Aaron Hanson Thesis Book.pdf - NDSU - North Dakota State ...

historical contextAlso in Lower Town was the home of the Stearns House,which was the Gothic Style Hotel mentioned previously,located on property of the “St. Cloud Normal SchoolCampus” (“Historic Downtown,” n.d). Interestingly, theschool stayed in the same area and is currently the homeof St. Cloud State University.Interesting Downtown HistoryAn early unique local attraction to downtown was SteveTenvoorde’s Bicycle Band. During the mobile age,Tenvoorde fashioned special bicycle handle bars whichheld musical instruments (“Historic Downtown,” n.d).This was later shutdown a year after by St. Cloud’sfirst automobile shop in 1899, which was owned byTenvoorde and Peter Theilman. In 1905, the city sported5 automobiles among nearly 10,000 residents (“HistoricDowntown,” n.d).Illustration 48. JohnWilson.In 1897, a man who had built a reputation on the art of candy making cameto settle in the city. Candyman Jones, opened a business called Jones CandyCo., which was popular for 39 years before closing. The name Jones wascarved in granite and is still visible today on the front of the St. Cloud Floralbuilding (“Historic Downtown,” n.d).In the 1880s, an important developer named John Neimann came to settle inSt. Cloud at the age of 24. He was already skilled in the building trade andbecame one of the leading contractors and builders in the area (“HistoricDowntown,” n.d). Buildings he worked on are St. Nicholas Church, St.Raphael’s Hospital, Carter Building, and part of Norman School where St.Cloud State University is located today.Figure 65. St. Cloud, MN. Early Streetscape.67