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St. Cloud State University
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Diversions
New book embraces St. Cloud's colorful history
By Nathan Brennan
Published:
Monday, October 14, 2002
Modern-day St. Cloud is known for its quality university, excellent shopping and all-around livability. What most residents probably don't know is that St. Cloud's most appealing feature was once its lenient laws on the brewing and selling of beer. Many beer-loving German residents of then-Sauk City founds its ordinances incompatible with their tradition; so they crossed the river and settled into what is now the business district of St. Cloud. This is one of hundreds of stories that can be found in a newly-released second edition of the book St. Cloud: The Triplet City.
In 1983, the first printing of St. Cloud: The Triplet City was published as a narrative of the history of St. Cloud and was embraced by many for its candor and readability. However, due to a lack of copies, some people were unable to obtain the book for themselves. Now, 19 years later, an updated version of the book has been republished by the American Historical Press and is available to the public.
Local historian John J. Dominik wrote the first edition, which remains unchanged except for the addition of two chapters written by John C. Massmann, a local historian who also taught at SCSU. The 204- page hardcover book traces the history of St. Cloud from its early settlement through present time.
"The Triplet City" refers to the three hamlets that occupied the western bank of the Mississippi during the 1850's: Upper Town, Middle Town, and Lower Town. Upper Town is now the area upon which the hospital is stationed; Middle Town consisted of what is now called the business district and Lower Town is now the SCSU campus and neighborhoods. Most of the land comprising these "towns" was purchased by John Lyman Wilson who is generally regarded as "The Father of St. Cloud." Wilson's plat of the land was realized by virtue of his own generosity. Wilson offered lots free of charge to those who would erect a commercial building on them. He had little trouble finding takers.
The book also explains the origin of St. Cloud's name. Wilson, who took an avid interest in the life of Napoleon, discovered the name while reading Bonaparte's biography. Napoleon's wife spent time in a Paris suburb identified as St. Cloud. Wilson thought it a suitable name for his project and so the visionary christened his city by the same title.
"The Triplet City" also deals with the interaction of St. Cloud with the nation as a whole. It covers Civil War-era St. Cloud and reveals the social and political climate during the war with the Sioux. St. Cloud was not a stranger to the issue of slavery, and the book introduces the reader to the city's most prominent abolitionist, Jane Grey Swisshelm.
Other events such as the devastating tornado of 1886 and characters like automobile manufacturer Sam Pandolfo are examined with the compliment of 250 vintage and color photographs.
St. Cloud: The Triplet City is the only comprehensive history of St. Cloud currently in print. William Bell Mitchell wrote a two-volume account that covered the history of Stearns County until 1915, but it is no longer in publication. Dominik hopes that the reissuing of the book will give people who missed out on the first edition another opportunity to obtain a copy.
The book retails for $29.99 and is currently available at the Stearns History Museum Bookstore. John Dominik will be speaking and signing copies of the book during the Breakfast Club held at the Stearns History Museum November 13th at 9:00 am. Barnes and Noble will also be hosting a book signing with Dr. Massmann November 9th at 2:00 pm.
