Swede Hallow Park

Saturday, December 28, 2013 we started photo-investigating the first park on our list.  Swede Hollow park is located in St. Paul. (Click on link to see map.)

                                    

Phalen creek runs through the middle of the park area we explored.  To the north the old Hamm's Brewery buildings can be seen.  

Many of the buildings are abandoned now and disrepair.  It it believed that sometimes in the desperate cold, homeless may take shelter there.  Danny warned me not walk the park alone.

The valley is well below street level.  At 11:00 a.m. there were still shadows in the valley.  

Some of the dried weeds untouched by the sun still had frost.


We didn't see a lot of traffic in the park.  There were a few runners and a couple walking their dog.  We found a number of birds and Danny spotted a hawk.

This park wasn't always a park.  It was originally home for a Swedish immigrant community.  The terrain with its natural isolation from the rest of the world felt like home to many who lived there.

Up the eastern side of the ravine, is one of the park entrances.  It once was the site of the Hamm mansion.  I would discourage taking the steps from there to get to the bottom.  The steps are quit icy right now.

This pillar is the what remains of that mansion.

Though the mansion and factory are diminished, the Hamm spirit in the neighborhood remains.  

Have fun exploring!

Robin and Danny





Informational links:
History
Friends of Swede Hallow
Art in the Hallow
MINNPOST article
Wikipedia