We have all seen the three large boulders on St. Germain Street in front of Herberger’s store. Have you stopped to admire this piece of art and wondered what the story is behind it? This 32 ton sculpture is called “Granite Trio” and was dedicated on this day back in 1973.
The two women who helped form the Humane Society were Mrs. Nora T. Gause and Mrs. Cora A. Meiser, and they were organizers of Humane Societies around the country. They came into town on August 24th, and gathered with a group of St. Cloud citizens at the Grand Central Hotel to discuss forming a Humane Society.
When the sisters arrived in St. Joseph they began to plan a college that girls could attend to become teachers. By 1905, the plans were finalized and the development phase began, and the first of the buildings on campus were contracted for in 1911. Then in 1913, the college opened its doors for the first time with a small but dedicated staff.
On a bright Sunday afternoon, August 17,1862, four young Dakota hunters were passing through Acton in Western Meeker County. These young Indians came across some hen’s eggs along a fence on Robinson Jones homestead. They were acquainted with Jones and his wife as they ran a combination post office, lodging place and store in Acton, and it was obvious that Jones’ hen had laid the eggs.
Though St. Cloud had begun to be settled in the early part of the 1850s, it wasn’t until 1855 that it got its first post office. This happened when Frank Sisson was appointed postmaster on August 16, 1855.
Mathew Hall emigrated from Germany in 1882. When he arrived here he began working for Lt. Gov. Charles Gilman, who gave him in lumber in exchange for wages. Gilman encouraged Hall to open his own lumber yard. When he had a small supply, Hall rented and later purchased two lots near Seventh Avenue and Second Street North. His business continues in this same place today! The first sale, on July 29, 1889, was for $2.80.
When a plot of land came up for sale across the street from the home of Bill and Virginia Clemens, they purchased and donated the land to the City of St. Cloud Park Department. July 20, 1989 is the date of the approved motion for the rose garden to be name for Virginia Clemens, its muse.