District 10 Como Community Council

Como History

Como History

Know Your Como History: St. Kate’s Student’s Work for D10

By Laura Oyen

Over the past year the Como Neighborhood History Project has been fortunate to work with students and staff in collaboration with the St. Kate’s Welcoming the Dear Neighbor? (WTDN?) Project. WTDN? is an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff, students and community members which began in 2017 as a collaboration between St. Catherine University and Mapping Prejudice.

Know Your Como History: McClellan School: Part I

Readers of the April 3, 1888 Saint Paul Globe might have noticed this tidbit in the paper that day. “The public schools reopened yesterday after the regular Easter vacation with a full attendance. The new McClellan school, Oxford and Stinson, schools being occupied for the first time.” McClellan school took several years to transform from the “Comoville” school, temporarily located on Front Ave in a rented building, to the two story eight room building that stood for 87 years.

Know Your Como History: 1376 Frankson – 1950’s

By Brianna Blake
Edward and Alma Thomas moved into their home at 1376 Frankson in the 1930’s. Edward was a bookkeeper for a company that imported coffee. He enjoyed fishing on area lakes. He knew many people in the neighborhood whom he met while walking his dogs. Alma was a homemaker and a stay at home mom to James and Marjorie.

Know Your Como History: Axel Emanuel Carlson 1380 Simpson Ave.

Axel Emanual Carlson was born on November 29, 1884 in Horda, Sweden. He lists himself as a farmer working on the family farm from 1906 to1908. He immigrated to the US between April and May of 1908 at the age of 24. From his application for employment with the Northern Pacific Railway we are able to trace his early years in the U.S.

Como History Tidbit: Backyard Marbles

You never know what you can find in a backyard! Jean McRoberts was doing yard work last June at her house on  Maywood Street and found a damaged marble that appeared to be very old. It was barely peeking out of the soil. It had chips, scratches, and was banded with shades of blue and white. Two weeks later, she dug up another marble while planting vegetables.