Daily globe., 1879-03-30
THE OLD AND THE NEW.
THE MARKET HOUSE WHICH WIS
and THE ONE WHICH LSTOBE.

Demolishing Historical Structure-How
the Location Was Originally Secured and
at What Price-Early Occupants of the
Building-The New Structure That is to
Be-A Magnificent Improvement-The
History of its Inception.
"Good by, old rookery," exclaimed
Ramsey Co. "Pioneer,' with sort of gulp
in his words, and just the least bit of tear
glistening in his left eye, as he passed by the
old market house yesterday, and saw the de-
stroying angels Nwo Swedes and three Irish
men) tearing down that venerable relic. Del
enda est market house. But ere thou goest,
let me record thy career.
And after all, no one can blame the old
pioneer for feeling little sad at parting
with the time worn structure. It has been a
sort of institution for generation past, and
we will miss it as we wander up and down
Wabasha street; and then memories of other
and brighter days will steal over US; and sad
and lonesome like, we will sort O. forgetfully
wander into John Klein's, aud absently
minded look round to if the ghosts of
any of the former habitues are fitting
around. But they wont fit. They are
effectually "laid."
THE MARKET HOUSE WAS BUILT
by Vetal Guerin in 1858. Six lots of ground
were attached to it. The work was done by
Charles Bazille and VIM. Beaumette prin-
cipally. These pioneers were brothers-in-
law, and are all dead now. In 1853 the re-
gion above Seventh street was hardly settled
at ALL West of Wabashaw street and from
there to the Seven Corners was a marsh, i'm
passable in wet weather, and useful princi-
(then hardly completely was nothing but
maze of hazel bushes, and tangled thicket
and rocks. The city of St. Paul was not in
corporated until the spring of 1854. Guerin
had by this time sold the whole property to
one Charles Getchell, of Alton. Where said
Getchell now is we have no means of know
ing. Getchell rented the premises to the
city, and it was thenceforth public market.
On August 13, 1856, Getchell sold to Charles
L. Whitney. The city still rented the prem
ises, paying therefor 5000 per year, and sub
letting the stalls to meat dealers, and the
rooms up stairs for various purposes The
rents collected that year amounted to
$7O5.
AAH C1I1 fUhCdASES LIE PROPERTY.
Soon after, it began to seem proper
that the city should own the market house
property itself, and the question was agitated
IN the common council for some months.
Inc resolution to purchase was not finally
adopted, until August II, 1858. The price
agreed on with Mr.. Whitney was $25,O0O,
bonds to be issued for that sum, bearing 12
per cent. interest. just think of that, capi-
talists OF these days, who can only get and
b per cent. But those were the times when
money could be loaned at and per cent. a
month, and - per cent. a year did not seem
high
Mayor Kittson promptly vetoed the reso-
luton. The property, he says in his mes
sage, IS not worth any such amount. and the
site should be thrown open to competition,
SO that perhaps other grounds might be Of
tered at less price. Secondly, that the city
was not In financial condition to buy. The
tax levy would not admit of such an outlay
Other reasons are also adduced by him sus-
taining his veto. The council do not seem
to have been Influenced by his ar
guments, however, as they at once
passed the resolution over his veto,
ten ayes to one nay. The deeds, etc., from
Mr.. Whitney we're recorded on August oath,
1885, land the bonds then issued ran ten and
fifteen years, d1 awng their one per cent.
month, until they were finally redeemed at
date when the city could borrow all the
money it needed at seven per cent. The &C
tlon of the city council in purchasing at that
SEVERELY CRITICISED
by many of the citizens. One little incident
occurred which ought to be recorded. A
few days after the sale, VIM. P. Murray and
Slm' Folsom CHANGED to be discussing the
matter at the dinner table of the steamboat
Grey Eagle, on which they were both pass
engers. Murray denounced the purchase as
blanked swindle. Folsom defended it.
Finally the disagreement grew warm, and
Murray threatened to give Folsom polemic
punch between the eyes. Folsom retorted
by picking up a fork from the table, with
which he proposed to harpoon his antagonist.
NoTE-The fork was one of the old
fashioned kind, made of good steel, before the
modern plated denominations came into
fashion,. Some one poured oil upon the
waters at this juncture, and peace was pro-
claimed. We are happy to record that this
discussion was soon forgotten. Folsom and
and the former has voted for Murray several
times since.
SO much for the purchase of the property.
THE MARKET HOUSE AS THEATRE.
In the very early days of the market house
the hall up stairs was used as ball room,
for suppers, popular assemblages, etc. That
was before our town was we'll supplied with
halls or theatres. It served for the latter
two seasons. In the spring of 1856 it was
leased to Huntley's Dramatic troupe for
while, and the balance of the year to
Hough q Myers company. The latter had a
pretty fair troupe. The hall was seated
with rough pine benches, hard az
Inlser's n heart. 1t would only hold 600 or
ooo persons at most, but that was as MANY
as the town would turn out those DAYS. Of
course the stage and it's appointments were
rather limited, and ne very heavy PLAYS
could be put on. Next year, 1857, Sally St.
Clair opened with good company. She
was popular actor. and Mr.. and Mrs. Ber-
nard, excellent comedians, were members of
the troupe. The editor of the AdvertSser
declared that the "market house was place
where beef was butchered below and tragedy
above" But tragedy was seldom or never
attempted. The plays put on were light
comedies, usually, ar5 were we'll rendered
We don't hear much Oetter acting even now
a-days.
THE HARD TIMES
from 1853 to 1861 entirely froze out the
theatre business. Market hall was not much
used during that period. If we remember
right Good Templars' lodge, or something
of that kind, was held there for VIII lie. and
perhaps religious services on Sunday. Altar