The Thousand-Piece Outdoor Art Display on Robie Street

Editor’s Note: A version of this story originally appeared in Saint Paul By Bike on August 28, 2024 and is reprinted with permission.

West Side, West 7th (West End), Highland Park

July 6, 2024 and September 30, 2023 – 18.7 Miles

This post is a hybrid of sorts, blending two West Side rides I took about nine months apart. I met and interviewed Cheryl, whom you will meet later in this post, on September 30, 2023. Naturally, I took photos of various sights throughout the ride. Unfortunately, a computer crash wiped out the 80 or so images from that September ride. Luckily I didn’t lose the interview with Cheryl, nor the route of that ride recorded by my bike GPS.

The plan for July 6, 2024 was to re-ride the September 30 route. My GPS does a fantastic job of tracking where I bike, but the 1-inch-square screen makes it is frustratingly difficult to follow a pre-planned route. Therefore, I quickly scrapped the idea of duplicating the September 2023 trek, while still making sure I got to Cheryl’s.

The routes of both rides are below. The first map is the route of the July 6, 2024 ride, followed by the map of the September 30, 2023 ride.

The West Side

It’s impossible to avoid hills on St. Paul’s West Side. I’ve mentioned this frequently, probably in every post about the sojourns to this lovely part of St. Paul. The trip up the Smith Avenue High Bridge, snaking along Ohio Street or climbing any of the abundant lesser-traveled roads, is worth the labor.

The steep slopes so common on the West Side are visible in respects beyond the obviously arduous roads. Take the 20-foot-tall retaining wall along the 300 block of West Robie Street.

The 20-foot retaining wall with steps takes residents of 9 (right) and 11 (left) Alice Court to and from Robie Street.

The precipitous rise of the West Side bluffs shows in other ways. Oddly shaped lots of varied sizes dot the streets at or near the bluff tops along Isabel Street West.

The large and oddly shaped lots on Isabel Street West, between Ohio and Bellows Streets. Photo courtesy Ramsey County GIS

The property at 231 W. Isabel St. is both irregularly shaped and, at a whopping 1.2 acres, is far larger than most residential lots in St. Paul. The home has overlooked the Mississippi River since 1878, a mere four years after the West Side became part of St. Paul.

The entrance and driveway of 231 W. Isabel St. and in the background, the home.

I cannot find any reference to the words prominently shown on the sign near the sidewalk at 231 Isabel.

This is one of a surprising number of beautiful and historic homes scattered throughout the West Side.

Two blocks east, I spotted a magnificent 1894 Queen Anne that commands attention. 123 W. Isabel Ave., the Eugene and Christina Villaume House, is the grandest of several nearby homes built for members of the Villaume family. The Villaumes started a box company on the West Side Flats in 1882 that grew into a major employer still in business, though it moved to Eagan in 1970.

The Eugene and Christina Villaume House at 123 W. Isabel is a Queen Anne beauty built in 1894.

Eugene Villaume leaned on a lightpost in front of his home in this undated photo. Courtesy Ramsey County Historical Society

The Eugene and Christina Villaume house is loaded with exquisite detail.

The yard and back of the Villaume house.

One door over, at 115 Isabel, is the home that Eugene Villaume’s brother and business partner, Victor had built. This wonderfully restored home was constructed in 1879.

The Victor Villaume House at 115 W. Isabel St., constructed in 1879, was renovated in 2023.

The many windows on the west side of 115 Isabel.

Two adjacent garages from completely different eras. To the left, the cramped single-car garage that can’t hold anything larger than a subcompact car, belongs to 126 Delos. Ramsey County records indicate it was built in 1915. The two-plus car garage next door belongs to 115 Isabel.

The Victor Villaume House, right, and the large brick garage belonging to 115 Isabel.

Story continues after The Villaume Box and Lumber Company story.

The Villaume Box and Lumber Company

Victor Villaume, and several years later, brothers Eugene and Joseph, immigrated from France to St. Paul’s West Side. Eugene, reportedly a talented and creative woodworker, worked at a couple of St. Paul box and trunk manufacturers, according to a piece titled “‘If It Can Be Manufactured From Wood, We Can Make It’ A History of the Villaume Family and the Company They Built“ by Steven C. Trimble in the winter 2007 Ramsey County History magazine.

After nine years, Eugene and Victor started their own box company, Villaume Brothers, in 1882, below the bluffs on the West Side Flats. Villaume Box grew steadily over the next couple of decades, both in size and products it manufactured. The company name was changed to Villaume Box and Lumber Company to reflect its foray into molding, lath, doors and other wood-based materials. Growth of the business continued, thanks largely to Eugene’s insistence on producing the highest quality boxes, containers and custom millwork for Villaume customers.

Villaume Box Factory on the West Side Flats. Date unknown. Photo Ramsey County Historical Society

Henry A. Castle, author of the three volume “History of St. Paul and Vicinity“, wrote the following of Eugene Villaume: “Of the type of energetic men who have come to this country without means or friends and have risen to significant places in business life, no better example can be found than Eugene Villaume, president of the Villaume Box and Lumber Company of St. Paul.” Castle went on to write, “Coming to the United States a youthful French immigrant with no capital other than a staunch heart, willing hands and a determination to win success, he has studied opportunities and made the most of them until he has reached an eminent position in St. Paul’s industrial life.”

This 1916 plat map shows the blocks of property on which Villaume Box and Lumber buildings were constructed. Courtesy U of M Borchert Library

Among the most illustrious and prominent projects by Villaume Box and Lumber was as the supplier and contractor for all the finishing wood in the St. Paul City Hall/Ramsey County Courthouse. According to the Ramsey County History article, between 150 and 175 craftsmen—woodworkers and cabinetmakers—worked for more than six months during the depths of the depression hand-making and installing cabinets, paneling and trim throughout the 18 story Art Deco building. All in all, 26 different woods (including a couple that are now illegal to harvest) were used in city hall/county courthouse. Oak, walnut, maple, birch and other woods came from the lower 48 states. Woods including African mahogany, Indian teak, and koa from Hawaii were imported.

The second World War meant many companies switched to manufacturing products in support of the U.S. military. Villaume Box and Lumber joined the war effort, first by producing thousands of K-ration cartons. Later, Villaume landed a contract to build ammunition crates for Federal Cartridge in New Brighton. By late 1943, Villaume had been subcontracted to manufacture wooden wings, floors and control surfaces for Waco CG-4A gliders for the U.S. Army Air Force.

A U.S. Army Air Force Waco CG-4A-WO glider (s/n 42-79211) in 1943. USAAF - National Museum of the U.S. Air Force photo — A U.S. Army Air Force Waco CG-4A-WO glider (s/n 42-79211) in 1943. USAAF – National Museum of the U.S. Air Force photo 060505-F-1234P-004, Public Domain

Villaume Box and Lumber continued production at its West Side Flats factory until Fall of 1970, when it opened a larger Eagan facility under a new name, Villaume Industries. The move became necessary after the City of St. Paul condemned much of the West Side Flats because of frequent flooding. Today, Villaume is still in business and still in Eagan, although it is now part of Lyman Companies, a supplier of building materials.

Continued from before The Villaume Box and Lumber Company.

The uncommon sloped rock retaining "wall" at 126 Robie St .W. captured my attention. — The uncommon sloped rock retaining “wall” at 126 W. Robie St. captured my attention.

East a couple of blocks, a lighthouse lamp and mailbox flag stood in the front yard of 44 Robie St.

Another lighthouse doubles as the flag on the mailbox.

Church of St. Matthew at 510 Hall Ave. at Robie Street.

The Church of St. Matthew at Hall Avenue and Robie Street has been a West Side institution since its 1886 founding as a house of worship to serve German Catholic immigrants. The church building standing at Hall Avenue and Robie Street today was built in 1970 to replace the traditionally-spired structure that basically burned to the ground two years earlier.

The original Church of St. Matthew, also at Hall Avenue and Robie Street, was destroyed by fire in 1968. Photo courtesy Lakesnwoods.com

Across a parking lot to the east is the building that is commonly believed to be the second oldest school in St. Paul.

St. Matthew's School, built in 1901-02, is considered to be the second-oldest school building in St. Paul. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s. — St. Matthew’s School, built in 1901-02, is considered to be the second-oldest school building in St. Paul. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1980s.

Constructed in 1901-02, the long-time St. Matthew’s School is described in the National Register of Historic Places nomination as an “eclectic Victorian design with a French Second Empire-inspired Mansard roof.” Designed by St. Paul architect John F. Fischer, it was built for an estimated cost of $23,000.

The south and west-facing sides of St. Matthew's School. A classroom addition is visible behind the original building. — The south and west-facing sides of St. Matthew’s School. A classroom addition is visible behind the original building.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis closed St. Matthew’s after 125 years at the end of the 2011-12 school year. Quantum STEAM Academy, a charter school, opened in the building in fall 2020.

The fence in front of 173 W. Robie is lined with a melange of colorful metal figures.

Riding along Robie Street it is impossible to miss the multitude of colorful metal decorations at 173 W. Robie. First, the dozens carefully attached to the front fence — birds, butterflies, flowers, trees and bees — grab you.

Butterflies, flowers and animal art decorates the front of the house at 173 Robie.

Looking around at the front of the house and fences on both sides of the yard reveals myriad more vibrant metal fixtures. This was my third visit here. I first laid eyes on 173 Robie on a July 15, 2023 ride. Later that year there was the September 30 drop in and then, this stop.

A portion of the vast array of art on the fence on the west side of Cheryl's yard. — A portion of the vast array of art on the fence on the west side of Cheryl’s yard.

Cheryl and Jake, one of her four sons, pose in chairs on the side of their home. She is a true West Sider who grew up less than a block away on Winifred Street. Cheryl went to Humboldt High School and lived in the same block of Robie for 19 years prior to moving to 173 Robie.

All the decorating began during and because of COVID. Like everyone, Cheryl was bored, lonely and fed up with being stuck in her home. She desperately missed her daily interactions with residents and coworkers at Cerenity Humboldt Senior Care (where she’s been a nursing assistant for 45 years.) “… looking through books and being bored, I thought that would look pretty outside. ‘That would look pretty. What the hell? I’m gonna do it. I don’t care what people say.’ So that’s what I did and I just kept doing it.” The splashes of color on the metal do bring a cheerfulness to the neighborhood. During the drab grey, brown and white months of late fall into spring, the art adds some welcome visual energy.

The fence on the west side of Cheryl's yard is festooned with vibrant wall art. — The fence on the west side of Cheryl’s yard is festooned with vibrant wall art.

Cheryl pointed out that her decorating extends beyond the house, fences and garage. “If you look all over, there’s something in every place. Old things in the trees, hanging monkeys, squirrels…” Why squirrels? “…because I used to have a squirrel, a real squirrel I took care of. I had it for six years.”

It didn’t take long to realize that Cheryl is energized by helping others, both in the neighborhood and through her work at Cerenity Senior Care. “It ain’t just for a paycheck. You have to have emotion and care for people genuinely and their feelings. Everybody here (at Cerenty) is different and you’re gonna have to deal with each personality on a different level and that’s what I do. I get to know them for them and I go into their world and try to see what they did and the people they are. Everybody had a purpose in life.”

Cheryl added, “I’ve been blessed to be able to do it that many years and not having injuries and it’s like my family there. I’m their age now, and I’m taking care of them. I get how they feel. I get what they need.”

Cheryl and her family endured greater misfortune than months of isolation and the demanding working conditions at Cerenity brought on by COVID. Both her father and sister died during the pandemic. Among the decorations is a memorial to her sister, Dawn. “She was always into sunshine and she’s the one that died. She was 55. So I always put Dawn’s sunshine right there, and my little cross and stuff.”

Cheryl's memorial to her sister, Dawn. — Cheryl’s memorial to her sister, Dawn.

A photo of Dawn, Cheryl's sister, and a young Jake, is displayed on a refrigerator inside the garage. Photo courtesy Cheryl — A photo of Dawn, Cheryl’s sister, and a young Jake is displayed on a refrigerator inside the garage. Photo courtesy Cheryl

Despite her heartbreaking losses, Cheryl’s sympathies lean toward others. “I’m so sorry for everybody else out there, too, who had endured all that crap and the families that died; my patients that died.”

The glass thermometer belonged to Cheryl's father and is one of her favorite decorations. — The glass thermometer belonged to Cheryl’s father and is one of her favorite decorations.

Adorning her yard, house and garage with artwork helped Cheryl cope, and also brought hope, happiness and life to her piece of the West Side during the pandemic and afterward. “ I want people to see that there’s still real life. You can have fun, you can make your home your own haven, take some time in it.”

Passersby, said Cheryl, love the ornaments. “They’ll walk their kids and their kids will say, ‘I wanna see! I wanna see!’ And they’ll look and they’ll say It’s a big playground.”

173 W. Robie has been a gathering place for her sons’ friends since they moved there about 2002. “They always like to come over here and play basketball. They feel comfortable. They say they like it here. They feel safe. And it’s not boring. They just sit here and do anything. Or they go in the pool and hang out.”

Other times, Jake, his brothers and their friends will watch movies in the garage on a large screen.

The pool in Cheryl's yard and behind it, some related art. — The pool in Cheryl’s yard and behind it, some related art.

Originally black, Cheryl gave the three butterflies (and many more wall decorations) their colorful cast with spray paint.

Cheryl goes beyond just hanging decorations. She customizes many of the pieces of the wall art. “I just paint ’em right out here. Spray paint ‘em. These were totally just iron, metal. They didn’t have no clothes or nothing. They were all black And then I made the clothes on them.”

Many fade from the elements so she repaints them yearly.

Other wall hangings that Cheryl customized are interspersed on every wall and fence.

Cheryl has dubbed her yard "Serenity" because it brings her peace. Statues and fountains are clustered on one side of the house. — Cheryl has dubbed her yard “Serenity” because it brings her peace. Statues and fountains are clustered on one side of the house.

The gazebo, in the back corner of the yard, is where Cheryl goes when she's feeling religious. — The gazebo, in the back corner of the yard, is where Cheryl goes when she’s feeling religious.

Two large deer stand in the front yard, a testament to her husband’s love of the animals. “We lived up north too, and he had a cabin and he loves deer, so I bought him these deer sets, so he could enjoy his little deer because he’s up in age now and he used to be a vivid deer hunter.“

Cheryl added the two deer to honor her husband's love of deer and hunting. — Cheryl added the two deer to honor her husband’s love of deer and hunting.

Cheryl bought most of the decorations herself. As for how many she’s got, she’s never counted. “I don’t know. Over a thousand or something maybe.” With plenty of places to hang more metal art works, she expects to continue to add to her display.

The decorative display of metal figures has moved beyond 173 Robie St. According to Cheryl, one of her cousins is enhancing his property with them, as is the neighbor just to the west at 506 Bellows St.

A few pieces of art have gone up at 506 Bellows following encouragement from Cheryl.

Elsewhere On the West Side

My exploration the West Side continued to the south on Bellows Street, followed by Baker, Winslow, Elizabeth, Bellows and then Morton Street.

A flag with the Sacred Heart of Jesus hangs on house on Morton Street. The symbol is primarily recognized by Catholics and carries abundant symbolism, according to The Catholic Spirit, the official publication of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Nearby, a bit of an Independence Day hangover on the boulevard.

Remnants of an active Independence Day in the form of empty cardboard containers of mortars, bottle rockets, “spleen splitters” and other pyrotechnics on the corner of Charlton and King streets.

West 7th

Between a dog and an accordion player, caution is required in the area around one house in the 300 block of Webster Street.

Is the greater danger the dog or the accordion player? I didn’t stick around to find out.

Highland Park

The "mini-roundabout" where Lexington Parkway meets Montreal Avenue is the first roundabout in St. Paul. The Montreal Hi-Rise is in the background. — The “mini-roundabout” where Lexington Parkway meets Montreal Avenue is the first roundabout in St. Paul. The Montreal Hi-Rise is in the background.

The intersection of Lexington Parkway and Montreal Avenue has become the first roundabout in St. Paul. Officially a “mini-roundabout” because the center island is paved, it works the same way as standard roundabout. It has improved the flow of traffic and increased safety for pedestrians, bikers and drivers. The upgrades completed in 2023 include the extension of Lexington south of West 7th Street.

I prefer not riding a route more than once, but it is far superior to losing photos or interviews which could be irreplaceable. I’ve taken precautions to reduce the chance of another data loss.

In a case of making lemonade from lemons, I got to talk with Cheryl again and enjoy her 2024 additions to the artistic display,