Como Neighborhood History Project
Your Voices : Our Stories
From apple orchards to parks & neighborhoods.
Committed to the power of place & change over time – It is a St. Paul cross roads.
Our oasis preserves rich land resources in service to and enjoyment for its residents & those afar.
The results – past & present recognition, a lively intersection with the state fair; commerce, residential care, nature, cemeteries, the Street Car line, and the border with Roseville, St. Paul’s first northern suburb.
District 10 – A community on the cusp of change for & seeking vision from its citizens.
The Latest Como Neighborhood History Posts
Go beyond the headlines and learn about unsung heroes of World War II: Saint Paul’s Black Rosies. Como neighbor Jeremiah Ellis takes you inside the Twin Cities Ordinance Plant, where African American women made bullets fly and shattered racial barriers. Their courage offers powerful lessons for our time. Discover their inspiring narratives, accentuated by pictures from their lives. Don’t miss this chance to honor their legacies and learn from their resilience.
By Laura Oyen Last summer two St. Catherine University students, Eva Ngono and KC Meredyk and their Advisor, Associate Professor Rachel Neiwert, assisted the Como Neighborhood History Project in historic research and community member interviews in the study of Subdistrict 4. Collecting and recording the stories about the neighborhood and community members who lived in this area, between the railroad tracks, was the focus for the summer of 2023. Documenting stories of our community for future residents is what this project is all about.
By Laura Oyen Marjorie Moody and Mike Zaccardi have lived in the immersive space of what was originally the Lake Park Baptist Church since 1993. This converted church became both their home and their work space for the past 30 years.
How You Can Get Involved:
Help us explore the history of our Como neighborhoods! Help collect stories from our neighbors that have lived here for most of their lives. We are more than the State Fair and Como Park! We are a neighborhood of shops, institutions and families. Let’s collect those stories together!!
- Dig through your old photos! Share pictures of our neighborhood from the past. We are especially looking for old pictures of businesses, street scenes, homes, or schools that used to be here and are now gone like Sugar Dan’s Drive-Inn at Como and Snelling!
- Help us find neighbors to interview! Suggest a family member, friend, or neighbor that has lived in the D10 community for most of their lives. Help us interview them or we can help with the interview to get their memories saved.
- Design a walking tour! Keep us healthy and fit while we are walking past interesting houses, pieces of art or cool institutions.
- Research and write a story! Help us research the many buildings, institutions, and past events that have shaped our community. Do you have old documents about the history of Como Elementary or Tildon School? Have a story about the old corner store or garden nursery business in your neighborhood, know a house that had interesting or famous folks living there, share them with us!
The goals of this project:
- Use the “Know Your Como” platform to collect and share, oral histories, documented memories, researched stories of the people and institutions of this community.
- Create walking tours for each sub district to highlight the many places, institutions and people who shape our community to this day.
- Hold informed community conversations regarding our history and its impact on our community.
- Acknowledge our past and recognize the significance with public art and historical signage
- Sponsored by the Neighborhood Relations Committee.
What’s New in 2024!
- Summer of 2024; Two St. Kate’s Summer Scholars will do Oral History interviews with neighborhood residents in Subdistrict 3 (between Dale and Victoria, Como High School and Larpenteur).
- Roll out of Second St. Kate’s “Story Map” Exploring Como: Between the Tracks – SD4
- Spring 2024 St. Kate’s Art & Technology classes collaboration with D10 Neighborhood History Project.
- Continuation of Oral History Interviews and Neighborhood Research by community members time permitting.
- Writers and Advisory Team! Let us know if you are interested in working and shaping the project.
Advisory Team:
- Laura Oyen – Lead SubDistrict 1
- Marcia Anderson – SubDistrict 2
- Lija Greenseid – SubDistrict 2
- Nancy Mitchell – SubDistrict3
- Jean McRoberts – SubDistrict 3
- Darlene Kunze – SubDistrict 3
- Roy Magnuson
Resources:
Rachel Neiwert – St. Kate’s University
Kristine West – St. Kate’s University
Fill out a Volunteer Form and let us know how you can help! Check the box for “Como Neighborhood History Project”
Contact us at: history@district10comopark.org