Look, I like The Rake and was delighted to join in the celebration of its “First Ever Fifth Anniversary Issue.” I was even more surprised to see our Saintly City remembered in Jon Lurie’s piece “The Secret Garden” [March]. I delighted in the reading until finding my enjoyment tempered by the misstatement of a few historical facts regarding the property.
We St. Paul natives have long tolerated itinerant television meteorologists coming to town to reveal to us that it is cold here in the winter. We listen patiently while Mill City boosters lecture us on how “sleepy” our nightlife is while they scamper from pillar to pillar dodging random gunfire in their warehouse district. But if we are to continue to welcome Lakers on their excursions to civilization here let them at least understand our history and geography correctly.
Lurie is completely correct to state that our city drew its first identity from the liquor establishment of Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant, but Fountain Cave is not located downtown. Never was. What remains of Fountain Cave is buried beneath the roadbed of Shepard Road west of Randolph Avenue. In 1838, Parrant did operate an establishment there, liberally serving soldiers from Fort Snelling and Indians from the area with furs to trade.
Finally, making a big enough nuisance of himself to attract the wrath of officers from the fort, Parrant’s hovel was demolished in 1839 by order of the army. He then relocated along the river near the base of the current Robert Street Bridge roughly beneath the present St. Paul Cultural Garden. It might also have been worth a mention that the garden is located within Kellogg Plaza, named in honor of Frank B. Kellogg, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and distinguished Minnesotan.
Lurie, you are welcome back anytime. Just bear in mind—probably because the legislature works here—we read the fine print.
Patrick Hill, St. Paul
Editor’s Note: Associate Editor Jon Lurie offices in Minneapolis, but lives in St. Paul.
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