but the word Minneopa comes from the Dakota language which means “water falling twice.” I like that! It is a beautiful waterfalls. Some trails take you down to the base of the falls. It was fun to explore although it was very crowded as there were many people out on a beautiful Saturday in November enjoying the unusually warm weather.

The park also has a bison herd. We did not see any on the drive along the fenced in area where they roam. However, the road took us to an old historic wind mill, Seppmann Mill, built in 1862 and completed in 1864, by a German immigrant for the purpose of grinding grain into flour. Originally it had cloth sails which, of course, no longer exist, but the base of the windmill made of stone is very impressive. The Seppmann Mill is on the U.S. Register of Historic Places.

Click here for more information.

It was a fun day making all these discoveries, in a “new to us” Minnesota State Park. On a side note, we saw a little boy who was getting scolded in sign language. It was clear what was happening and it was so interesting to watch as we walked by this silent exchange that “spoke” loudly.

Conversation Trails

Young Quinlan

I enjoy reflecting on the trail a conversation takes…where it begins and how it flows…A conversation this week took me down memory lane…

I was visiting with a woman at church and we were commenting on the unusually warm weather in Minnesota for this time of year, November. She mentioned she remembered the Armistice Day snowstorm on November 11, 1940. I asked her where she was that day and she said she was at Young-Quinlan Department store in downtown Minneapolis…she had caught the last streetcar home and she was grateful to get home safely that night.

I told her I have a memory from that store too. My aunt, who never had any children of her own, liked to take her nieces on special, one-on-one dates. This happened in the 60’s. She would often take us to the Young Quinlan store. Auntie Ag loved nice things and liked this specialty store – it was always special time. But what stands out most is the elevator (and my friend guessed that would be my memory.) There was an elevator operator who wore white gloves. She would open the elevator’s door and gate and let you on and off whatever floor you wanted. My aunt had no idea this would be my memory from our dates but they are sweet ones none-the-less.

The store went out of business in 1985 but I read online there is a Young-Quinlan store museum and it might be fun to go for a visit.

The building was designated as a local landmark by the Minneapolis Historic Preservation Commission in 1988 and is located on 9^th and Nicollet.

Click here to find out more.

A November Bike Ride

Yesterday I left work a couple hours early to enjoy the unusual warm temperatures for this time of year. We decided to go for a bike ride and headed to the new section of the Cannon Valley Trail to start our ride. The sun was shining and the trail was smooth and there were several people out enjoying the 70* temperature in November, in Minnesota. It’s fun to see the landscape without the leaves on the trees although there are a few stunning trees still showing off their brilliant colors. We saw two deer along the trail. We reminisced about a ride we took in February, my first winter bike ride in Minnesota. Again, the weather was unusually warm and we were tooling around on our bikes in February. That’s a good bicycle season – for me. I know there are many folks biking all year ’round!