South St. Paul

Back in Time

Page 3

SSP Arts Council poised for growth

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

TheSouth St. Paul Arts Council has been enriching the city with art projects big and small since 2020. It has regularly had a presence at Kaposia Days, Splish Splash Bash, and On the Road Again Festival, and today is seeking a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council to expand its operations.

“We were very fortunate last summer because the library was celebrating its 100th anniversary and they approached us about helping to make a mural for a community art event,” said South St. Paul Arts Council President Gwen Kendall. “My group got the supplies and put it together – and we did get some financial assistance from the library and city to make sure we could make the best mural we could – and we made a beautiful mural on two very large panels. They’re currently being displayed above the fireplace in the children’s section of the library. That was probably the biggest thing that has shown the public that our group is here and active.”

If the grant comes through, the council will purchase materials and build 10 free little art galleries which will be installed throughout the city. The galleries are similar to little free libraries, but instead of books they hold small pieces of artwork. People are welcome to take the art and are encouraged to leave a piece of their own. There is currently one free little

Arts council / Page 5

Event Guide

Your Guide to Summer in the City

Summer fun kicks into high gear on Memorial Day and goes full force through Labor Day. In this guide you’ll discover music and movies in the parks, fairs and festivals, and numerous outdoor recreational opportunities. Summer is here. Enjoy it!

Summer events / Page 6

Petition drive to save historic Armour gates

Jake Spitzack Staff Writer

SouthSt. Paul Secondary history teacher Mark Westpfhahl and his students have started a petition to save the historic gates of the former Armour meatpacking plant near Armour Avenue and Hardman Avenue South and create a multi-purpose commemorative park around them. As of press time, more than 1,680 have signed the petition (https:// change.org/SaveTheSSPgates). Westpfhahl plans to submit the petition to the South St. Paul City Council by the end of the school year, along with a sketch showing proposed park amenities.

“We are probably only one generation away from most residents having no memory, or maybe even knowledge, of the industry that built and transformed South St. Paul,” writes Westpfhahl on the petition website.

“As a historian who teaches about the sense of place and the power of memory through monuments, memorials and commemorations, I think we stand to lose a golden opportunity to preserve history and showcase our future for generations if we don’t act to #SaveTheSSPGates.”

The main feature in the proposed concept is a hockey rink with five rows of bleacher seating. Behind the rink is a 25-foot-high by 200-foot-wide mural with historical images. Small firepits are located near the rink.

Historical components include three cattle cars. One is closed, one has one side encased in glass to

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