HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-204
.
.
'.
,
.
RESOLUTION NO. 96-204
THE CITY OF STILLWATER, MINNESOTA
REQUESTING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA PARTICIPATION IN THE REPAIR OF
THE HISTORIC TERRITORIAL PRISON WALL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN
INTERPRETIVE WALKWAY
WHEREAS, Governor Alexander Ramsey in his message to the
First Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1849, urged them to
request funds from the United States Congress for the construction
of a prison for the new territory; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature did request $20,000 for the new
prison, and designated Stillwater, lithe thriving metropolis in the
St. Croix Valleyll as the site of the new penitentiary in 1851; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Territorial Prison was constructed
under the bluffs on North Main Street in Stillwater, Minnesota,
and was completed for occupancy in 1853; and
WHEREAS, the location selected for the new territorial prison
was IIBattle HOllowlI, the historic site of the last bloody
encounter between the Sioux and Chippewa Indians; and
WHEREAS, the Warden's House was constructed at the same time,
halfway up North hill overlooking the prison, and stands today as
the home and museum of the washington County Historical Society;
and
WHEREAS, a stone wall was constructed on three sides of the
site, adjacent to the hillside, designed to prevent the erosion of
the bluffs, and to provide a more secure facility; and
WHEREAS, the Territorial Prison is listed on the IINational
Register of Historic Places" by the U. S. Department of Interior;
and
WHEREAS, some of the more infamous malefactors who brought
notoriety to the Institution were Bob, James, and Cole Younger,
the desperadoes and supposed partners of Jesse James; and
WHEREAS, the buildings are structurally sound, and are still
used for school bus storage, but have deteriorated badly over the
past nearly a century and half of use; and
WHEREAS, the walls preventing the erosion of the bluffs are
in dangerous disrepair due in part to water flow problems; and
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater has purchased the property at
a cost of $850,000 to maintain this historic site for the citizens
of this State, and to prevent the alternative solution, the
destruction of the buildings as property in the area becomes more
valuable; and
-1-
,.
.
.
.
"t
vlliEREAS, the Territorial Coalition, Inc. has agreed to
rehabilitate the two old prison structures with the technical
assistance of the Minnesota Historical Society at a cost of $11.6
million of private funds, to develop a 120 roam hotel, and have a
signed 20 year franchise lease agreement with the Radisson Hotels
International, Inc. for the operation of the hotelj and
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater is responsible for the sewer
and drainage for the site, to repair the stone wall, and to
prevent the further deterioration of the wall that protects the
bluffs from continuing erosionj and
WHEREAS, the City of Stillwater and the Territorial
Coalition, Inc. have plans for an interpretive walkway around the
base of the bluffs and wall, to showcase the history of the site
and the facility, including the caves that were used for food
storage and confinement of prisoners, and to honor the Native
Americans that died at the site.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the City of Stillwater requests the involvement and
support of the State of Minnesota as a partner with the City and
the private sector in preserving this important part of our
State's history and heritage, by providing consultation and
technical assistance, by assisting in the repair of the bluff
stone retaining wall and the related water flow concerns, and by
contributing to the development of the interpretive walkway around
the territorial prison facility and the Dakota-Ojibwe battle site.
THEREFORE, the clerk of the City of Stillwater shall be, and
is hereby directed, to transmit three copies of this resolution to
the Governor of the State of Minnesota, the State Senator
representing Minnesota District 56, the State Representative
representing Minnesota District 56A, the Commissioner of the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Commissioner of the
Department of Corrections, and the Director of the Minnesota
Historical Society.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Stillwater this
20th day of August, 1996.
/#/L/
/. a L:Kimble{ Mayor
/ //
l.//
ATI'EST:
~LL<~~
o i Weldon, City'Clerk
-2-