President Dave opened the meeting and Bob Cardinal, our Sergeant at Arms greeted everyone. On line greeter was dzr. Ellen Kennedy, Matt Majors and Dave Wolfgram were our tech team, John Andrew did our Inspirational minute and 4 way test, and Bill Collins did the happy dollars and intro of guests and Visiting Rotarians.

Jay Pfaender, who is a member of the RCHS Editorial Board, did our presentation on Oliver Crosby and the Stonebridge Mansion.  Oliver Crosby was President of American Hoist and Derrick or Amhoist. He was also a mechanical engineer. He would work nights on engineering projects for the company and for his mansion. He became famous for his Crosby Clip, used in lifting and securing heavy objects.    Crosby also invented a machine to move logs, a ditch digger, and several cranes.  Amhoist was the largest employer in St. Paul, and all the engineers wanted to work there. In 1934 Fred Crosby thought he would be the next person to be kidnapped after Braemer was kidnapped, so he moved to 804 Lincoln.  Fred Crosby, Olivers son, also lived at 2010 Summit Ave, and he succeeded his father as president of Amhoist. There was no wood in the construction of the outside of the house, but there was wood on the inside.  The house was 20,000 sq feet. The garage had 4 grease pits. The house also had electricity, which was a new thing in 1917.  The grounds had grass cutting machines, tree trimming machines and machines to move the water.   It was built in 1917 and torn down and parts auctioned off by 1952.  The 40 acers was subdivided into buildable lots in the 40’s and 50’s.  The architect of the Mansion was Clarence Johnson, who did many state buildings in Minnesota and houses on Summit Ave. Remnants of the house can be seen all over St. Paul: the gates of the Mansion are at Como Park, the frog from the pool is at the Conservatory, the round-a-bout is still there, an urn and some decorative parts of the gate are still there. The Stonebridge is still there also and can be seen for River Drive.