Document - Historical Society Minutes - Eagan Historical Society Minutes 10042011 - 10/4/2011 MEETING NOTES/MINUTES
EAGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
TUESDAY
OCTOBER 4, 2011
3:30 p.m. – EAGAN ROOM
Members present: Ted Ringberg, Mary Ellen Voracek, Kim Hazel, Lori Tripp, Dawn Simpson, Millie Gignac,
Bruce Bader, Martin DesLauriers. Also present was Communication Coordinator Joanna Foote.
MEETING MINUTES & SECRETARY
Foote took notes for the October 4, 2011 meeting. A motion was made by Lori Tripp and seconded by Ted
Ringberg to approve the minute from the September 13, 2011 meeting.
OPEN HOUSE DATES AND VOLUNTEERS
The Eagan Town Hall open houses will take place on Thursday, October 6, 2011 from 4 to 6:00 p.m. and on
Sunday, October 9, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 1:00pm. Gignac, Voracek (possibly), Hazel, and Ringberg
volunteered for Thursday and Tripp, Gignac and Voracek for Sunday. Foote will be in attendance both days.
UPDATE REGARDING EAGAN HISTORY BOOK/GRANT PROCESS
Discussion regarding Non-Government Community Leaders 1974 – present; and events of note during
same time frame for Book Interviews
Mary Ellen Voracek suggested attorney Paul Hauge who was the first City attorney for Eagan along with his
partner George Hoey. Paul had previously been the Eagan Township Attorney with Luther Stalland under the
name of Stalland and Hauge.
Martin DesLauriers said Jean Kline would have plenty of information from here late husband John, on 35E
being delayed up because of Blackhawk Lake and Nicols Phen. Jean’s sons Steve and Tom still live in
Eagan.
It was mentioned that Pawlenty who lives in Eagan was on Eagan’s Advisory Planning Commission and City
Council, before becoming Governor and Representative of the State of Minnesota.
Robert Vanderadee of Roberts Drug in Cedarvale, Dave Ashfeld who was the Barber, and Mike’s Shoe Shop
The following points include 35E delay; Gerald Rauenhorst –Developer of Eagan Promenade completed in
1996; Arnold Carlson, who developed the Carlson Lake land; Dawn Simpson and her sister were in the first
class to make their Confirmation at Easter Lutheran Church with Pastor Jim Borsholtz.
Martin DesLauriers was an original Lion in the Eagan’s Lion Club. The Lion’s are a big supporter of Eagan’s
4th of July Funfest.
WECA West Eagan Civic Association.
Eagan’s Fire Department is probably the force behind growing the 4th of July festivities…Mis Eagan began as
a Fire Princess pageant. It was recalled that the Jaycee had a strong presence in July 4th as well.
The Eagan school districts split because of huge population growth and in 1977, ISD 196, opened a second
high school in Apple Valley. Eagan High School opened in fall of 1989 for ninth grade students and for
grades ten through twelve the following year. It was also mentioned that school property lines were
determined by farmer’s properties.
DesLauriers used Rahn Road as example when talking about school boundaries, where kids on opposite side
of the road attended different schools. He also suggested we look at the early Zoning and Planning records to
see how many acres were dedicated to the industrial park. In his mind this had a great impact and benefit on
how well Eagan developed—due to this foresight.
In about 1964, Eagan residents defeated an annexation attempt by the city of Bloomington and one by
Burnsville.
The Cedarvale shopping area saw a large growth during the mid 1960s and mid-1980s and was a
significant area within Eagan. The mall was the first enclosed mall south of the river.
Art House, Caponi Art Park and Eagan Art Festival all were significant during the timeframe being
discussed.
Tripp provided a few notes regarding changes in Eagan as seen through her Police Department service
perspective:
• The freeways not only brought in land development but it also brought in diversity with an influx
of Asians in the 1980s and Somalis in 2000s.
• Level of fatal accidents also dropped dramatically as our roads improved.
• When Martin DesLauriers was Chief of Police, he knew most of people that the police interacted
with. What the police saw during the 1980s were more crimes committed by unknowns.
• The demographics were changing with larger corporations moving into Eagan. One of the biggest
changes noticed was the drop in blue collar works and the rise of executives from these large
companies. Eagan saw more construction of executive style homes as well as first time home
buyers.
• Laws became more progressive for women and minorities in the community. There were changes
in education for police officers, and more jobs went from part-time to full-time opportunities.
• The cities of Mendota Heights and Eagan formed the Athletic Associations. Tripp also
commented that Twin’s pitcher, Jack Morris, lived in the McKee Addition and played ball in this
early athletic Association.
Simpson noted that Eagan saw its first woman elected to political office as Mayor. Bea Blomquist
(Simpson’s mother) served in office from 1980 to 1987. Pat Awada was the second woman to hold that
office from 1999 to 2002.
Simpson also noted Eagan had two dance studios, Pat Peare Dance and Dianne’s School of Dance as well
as the Eaganette’s park program.
Tom Garrison joined the meeting and encouraged the group to consider what corporations should be included
in the book: NWA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, West/Thomson Reuters, Cray Research and Coca-
Cola…others?
Simpson also mentions that Eagan did not have a specified area to call downtown. Clusters of business
were spread all over.
The Federal Land Lawsuit was mentioned regarding the ultimate location of the Target store/Cliff Lake
Center and where it developed.
Commercial projects that did not occur are also important to note, such as Canterbury Downs and
Burnsville Center, a stadium, etc.
The waters development was significant.
Cedar Avenue/freeway bridge – Cedar Avenue was upgraded in1980 and became State HWY 77. What
had been Cedar Ave became Nicols Rd.
In the 1970s and even the 1980s residents drove their mini-bikes, snowmobiles and even horses down the
middle of main roads.
Simpson volunteered to help with the task of scanning photographs for the book when needed
OTHER
Gignac updated the group on the new theater group call the Eagan Theater Company (ETC.). They have
done one production of old time radio theater and would like to perform a history play at the Holtz Farm. She
invited interested members to become involved.
Hazel noted that she and Foote had met with Bea Blomquist and took possession of several boxes of material
for the files. Most information pertains to her service on the Planning Commission, City Council and as
Mayor. She also has a crib that was bought at a Heuer auction that was used by Heb Polzine, Eagan’s first
Mayor, and she plans to donate the crib to the Historical Society. Dawn mentioned that she also has
photographs of Fred Heuer as a baby which might be used as a part of a display.
NEXT MEETING
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 3:30 p.m. in the Eagan Room,
located at the City of Eagan Municipal Center.
ADJOURNMENT
DesLauriers made a motion to adjourn the History Committee meeting and Hazel seconded the motion. All
members voted and adjournment was at 4:55 pm.