2009 - Swede Hollow

Boxmeyer obituary

Boxmeyer, Donald H. "Box" Age 67 Feb. 11, 1941 - Aug. 10, 2008 Preceded in death by parents Howard and Eleanor; mother- and father-in-law Lillian and Leo Carle; brother-in-law Colin Cotterell; "Adopted" son Ed Gratz; best pal Jim Doyle ("JD"); organ donor and hero Joe Bruender. Survived by devoted wife of 45 years, Kathy (nee Carle); son Chris (Teri); daughter Diana (Ken) Berg; son Erik (Jen); grandchildren Kalie, Jacob and Isaac Berg, Olivia and Natalie Boxmeyer, Charlie and Melanie Adam; and great-grandchildren Shawn, Laynee, Charlee, Catrien and Adam. Also survived by brother Howard (Bette) of Bozeman, Montana; and aunt and uncle, Doris and John Libby of Tucson, AZ. He was lucky to be part of a loving extended family, including brothers- and sisters-in-law Arnold Carle, Darlene and Butz Schwartz, Rich and Sharon Carle, Rog and Bonnie Carle, Judy and Leroy Butler, Janet and Tom DeLong, and Linda Cotterell. He also has many loving nieces and nephews, friend Stan Turner, Maria Manion-Gratz, donor's mom Thora Bruender, and donor's sister and brother-in-law Jan and Tom Schaible. Thanks to many supportive friends and family. Don received a liver/kidney transplant in 2004. He was cared for during that adventure by the exceptional staff at Fairview University of Minnesota Hospital. The medical team who took such wonderful care of Don for many years includes his #1 angel, Ann Kalis, Dr. Ty Dunn, Dr. Sara Shumway, Dr. Tom Ophoven, Dr. Abi Humar and Dr. Hassan Ibrahim, as well as doctors Lake, Buckley, Guessner, Henke, Titone and Fitzpatrick. Don enjoyed weekly lunches with The Tuesday Same-a-Bunch, The Italian Stallions and The Friday Lunch Bunch, and was a member of The Zipper Gang and the West Seventh Boys Club. He wrote for the Pioneer Press for 36 years, retired in 2002 and continued to write on a part-time basis. Don was an avid fisherman, hunter and furniture-maker, and his favorite place was Ashby, Minnesota. In recent years, he loved to spend time with family, especially his grandchildren and his donor's mom and sister in Mankato. He is the author of "A Knack for Knowing Things," published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in 2003. A Celebration of Don's Life will be TODAY, 11:00 A.M. at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 8th and Maria, St. Paul. Visitation 1 hour prior to the service at church. Interment will take place at a later date due to a Government snafu. 678 South Snelling Avenue 651-698-3878

Notice these streets all begin with C; throw in the centennial office building..4 C's

My late mom used to work in the old centennial building.

It looks like his interment was at a funeral home right by Highland Park. This is the first park to have a treasure hidden in it. Its hilly, I beleive they are done with the renovations.

I really like Nick Coleman of the Strib.

(The Strib just filed Chapter 11....)

Thanks, 40.

Yes, Highland was my cooler crew pick! I like the idea of the med hidden in a tresure chest (box) like in the old days. The interview this weekend with the former clue writers mention the tresure chest of yorn.

And don't forget that the first treasure that Milett and Boxmeyer hid was inside a wooden box at Highland. (1994)

yep, that's what I'm thinkin... it wouldnt surprise me at all if the next couple clues hint stronger at Swede Hollow, but I don't think it's there. It might turn into somethin like '03 where everybody's thrown for a complete loop and left trying to piece the clues together. Boxmeyer did like the harder hunts, and it would make sense if they're dedicating this one to him, to use a park like Swede Hollow as a big red herring to kick it off.

I like the idea of a "treasure chest" box too. Same thing with Highland like I said with Swede Hollow though, It wouldn't surprise me if they used it to try to throw people off, but I don't think it's there.

its been since 1994 since they hidden it at Highland.

I think "Box" is internment was at Ft. Snelling.

it was.

Yup.

The funeral home was near Highland.

The link to the two clues aren't working at the PP site. Did we get a clue folder yet? Or what is the mention of Borealis?

The clues are listed in the link in the header for this folder.

This book is getting popular: A knack for knowing things : stories from St. Paul neighborhoods and beyond / Don Boxmeyer.

by Boxmeyer, Don (Donald Harold), 1941-

 St. Paul, MN : Minnesota Historical Society Press, c2003.

Description: xii, 214 p. ; 23 cm.

Requests: 3

Thanks for the heads up. I just requested the copy at the SSP library. It was still checked in.

Thanks, Terry.

Clue 1 mentions King Boreas.

A book by Millet called Strange Days, Dangerous Nights about "speed Graphic era" photos and was published by Borealis Books. One chapter is about a huge fire at a Highland Park Shopping Center (1939) Ford Pkwy and Cleveland, at the time a big deal mall. Millet really likes speed graphic era photos. Even if nothing comes of it, his book on this style of photos around St Paul are interesting. The HP Center had a Ben Franklin; also one of the largest grocery stores of its time:Cut Price Supermarket. Had a bowling alley in the basement of the Center. Photo is of a 1951 fire that just about destroyed it.

Intro by John Stanford.

I can't copy the link, it is at Google Books, search Strange Days Dangerous Nights. Most of the book is online.

The second clue is screaming Swede Hollow to me but then again I always want it to be there so I'm biased. (darn you Kitch for picking that one) But the fact that it's screaming to me it has me doubtful it's there cuz that's what they did last year - every clue (the early ones) were screaming a different park.

I like the use of the word tramping - a tramp is a vagrant who wanders looking for work, they often rides the rails. Immigrants use to get off the trains at the union depot and walk up the river to settle in Swede Hollow.

"much of the history remains a mystery" - There is no written record of Swede Hollow since it wasn't taxed and there were no city services there (running water, electricity). As Box wrote the history is in the stories of the people who lived there.

I also like they used "fore" which would get everyone thinking golf course, but when I looked it up is also means to bring forward or "up front" like clue 1. Riverfront maybe or in close proximity to PP or downtown?

My mother lost a fur stole in the 1951 fire. Yes, they wore fur stoles back then. :eek: She and my father had eaten in a restaurant in the mall that evening and she had left it and they were holding it for her to pick up but the restaurant was destroyed that night.

there are at least two. one is aa, the other is mears (unless its been removed).

The Strange Days book has a chapter on the St Paul Winter Carnival, and at some libraries.

"The St Paul Winter Carnival, which attained a level of delirious weirdness in the that may never be equaled, proved to be another source of irresistible images ..." Millet

I knew I was "Deliriously Weird" for 12 days!

Tramping reminds me of the old Civil War song, "Tramp, Tramp, Tramp", also known as "The Prisoner's Hope".

Last time I checked the city's info Mears wasn't listed, so I don't know for sure?

My Mom had a fur stole too. I used to think it was so neat. I loved the feel of it.

We are going out to do some scouting this afternoon. I'm stuck on a couple places - mostly one. I need to check a couple of things.

Yes, the history/mystery gets me back to Swede as well, Tater.

Don't request a book online from the library. Call as soon as they open and ask to have one set aside for you. The person who calls gets priority over the person who books online. The person who comes in and grabs it off the shelf has highest priority. Even though there are three requests in RCL, someone who walks in the door will get one that's on the shelf of the library that isn't open right now.

The dog area at mears in not an off leash area, it simply that dogs are only allowed in that one section of the park. The other off leash is BC but it's on the maplewood end. There is a new one in SSP but me thinks that over the county line.

I hope it's not at arlington/arkwright, of all the dog parks we've taken our dogs to, that one by far is the worst at owner's picking up poo or keeping their dogs in line. You can't walk 5 feet in the woods without stepping in a pile. Too many times there seen aggressive dogs running loose in there, owner oblivious that there dog is ready to attack.

Thanks Mikey! Its good to be back. Hopin for a good hunt this year.

I have a hold on the book. I've done that before with a book and they pull the book and have it on a shelf behind the counter. Maybe Dakota County has a different system. But I'll be going down there tomorrow morning anyway.

Evil,

Haven't seen you in a while, welcome back,

It's so nice seeing folks coming back again this year. It feels all warm and comfy.

The county line is Annapolis, so yes, that one is in Dakota County. At least the road to nowhere leads somewhere now. :smile:

LYRICS

In my prison cell I sit,

thinking, Mother, dear, of you,

and my happy Southern home so far away;

and my eyes they fill with tears

'spite of all that I can do,

though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.

Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!

The boys are marching;

cheer up, comrades, they will come.

And beneath the stars and bars

we shall breathe the air again

of freemen in our own beloved home..

In the battle front we stood

when their fiercest charge they made,

and our soldiers by the thousands sank to die;

but before they reached our lines,

they were driven back dismayed,

and the "Rebel yell"went upward to the sky.

Now our great commander Lee

crosses broad potomac's stream,

and his legions marching Northward take their way.

On pennsylvania's roads

will their trusty muskets gleam,

and her iron hills shall echo to the fray.

In the cruel stockade-pen

dying slowly day by day,

for weary months we've waited all in vain;

but if God will speed the way

of our gallant boys in gray,

I shall see your face, dear Mother, yet again.

When I close my eyes in sleep,

all the dear ones 'round me come,

at night my little sister to me calls;

and mocking visions bring

all the warm delights of home,

while we freeze and starve in Northern prison walls.

So the weary days go by,

and we wonder as we sigh,

if with sight of home we'll never more be blessed.

Our hearts within us sink,

and we murmur, though we try

to leave it all with him who knowest best.

Bar.

Back to Civil War Lyrics

Brassmonkey feels like digging but is waiting for clue 3.

Talking in the third is fun :cool:

Lots of crap on the PP boards, garbage talk mostly.

This was BP: Before PETA....

I noticed that too, Brass. Last year wasn't this bad. I get overwhellmed by the negative attacks and slink back over here holding my head. I don't think it's because I am older, it's just so unproductive to the hunt discussion.

"Now at rest" anagrams to Taters own, Taters now and Taters won. :sillygrin:

Tramping hill and dell, you may hear tell

About the contests waged of yore

That Tramp, Tramp, Tramp song there is a Dead War Veterans monument on Edgcumbe in Highland. "About the contests waged of yore" war, Maybe?

Dont the Marines sing Over Hill Over Dell....or is it Dale in the Marine song...

You hear a lot of war stories from the old soldiers at a VFW hall too. Tales of contests of yore.

"Now at rest" could refer to the Dead War veterans monument?

Just guessing....

That's dale, and is the official Song of the United States Army.

the Marine Hymn is the one that begins "From the Halls of Montezuma"

I like "Taters won"

yippee that's it you all can go home now. See you at the PP.

Wow, didn't mean to sound so harsh there.

someone named CBOX posted this on PP

Hey folks, was just poking around and saw your notes on my Dad. Thought I would pop in and say Hi

I can tell you this, he LOVED the hunt and writing the clues with Larry. He let us in on the secret he was one of the writers, but never opened his lips about anything, just laughed when we would guess at where it might be, ha! Of course we couldn't hunt for it even before he wrote clues, being family of PP employee, so I never got into the hunt myself.

But Donnie would love watching where the crowds were gathering, and he even used to go sit on the tailgate of our pickup with my brother and watch you all searching, even if it wasn't in the right place. He loved to watch how you "Searched" and would try to use that for the next year.

And he definitely loved "watching" the Water Cooler discussions. I know this, he said the hunt was in "good hands" so not sure if he knew who was writing, but I kinda bet he did. Enjoy the Hunt!!!! And thanks for the kind thoughts about Dad - Don.

Thanks, Dave.

Do you believe this? i don't know if Mr. Boxmeyer's son would call his dad "Donnie."

I don't buy it. But i could be proved wrong....

I like the Navy Hymn the best, but then I'm prejudiced.

Eternal Father, strong to save,

Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep

Its own appointed limits keep;

Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,

For those in peril on the sea!

Hey can someone do me a favor? When you go to the PP new boards click on my name to view my profile and see if it shows my email address. I set it to hide it from view but it's being shown. Not sure if it's showing it to just me or everyone.