Frogtown

Frogtown is a neighborhood in Saint Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Built around University Avenue, the Thomas-Dale neighborhood is colloquially known as Frogtown (German: Froschburg),cite web| title = Frogtown or Thomas Dale| publisher = Ramsey County Historical Society| url = http://www.rchs.com/neighborhoods/frogtown.htm| accessdate =2008-07-22] and has been regarded as a neighborhood in transition for decades. Historically, Frogtown was a subsection of the current Thomas-Dale neighborhood, bordered by University Avenue on the south, Van Buren Avenue on the north, Dale Street on the west and Western Avenue on the east. Frogtown experienced massive problems as the center of Saint Paul's drug and prostitution trades in the 1980s and 1990s and while significant strides have been made in the intervening years, quality-of-life issues still persist in the area. [cite web| title = The Mix| publisher = District 7 Planning Council| url = http://www.d7mix.org| accessdate =2008-07-22]

Early settlement

The neighborhood was first settled 1860–1880 as the downtown area outgrew its borders. Workers on the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, now Burlington Northern, which was built just to the north of the neighborhood sought housing nearby. Minnesota's first successful locomotive run occurred on these tracks in 1882. Shortly thereafter the Jackson Street Railroad Shops were built just northeast of Frogtown. The Jackson Street Shops were then joined by other railroad related industries in the area including the Saint Paul Foundry, built near Como and Western Avenues, providing additional employment opportunities for residents.

Residential development moved westward through the neighborhood as Polish, Scandinavian, German, and Irish immigrants took blue-collar jobs in the area. They built modest wood frame and brick houses on small lots in the neighborhood. Urban renewal has wiped out many of these homes, but working-class Victorian homes from the 1880s are extant, some adorned with arched window and door openings, brick window hoods, and frilly intact open porches.

Worship

Churches representing the early inhabitants pervade the area. The Church of St. Agnes was founded by German Catholics and was designed with an an odd mix of Baroque and Eastern European features, including a disproportionate Onion Dome steeple. St. Vincent's Church and school were constructed in 1889 and Polish immigrants built St. Adalbert's Church and school in 1909. The Protestants built the University Avenue Congregational Church, which was designed by Clarence H. Johnston. Norwegians built a Beaux Arts style Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Gothic Revival Trinity Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church on Farrington Street and the Gothic Revival St. Matthew's Lutheran Church on Dale Street.

Commerce

Commercial buildings lined University Avenue as street cars along the corridor were able to efficiently transport workers to employers. The line also became the first intercity street car line, connecting Minneapolis with Saint Paul in 1890.

Notoriety

In August of 1934, Dillinger gang member Homer Van Meter was gunned down by police officers in this neighborhood, in an alley near the intersection of University Avenue and Marion Street. [cite web| title = Homer Van Meter| publisher = Find a Grave| url = http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10248| accessdate =2008-07-22] [cite web| last = Van Metre| first = Scott| title = The Van Meter Family of Whitley Co Indiana| url = http://family.gradeless.com/vanmeter.htm| accessdate =2008-07-25]

Music

Frogtown boasts several local music venues and artists. The independent hip hop record label Kamorra Entertainment was formed in Frogtown.

Today

immigrants, who in Saint Paul, comprise the largest urban contingent in the United States. [cite web|url=http://www.rchs.com/neighborhoods/frogtown.htm|title= District 7: Thomas-Dale or Frogtown |publisher=Ramsey County Historical Society|date=2005] [cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-11-29-hmong-closerlook_x.htm|date=2004-11-29|title=Hmong get closer look since shootings|author=By Tom Kenworthy|publisher=USA Today] Amenities include a full-service bank, gas station, community medical clinic, family services organizations, two parks, several Asian supermarkets, a traditional butcher shop, several convenience stores, the historic No.18 Fire Station and the large Rondo library and community center.

A profusion of immigrant-owned businesses line University Avenue, offering clothing, shoes, jewelry, household items, entertainment media (DVDs, CDs, video games) and groceries. Immigrants from Africa operate two Halal meat markets in the area, which also offer traditional African breads, spices and foodstuffs. Not far away, Mexican-American immigrants operate a small traditional Mexican carnicería. The avenue is dotted with restaurants serving Cambodian, Thai, Laotian, Hmong, Vietnamese and Chinese-American cuisine, some of it very authentic. Two days per week, Friday and Saturday only, a notable local barbecue sells Southern-style barbecued pork ribs, beef ribs and chicken at their location near the northeast corner of University Avenue and Dale Street.

During the summer and fall months, a Hmong-American farmer's market operates in the Unidale Mall parking lot at the intersection of University Avenue and Kent Street, with vendors offering a wide selection of fresh produce including many exotic Asian herbs and vegetables, some of which are not widely known in the United States. The selection offered includes an unusually large variety of eggplants, peppers, edible vines and leafy vegetables.

In addition to the numerous locally-owned eating establishments, fast-food chains including Wendy's, Burger King, McDonalds and White Castle also operate stores in the area.

Future

The proposed Metro Transit Central Corridor light rail line is expected to once again serve the neighborhood beginning in 2014, with a stop at Dale Street and University. [cite news|url=http://www.metrocouncil.org/news/2006/news_537.htm|title=Metropolitan Council approves light rail along Central Corridor|publisher=Metropolitan Council|date=June 28, 2006]

References