West Seventh Street a diagonal slash across the city. It’s a street that once bore the name Old Fort Road. A path trod by Native Americans and fur traders long before the first European settlers arrived. Can you imagine the lives lived along its length?
West Seventh Street or Fort Road as it was once known holds a rich history. It’s more than just a road. It’s a living testament to Saint Paul’s past. It links the city’s downtown to the airport. It also connects a string of diverse neighborhoods. These neighborhoods nestle at the base of Saint Paul’s hills. Ramsey Hill Crocus Hill and Highland Park are among them.
The street itself is a marvel. Its diagonal path breaks the rigid 90-degree grid. It creates chaotic intersections. Odd polyhedrons of space open up. In another city these might be called squares. Here in Saint Paul they’re simply long waits at red lights. This is where blue-collar Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz met in the movie Feeling Minnesota. This working-class area is also where Garrison Keillor set one of his novels.
Along West Seventh you find a surprising mix. Wonderfully preserved row houses stand alongside 1950s kitsch. Strip malls and stark 1970s public housing exist side-by-side. This street is a constant source of surprise.
A looming landmark rises above the neighborhood. It’s the old Schmidt’s brewery. This massive red brick building once bustled with activity. Its tall smokestack chimney proclaims Schmidt’s and Landmark. It was once one of the largest breweries in the Midwest. It employed thousands. Local architectural historian Larry Millett deemed it worth preserving at all costs. The brewery thrived thanks to the bluff’s cool sandstone caves. These caves were perfect for beer storage.
Schmidt’s beer fell out of favor. It couldn’t compete with the larger breweries of Milwaukee and St Louis. The brewery slowly declined going through various owners. It even became a short-lived ethanol factory. That made the whole neighborhood stink. Now it sits largely empty a condo-filled dream for developers. A faint sign of life remains. Affordable spring water drawn from the sandstone caves is still sold on the sidewalk.
In the shadows of Schmidt’s smokestack stands another sight. A collection of well-preserved pre-war buildings line the street. These mixed-use brick buildings have storefronts flush with the sidewalk. Interesting signs hang above. Beautiful brickwork tells the story of time. The buildings house a diverse mix of businesses. A saddlery a fire station a coffee shop and an art gallery stand near each other. There’s an Alcoholics Anonymous center next to a bar. A wonderful commercial node exists. It’s a testament to the potential of this street.
The Pilney Building stands out. It’s an art deco gem. It hosts an emerging arts community. One can’t help but wonder about its future. The dreams of the artists there remain a possibility. Will this become the next Northeast Minneapolis? Will it attract architects and fill with businesses? Will the old row houses be restored? The future of West Seventh Street remains unwritten. One can only wander and wonder along its sidewalks. A walk down West Seventh Street is a journey through time a blend of the past the present and the unknown future.