A Forever Saint Paul Proposal Localmarks : Media Documenting Our Neighborhoods Past, While Building Their Future Localmark #1 The Skok Family Home and Smithy
Saint Paul s Bohemian immigrant community, 1883 Illustrator H. Wellge Published Madison, Wis. : J.J. Stoner, c1883 Bohemian immigrants settled along Fort or West Seventh Streets since the late 1850 s, between Fort Snelling and Saint Paul s downtown. In 1887, at the intersection of Michigan and West Seventh Streets, the free thinkers of the community built their second and current (1887) Česko- Slovanský Podporující Spolek (CSPS) Hall. They conduct their financial and cultural activities up to this, its 126 th year. In the nearby St. Stanislaus Kostka church, Bohemian Catholics worshipped, with a much smaller worship group at St. Cyril Congregational Church.
Franta and Anna Skok Frank is listed as a founding member of the first Bohemian organization, Slovanska Lipa (1868) which was absorbed by the CSPS fraternal insurance organization in 1879. These pictures hang proudly amongst other founders in the hall s mezzanine membership room.
The Skok Family home: 267 Goodhue The Skoks lived a few blocks from the CSPS Hall. Anna (Meskan) Skok, was born in Bohemia June 1858, and brought to the U.S. as an infant. She married John Skok in St. Paul in 1880. After John died in 1886, she married his brother Frank June 1888 after his first wife died the previous year. Anna was the mother, and step-mother to about 14 children. Frank died in 1922; Anna in 1935. Skoks lived at 267 Goodhue until 1960.
Frank Skok s Wagon Blacksmith and Horse Shoeing Shop A great old neighborhood photo, circa 1900, with Frank Skok brandishing his hammer in the doorway of his blacksmith shop on the corner of Superior and W. 7th.
Frank Skok s Wagon Blacksmith and Horse Shoeing Shop, Interior Photo details: In the foreground, the bellows pumped oxygen into the coals for a white hot heat in its brick forge. Standing by forge, in long leather apron, is Emil Skok, next to the essential anvil. Next is young Bill Skok, called "Weiner". In center is Frank Skok, with John Busta at right. The Schmidt Brewery wagon is a tank or hopper truck. With no sign of electricity, the doors face south to let in the most natural light.
Joseph Brings: Brings Flour and Feed Store 209 Fort Road (later 312-318 West Seventh). For the next 100 years, the Brings family would operate their businesses from this location. In 1884, West Seventh Street, (formerly called Fort Road), was the most traveled route for anyone moving west of St. Paul by land. Everything ran on hay. In those days, horses were the main mode of transportation. Delivery wagons from breweries and department stores, express wagons, fleets from dray companies, police and fire wagons, and teams from liveries throughout the Twin Cities patronized Brings. Summit Hill and Irvine Park aristocracy rolled up in fancy buggies. As Gareth Hebert wrote "The old adage that money ain't hay didn't apply to Brings and Company feed and seed emporium." Over a million dollars flowed through the gilt-scrolled cash register in one year during the 1890's." Margaret, Joseph s second daughter, married Thomas M. Skok in 1873. Their daughter was Lucia
Lucia Skok: The St Paul Sunday Globe, February 24, 1895 Lucia Skok was daughter of Thomas Skok and Margaretha (Margaret) Brings. On December 15, 1892 she purchased the east 1/2 lot 3 blk 250 Irvine's add to West St. Paul. Her mother purchased the western half. Angels and Money: Some sweet Sirens Whose Beauty Draws Trade for Employers Installed as Cashiers They Make Change for Customers While Enjoying the Admiration A genuine St. Paul girl, and correspondingly delightful, is Miss Lucia E. Skok Lou as you may call her If she ll let you. She is nineteen years old, and since she was sixteen has been one of the principal cashiers at Michaud s. She handles so much money that, if she were a man and required to give bonds, the bondsmen might sometimes be on pins and needles. But no fashion of fraud, no tide of crime, ever demoralizes the young lady cashiers. Miss Skok possesses an unusual business head. The bigger the crowd, on Saturdays, said she, simply, the easier and quicker I can make change. She is a graduate of the city schools, and resides upon the West side. Her beauty is of the medium brunette type, and is focused in her smile. She can even refuse a lead dollar with such sweetness as to make the customer almost proud of his attempted fraud.
Dr. Richard A. Skok : Great Grandson of Frank and Anna Skok Skok Hall, or the College of Natural Resources Administration Building, is named after Dr. Skok. Photo credit: Gopher Peavey, 1992 Yearbook of the College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota, page 6 Dean Emeritus Richard A. Skok received his B.S. degree (1950), his M.S. degree (1954) and his Ph.D. (1960) in forestry from the University of Minnesota. His distinguished career culminated as Dean of the University of Minnesota s College of Forestry, serving with distinction in that role for 19 years until his retirement in 1993. His leadership and vision of expanding the College's mission to include the University's Department of Fish and Wildlife Management in 1983 resulted in the Board of Regents voting to change the name of the College of Forestry to the College of Natural Resources.