Here it is.... (drum roll please)...the famous Ray's Dairy Store. If you didn't grow up in the neighborhood, you might not have even heard the name much less have ventured inside. But any kid within walking distance of the store (3907 W. 54th Street) knew Ray's was the place to go for candy. I had heard about the store from several people as we prepared our "Growing Up in Edina" exhibit, now on display. Jeff Thompson wrote: "I grew up in the sixties near 60th and France Avenue and our "corner store" was Ray's Dairy Store on 54th Street just west of France. It was operated by Ray (Carlstedt) and his wife Dorothy. I remember Ray always seemed fond of us kids but his wife did not seem very happy whenever we came in. Ray was a small man but his wife was a rather large woman who with one look told us we had better behave while in the store. They lived in an apartment above the store. The building still stands today as a craft or needle point shop." Sherry Ott also fondly remembered biking to the store. "Ray's Dairy Store on 54th and France had the best selection of penny candy in town. If you were lucky, you might hear the sounds of Ray's daughter, Susanne, playing piano upstairs." Bob Herman also included Ray's among his happy childhood memories.  Children's author and illustrator Nancy Carlson turned her childhood memory of shoplifting a candy bar from Ray's into a picture book, Arnie and the Stolen Markers. Although Arnie steals markers instead of candy, Nancy said her drawings of the store with its myriad choices of penny candy are true to what she remembers of Ray's.The book is out of print, but is part of a display on Nancy Carlson as part of the "Growing Up in Edina" exhibit.For more on Nancy's childhood in Edina, see previous blog post here or check out her web site. Of course, Ray's sold more than just candy. Parents also picked up necessities at the little market between trips to the larger grocery stores in town.What businesses would you like to see featured on Photo Friday? Supply an address, if possible, to make look-up easier. We don't have photos of every business, but if we do, I'll post the photo on a future Friday. Make your wishes known by commenting here or emailing me.
Docken's property (store not pictured). Photo courtesy St. Louis Park Historical Society.
When I was growing up, my mom would send my brothers and me to the little corner store to pick up a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread if she ran out between her weekly trips to the bigger supermarket downtown. "The Little Store," as we called it (although that was not its real name), stocked the necessities along with penny candy and pop for the youngsters enlisted for the marketing errands. The store looked like a house, but the owners lived upstairs and operated the business on the first floor. What store am I talking about?Brookside area residents would probably say Docken's store, but those near Cahill might think of Cameron's. Tedman's might come to mind for those living near Valley View Road (although the owners lived behind the store, not above it.) Those who lived near the Minneapolis border might venture to Ray's Dairy store, while Morningsiders had Morningside Grocery near the northwest corner of 44th and France.The answer: none of the above. I didn't grow up in Edina, but as you can see, the description fits nearly every little corner store that operated until 1970s or so, when two-car families became the norm and Mom could run her own errands or Dad could pick up the essentials at the gas station on his way home from work. Docken's Community Store (as it is named in the Edina phone directories) was in a house at 4356 (later renumbered to 4360) Brookside Avenue, just north of the streetcar tracks that ran along 44th Street, making it an easy destination for commuters coming home after work. Arthur and Lila Docken operated the store from at least 1926 to 1949, when it was purchased by Jon and Eloise Garner. (Many customers pronounced the name "Gardener's" or "Gartner's," having only heard the name and not seen it spelled.) Now the site of the Brookside Court condominiums (built in 1965), the house/store was located on the northwest corner of Brookside Avenue and 44th Street. Jeanne Anderson from the St. Louis Park Historical Society researched the Dockens and the store, which was important to the Brookside neighborhood on both sides of the SLP-Edina border. She writes, "The Dockens reportedly owned all the land behind the store, down to the creek. People could pay a fee and picnic on the site and swim in the swimming hole upstream from the CP Rail trestle over the creek. The Dockens also kept horses on the property. The undated photo above shows two houses side by side on the property. The store itself is not pictured and would have been toward the left. Edina directories list six separate addresses on the block, although one or more of the buildings may have been a duplex." The Garners closed up shop in 1957 or 1958, perhaps as a result of a loss of business following the end of the streetcar operation in 1954.  Unidentified woman, possibly Mickey Docken. Those are just the highlights of the story. Prompted by questions from a researcher, Jeanne recently came over to the museum and we looked through directories and our files, as well as online newspapers to find more. Turns out the Dockens have a long history in Edina. A society note in the Minneapolis Journal dated August 18, 1905, lists a Miss Docken as a guest at a party given by Miss M. Blanche Craik for bride-to-be Mabel Millam. Craik and Millam were names associated with the Edina Mill. Arthur Docken had a feed store in Hopkins prior to opening his Brookside market. His children attended St. Louis Park Schools. During her junior year at the University of Minnesota, daughter Lila Agnes "Mickey" Docken was selected to be a stewardess for American Airlines. She died on January 10, 1945 in a plane crash five miles north of Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. She and the pilot, along with 21 passengers, all members of the armed forces, lost their lives. For more information, see the St. Louis Park Historical Society web site. Jeanne also was kind enough to share her research for our files, so come on in if you want to know more. Our research is a "work in progress" and we can always learn more. Help us out. Do you know more about the Dockens or the Garners? Share your knowledge by commenting here or emailing me.
Does anyone know Carl? This was his gas station.
 At least that's how it is named in the 1960 Edina phone directory: Carl's Edina Cities Service, located at 5241 Eden Avenue. For all I know Carl could have been Ms. Carl, but this was 1959, so I'm betting on a Mr.There isn't a gas station in the city today that matches the same address, but there are a couple that are close on Vernon Avenue. Because the area was redeveloped, the address numbering system could have changed. Maybe the gas station has survived under a new name. Maybe it has not. I'm letting you do the work this week to find out. (It's not like I didn't try. I just couldn't see a similarity in the roof lines with the existing stations.)Is this building still around in the Grandview area? Did you know the owner or do you remember the business? Inquiring minds want to know. Share your knowledge by commenting here or email me.Happy Friday, everyone!
Dr. Walter Bonnett opened Edina Pet Hospital in 1958 at 5237 Eden Avenue. In this August 1959 tax assessor photo, it looks like landscaping is still on the "To Do" list, judging from the pile of dirt off to the left side.
But maybe not. This was a different Edina, after all, with this end of Eden Avenue being home to industrial buildings like Danen's excavating, Wanner Engineering, Roto Press and a taxi company instead of retail shops, condominiums, library and senior center. Look at those wide open spaces around the clinic -- quite different from the address today.
 1960 Edina phone directory ad In 2001, the City of Edina acquired the land by eminent domain for redevelopment, and the Edina Public Library and the Edina Senior Center were built there. At that time, Edina Pet Hospital was owned by Dr. Dan Shebuski, who had worked with Bonnett at both his Edina and Southdale practices. Edina Pet Hospital, now in its 53rd year. still endures in Edina at 7701 Cahill Road. Dr. Bonnett died in 2010. His obituary (published in the June 27, 2010 Minneapolis Star Tribune) noted that he founded the Edina, Southdale, Eden Prairie, and Eagan Pet Hospitals. Magnolia boys, Cedric and WalterAs a side note, Bonnett was born in Magnolia, MN, the same small town as another Edina resident, Cedric Adams, popular radio host and owner of Cedric's restaurant in the same Grandview area. With Magnolia's population at 261, it can't be a coincidence that Bonnett and Adams both moved to Edina and set up businesses within blocks of each other. They weren't classmates, though, by any means; Cedric was born in 1902, while Dr. Bonnett was born in 1921. Hmmm.... a mystery to be solved on another day. Does anyone know more? If you remember Dr. Bonnett and the early days of Edina Pet Hospital, please comment here or email me.Happy Friday, everyone!Note: Because I've posted only twice this week, I will publish a bonus Photo Friday later this afternoon.
Today, you will need a napkin to wipe the drool off your chin and some willpower so you don't run out to a Sonic or Dairy Queen after reading this post. Ready?Here is a photo of the Biltmore Drive-in, located at 5001 Vernon Avenue. Although this photo was taken for tax assessing purposes, I love that the photographer captured two young customers on bicycles on what looks to be a beautiful August day. In case you can't read the menu, here's a sampling of what you could buy. (Note that nothing cost more than $1.65.)
Broilburger 50 cents
Steak sandwich 50 cents
Cheeseburger 40 cents
Biltmore burger 50 cents
Floats 20 cents
Heavy malts 30 cents
Freezes 25 cents
1/2 Chicken in a basket $1.65
Shrimp in a basket $1.25
Egg salad 30 cents
Peanut butter sandwich 25 cents
Did that make you hungry? Sorry to do that to you. Well, it's Friday. Go out and enjoy a malt... just remember to bring more than 30 cents.
Note: Edina had a bunch of businesses with Biltmore in the title, but as far as I know, none shared the same owner. In the same way that many businesses today have Southdale in their name because of the nearby landmark mall, these businesses no doubt traded on the fact that the well-known Biltmore Hotel was in the area. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Do you know anything about the Biltmore Drive-In or any other drive-ins in Edina? Does anyone know who owned the business or how long it lasted? Share your knowledge and comment here or email me.Happy Friday, everyone!
Many of you remember Pete Santrizos, as he is pictured in the Edina Sun photo (dated Nov. 6, 1973) below. Pete held court behind the counter of the Sunnyside and France business and knew every customer, even if they had visited only once before. "His memory is terrific," reporter Debbie Pint wrote. "When someone walks in, he can usually recall their name, who they married, what they're doing."
The photo was taken after Pete had run the business for 32 years, taking over the struggling new restaurant on Nov. 1, 1941. At that point, he had no plans of closing, but his customers urged the local newspaper to write about the grandfatherly man who dispensed wisdom behind the counter as well as juicy hamburgers.
See the menu boards on the wall behind Pete? Here's one for those famous burgers ("hamburger steak") saved by the family:
Pete pointed out that in all the years that he ran the Convention, the only thing that changed were the prices. Even now, while the ownership has changed, the Convention's decor has changed little from when Pete bought the Convention in 1941 with a $200 loan from a relative.
Here Pete is pictured about the same time he bought the Morningside restaurant.
Pete came a long way from a lonely 15-year-old boy immigrating to the United States without his family in 1911. He started in the restaurant business washing dishes and sent money back home to his parents in Greece.
His wife Christine (below) was his life partner as well as his business partner, who worked in the kitchen creating nine homemade soups and was famous for her "Christine salad." They lived in southwest Minneapolis, just seven blocks away from the Convention. Pete walked to work every day before 8 a.m. and returned home after 10 p.m. The Convention wasn't just their home away from home; it was home, where they spent nearly all of their waking hours with their three boys: Nicholas, Harry and Mario.
A 1942 photograph (below) in the family photo album shows the boys standing on Sunnyside Road with the Convention in the back ground. (You can also see the partial sign for the Westgate Dairy Store, which shared space in the building with the Convention. The dairy store, which was better known as simply Dennison's, later moved to the small building west of the parking lot. But that's another story for another day.)
"We never felt like we were working for our customers... they were our friends," Christine told Edina Sun reporter Jane Sims Podesta when the Santrizos retired in August 1976 after 35 years in the business .Aren't these the greatest photos? I especially love the last one, with the distinct exterior of the Convention in the background. I have searched for photos of the much beloved Pete and Christine Santrizos ever since we created an exhibit about the Morningside neighborhood in 2005. Finally, seven years later, I have connected with the family, who graciously allowed us to copy photos from their albums. I have a long wish list of photos and artifacts for our collection. Since we're on the topic of Morningside businesses, we have successfully hunted down photos of Burr Cheever's barber shop and Carlson's Odd Shop. I still want photos of the interior and owners of Morningside Hardware and Joyce's Bakery, among others. If you know these owners or their families (or know someone who knows somebody who does), please contact me. Also, please share your memories of the Convention Grill and Pete and Christine by commenting here.If you missed last Friday's post, check out the 1941 Convention ad here as well as two other Convention Grill posts here.
1. Hornettes and CougarettesLast week's blog post Hornette history told through items in our collection generated a few comments. Karen McArthur noted that Edina West had its own dance team, the Cougarettes. "We share all of the traditions, dancing from 1972 – 1982. Some of our traditions have become Hornette traditions. For example, one of the kicks I saw in a recent Hornette dance on YouTube was made up by our 1977-78 Cougarette captain, Leslee Owens. I bet someone has photos of the Hornettes and Cougarettes dancing together from that decade. I’ll see if I can find any old photos." In the mean time, here are the Cougarette pages from the first year Edina West was open (1972-1973). The new squad had just four veterans from the Hornettes. As you can see by the comments on last week's post or on the many online news stories that readers' opinions are split into two camps: 1. It's a big deal that a 53-year-old name is changing; or 2. It's not a big deal that two letters are dropped from a name. I'm not going to tell you where I stand on the issue. I don't think it's my role to affect history, just to record it.You might think that historical societies would automatically campaign to preserve tradition. You would be wrong. Our mission is to collect, preserve and interpret it. There is a difference. For example, when Clancy Drug closed at 50th and France, the Edina Historical Society didn't lead an effort to save the long-standing Edina business. We stayed on the sidelines not because there weren't a lot of Clancy Drug (and Toyland) fans in our organization -- because there were -- but because business owners must make the decisions that affect their own livelihood. Instead, we worked with the owners to collect menus, signs, dishes, a table, napkin holder, hundreds of photos and other artifacts for posterity.If you listened to conversations among visitors and volunteers at the Edina History Museum last week, you would find opinions split on the Hornette/Hornet name. But there is one point that everyone supports: we should collect, preserve and tell their story. And I'm glad to say that several people have offered to look for photos and other artifacts about the Hornettes -- and let's not forget, the Cougarettes.
2. Normandale MotelA couple of people commented on the Normandale Motel, after seeing a postcard recently added to our collection. Brent wrote: "I remember it was across Normandale from the Ho Jo. It was there until at least 1970 if I remember. I think there was a liquor store next to it."Dan Lapham found a photo of the motel on the Minnesota Historical Society web site. See photo here. The 1953 photo by the Minneapolis Star Journal shows a different address than the one listed on the postcard (7740 instead of 7816 Normandale Road). The sign is also slightly changed, showing "Smitty's Motel." As I was looking through MHS's wonderful online Visual Resources database, I found a few other Edina hotels and motels.Because the Biltmore Motel was in the heart of Edina on Vernon Avenue, it features more prominently in residents' memories than the businesses at the border on the 494 strip. While those catered to tourists in town for sports at Metropolitan Stadium or the Met Center, the Biltmore was referred to as Edina's "guest bedroom." Edina residents often put up their out of town guests at the Biltmore, and many newcomers also spent their first days and weeks there while they looked for more permanent housing. What are we missing? Can you think of any others that operated in Edina? Do you have any photos or postcards to share? 3. Edina's first fundraiser concert I hope you join us at our first fundraiser concert featuring the Peterson family on Thursday, June 14, at the Edina Performing Arts Center at Edina High School. Ticket sales support our programs (such as this blog.) We're excited to have the Petersons, not only because they're known throughout the country for their talents, but also because they're local history makers. Matriarch Jeanne Arland Peterson is in the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame as well as the Museum of Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Her children also are remarkably talented. Daughter Patty has won seven Minnesota Music Awards, son Paul has performed with Prince (among many other big names), son Billy has toured with the Steve Miller band, daughter Linda is internationally known for her original jazz composition “Too Late to Leave Early" and performs throughout the country and abroad. They will be joined by a third generation of performers, including some Edina High School graduates. Tickets are available in advance at the Edina Senior Center, online at Seat Yourself or at the door the night of the performance. (We sell tickets at the Edina History Museum as well, but our hours are limited. Maybe that will change with proceeds generated from this concert, huh? Fingers crossed.) Tickets are $20. Get a group together and make a night of it! For more on the Petersons, see this WCCO special on the family. I have to admit that I had heard only Patty and Paul perform before our concert committee booked the group, but now I'm a big Jeanne Arland Peterson fan. Just watch her play piano... amazing! If you're busy that night, you can still help. Donate any amount to the Society and your name will be listed on the program as one of our supporters. Please send your check to Edina Historical Society, 4711 West 70th Street, Edina, MN 55435. Write "concert donation" in the memo line of the check, or write "anonymous" if you don't wish to be listed.
First Southdale National Bank opened in September 1956, as one of the original tenants of Southdale Mall.
Here is an exterior image of the bank, with its drive-up window.
Here is an ad from the 1960 Edina phone directory, published by Minnesota Suburban Newspapers.
Discuss. Seriously, it's all you this week, my friends. I can't write anything more without further research, and my "To Do" list is too long for that today. I'd love hear more though. Comment here or email me. Happy Friday!
Gleeks out there, you know what a mashup is. For those who don't, it's a work that recombines and modifies existing works to create something new. Welcome to Monday Mashup, in which I will provide updates to old posts and throw in a few new things to keep things interesting. 1. Edina cake eater story on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. I had dozed off during the show and woke up to a genealogist telling Greg that his ancestor Alrich Magner Hojem was one of the richest men in Edina, Minnesota in the 1900s, and because of his ego and his wealth, he became known as a cake eater. Eventually, all Edina residents were derogatorily nicknamed “Cake Eaters” because of their wealth. I dozed off again and thought I dreamed the whole thing the next morning until I found a comment on our Facebook site. Kate Genovese posted a link to the show and asked, "hi! last night's CSI episode: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2104211/ had a reference to Edina and the supposed origin for the term Cake Eater. is it true?" Like any legend, it's hard to pin down the exact facts for the Cake Eater name. (I've heard everything... the Marie Antoinette "let them eat cake" quote to the starving is one story. Another theory is that Minneapolis Washburn students, who had the nickname first, got it because they were the children of wealthy executives of Washburn-Crosby Company, the predecessor of General Mills (maker of flour/cake mix.) When Edina started winning state athletic championships in the 1960s and became known for its relative wealth, Edinans then were called cake eaters. Some residents have embraced the term: cheering sections at high school tourneys have eaten cake en masse and our girls hockey teams host an annual "Cake Eaters Classic." While the wealth part of the CSI tale has some truth to it, I believe the "Alrich Magner Hojem" character is fiction. Greg's back story is that he comes from a wealthy family and that likely fits with Edina's reputation. A number of TV shows have said their rich characters were from Edina. Do you remember Brandon and Brenda from Beverly Hills 90210? Unfortunately, they mispronounced the name of their supposed hometown - Eh-DEE-nah.) I did email CBS to see if the writer or producers have any Minnesota connection, but so far have received only a standard computer generated reply.2. Ralph's Shoe Repair to leave Southdale mall? The last of the original tenants of Southdale mall may have to leave. If you have missed the story, see the Minneapolis Star Tribune " A mall pioneer nears the end" published Dec. 15 about the three-generation business. What is our role as a historical society in this story? As we would with any long-time business about to close its doors, we want to make sure decision-makers have all the historic background so they make an informed decision. In this case, everyone knows Ralph's long history and unique status as the mall's only original tenant.Should the store close (and we hope it doesn't come to that) we'll make every effort to document and save the business history. For example, when Clancy's closed its lunch counter, the Edina Historical Society contacted the owners to get menus, napkin holder, sign, table, and dishes for our permanent collection.Historic preservation groups and historical societies can save buildings and artifacts, but unfortunately, they can't save business operations. Only customers can do that. History has shown us that over and over again. A perfect example is Clancy's, which closed its diner because of numbers, mainly red ones. The staff wore black the last day as they hustled filling orders - a difficult job since the cooks ran out of supplies. "If we were this busy every day, we wouldn't be closing," noted waitress Kristina Austin to a newspaper reporter. Morningside Hardware, a longtime fixture at 44th and France, closed for the same reason: owners said they couldn't make money on nuts and bolts alone. They needed local residents to buy their big ticket supplies, like lumber, from them too, instead of going to the big box chains.Save history. Patronize your long-time neighborhood businesses today.3. Reader comment: "Was looking for name of the gravel pit (thought it was Hedberg) and came across your blog . Just skimmed the categories and am ready to relive my youth. Moved to Edina when I was 5, 5609 St. Andrews. At 11 moved to 6612 Cornelia Dr. Remember the gravel pit, the dump, Devaney's stables at corner of 66th and France, attending Bob Barker show for opening of Southdale, 44th and France, Carlson's Odd Shop. Oh, the memories. I am now 66 . I have two sisters, 71 and 64 who will enjoy your blog. John Bauernfeind As it happened, we recently acquired tax assessor photos of the Hedberg gravel operation, so I made sure to write about that last week for Photo Friday. I have had several people talk about "the dump" at 77th and France (later the site of the France Avenue Drive-in and even later, National Car Rental.) I'll have to see what else I can find. I didn't grow up in Edina, so I rely on blog readers, museum visitors and people in the community to guide me on what history should be collected and preserved. What do you think should be included in our collections? _
Drive along France Avenue south of Southdale mall, and you wouldn't guess that much of the land was once filled with gravel pits. One of the larger operations, Hedberg and Sons, was located at 7557 France Avenue South, the site of the Galleria and Centennial Lakes shopping centers today. Hedberg, Glacier Gravel and Oscar Roberts' gravel pits covered much of the area both east and west of France Avenue into the 1970s.
To give you some idea how much land was devoted to sand and gravel operations, take a close look at this 1951 photo of south Edina. To help orient you, the road that goes through Lake Cornelia near the top is 66th Street. The north and south street near the middle is France Avenue.
And all those very light colored areas south of 70th Street are sand and gravel businesses.
Here's a Google satellite image of the same area today. Amazing, isn't it?
Four photos for you on Photo Friday. One wouldn't have told enough of the story, so I had to include all of them. Enjoy! Note: I wrote more about the gravel pit businesses here.
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