The next session (1851) the seat of government was fixed at St. Paul. D. F. Brawley, Louis Robert, J. McKusack and E. A. Hatch were elected building commissioners. Charles Bazille donated a block of ground for the capitol, and a plan drawn by N. C. Prentiss was chosen. The contract was let for $33,000, but the building finally cost over $40,000. It was commenced at once, but not completed until the summer of 1853. On July 21, the governor (W. A. Gorman) first occupied the executive chamber. The original building was in the form of a T, and so many have been the alterations and repairs that but little of it, except the walls, remain. For some years it amply accommodated all the State business, and its interior furnishing and equipments were as plain as the exterior.
Up to 1866, when gas was put in, the legislative halls were lighted during night sessions with candles; and up to 1871, the building was heated with wood stoves, and all the water used in it was supplied by carts. That year the steam heating apparatus and water works were ordered by the legislature, and the building “began to have some of the comforts of civilized life,” as a witty member expressed it in one of his speeches; but it had grown too limited for the rapidly extended business of the State, which had increased in population eight fold since the building was completed. After the increased representation commencing in 1872, more room was imperative. Next session the wing fronting on Exchange street was ordered, costing $8,000, while the changes in the assembly rooms, roofs, cupola, etc., cost $6,000 more. This gave relief for several years, but at every session of the legislature the members suffered from the crowded condition of their hall, bad air, etc., so much that a larger room was absolutely demanded.
The session of 1878, therefore, ordered the erection of a new wing fronting on Wabashaw street, capable of accommodating the House of Representatives properly. It has just been completed at a cost of $14,000. The third floor of this wing is devoted to the House assembly and ante-rooms. The main hall is 96x48 in the clear and is handsomely furnished. It will seat 1,000 persons comfortably, and the ventilation is believed to be perfect. The capitol building with its additions, is now of cruciform shape, and is not, therefore, a symmetrical building, while its architecture is plain; but it is, notwithstanding, a very fair and creditable edifice. The material is red brick. It has cost in all $108,000. It has an extreme length of 204 feet and a width of 150 feet. The top of the flagstaff is 135 feet above the ground. There are fifty apartments in the building, most of the offices being supplied with fire-proof vaults. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday, March 3, 1881, Page 1)
On May 24th, 1851, five days after the Board was organized an advertisement was published, inviting proposals for the erection of the building, according to the plans; and on July 15th the Board decided the bid of Joseph Daniels, of $17,000, to be the lowest, and directed the attorney to draw up a contract. (Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, Volume XII, Published by the Society, St. Paul, Minnesota, December 1908, Page 8)
“The Capitol is on fire” was the word that went through the city when the fire alarm rang out on the crisp air at 9 o’clock last night. ...Seldom has a more picturesque scene been witnessed in the West than that afforded by the destruction of the State capitol. A dense crowd of spectators thronged the streets on either side of the square and gazed awe-stricken at the fearful spectacle. The flames, which at first made but a lurid circle around the base of the dome, soon licked their way to the summit and great tongues of fire darted up into the heavens, illuminating the whole city and the country for miles around. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Wednesday, March 2, 1881, Page 1)
The constant presence about the gaunt walls of the burned capitol yesterday must then be accounted for by something more than idle curiosity. It is no stretch of the imagination to suppose that most of those who came to look at the ruins and learn how much was saved were mindful that the fire was a public calamity – that it had destroyed a record in brick and stone of the birth of the territory, the creation of the State and the wonderful development of the commonwealth – and that it had broken into and endangered a great variety of relics, treasures and historic records which were being accumulated in all the departments of the State government. The burned, gaping and ragged exterior, and the charred and smoking debris of the interior, with tangles of bent, broken and half melted pipes, black fragments of floors and timbers, smoked remnants of partitions, great warped and rusty looking iron safes, and the mysterious looking piles in which the treasure and record vaults were barely recognizable; made a sadding picture for all who were familiar with the old and homely but roomy and comfortably appointed building. The opening of safes and vaults showing their contents preserved seemed to give satisfaction to all the spectators, as if they had a direct personal interest in the property, and the discovery that the clerk of court’s safe would have to go to a shop to be opened appeared to be a common disappointment. A little of the walls of the original west wing have fallen, and in the Wabashaw street wall of the new west wing there is a slowly widening crack from the top to near the bottom; but most of the walls look to be sound and firm. It was a common remark that the walls stood the fire, fierce as it was for the brief time in which it raged, better than people thought they would at the time the whole interior was filled with roaring flames, fanned by the strong wind from the east. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Thursday, March 3, 1881, Page 1)
Contractor
Capt. Joseph Daniels, 1st Minn. Cav. (Mounted Rangers), died at his residence in Washington on Thursday, April 14, of neuralgia of the heart. Capt. Daniels was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1818 (August 15), and in early life moved to western New York. He went to St. Paul, Minn., in 1850, and practiced law until the outbreak of the war, when he raised a company and was commissioned Captain of the Mounted Rangers, which was engaged in fighting the Indians of the Northwest. He was at once time Chief of Cavalry on the staff of Gen. Sibley. At the close of the war he came to Washington, where he has since practiced law, and prosecuted claims against the Government. He was a member of Reynolds Post, 6, Grand Army of the Republic; a prominent Mason, being a member of De Molay Commandery, Knight Templars, and a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason. He was buried on Friday, April 15, at Glenwood Cemetery. (The National Tribune, Washington, D. C., Thursday, April 21, 1892, Page 3)
Building Commissioner 1
The citizens of Pembina and St. Vincent were shocked on Tuesday afternoon to hear of the suicidal death of Capt. D. F. Brawley. The captain has been considerably depressed for some time in consequence of financial difficulties, and for the last few days he complained of a pain in his head. At three o’clock on Tuesday he went into his room and soon after a pistol shot was heard by his son, ten years old, who immediately went to the room, where he found his father lying unconscious, with a Smith & Wesson revolver in his hand. The unfortunate man expired at nine o’clock in the evening. Capt. Brawley came to St. Vincent in 1868, and has always been deeply interested in the welfare of that town. Years ago he resided in St. Paul, where he made the brick used in the first brick building in that city. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and his sad death will be lamented by a wide circle of friends. The remains will be interred in the Pembina cemetery today, the funeral services occurring at 2 p. m., conducted by the Masonic order. (The Pioneer Express, Pembina, Friday, July 10, 1885, Page 3)
Building Commissioner 2
Capt. (Louis) Robert was born in Missouri, 1811; died in St. Paul, 1874, aged sixty-three years. He was a particular, yet marked character, inheriting an iron constitution from French Canadian parentage, and in early life possessed an uncontrollable desire to travel, which he satisfied very thoroughly on the upper Missouri and also on the Mississippi, trafficing (trafficking) in furs, and trading generally with the Indians. He came to St. Paul in 1844, and in 1847 was one of the original proprietors of the town, purchasing part of the land of Ben Gervais, for $300, including the land upon which the present high school building now stands; commenced trading with the Indians; took a prominent part in the Stillwater convention of 1848, for the organization of our territory; urged the location of the capital at St. Paul; was at one time a county commissioner; also a building commissioner; was very liberal, especially to the church; gave real estate and money to this end; and the bells of both the French Catholic church and the cathedral, as they ring out their musical tones, tell of the generosity of Capt. Louis Robert. Steamboating. In the early days he observed the great inconvenience caused by steamboats leaving some considerable time before the close of navigation in the fall, to engage in the southern trade, and returning to St. Paul again late in the spring, so to obviate this difficulty, he repaired to St. Louis and bought a boat of his own, called the Greek Slave, at a cost of $20,000. He became captain and subsequently purchased other boats, one named after his beautiful daughter, Jennie, who subsequently marred Uri Lamprey, Esq. At one time he was the owner of five steamboats. “Dey Shall Be Free!” It is said of him, that when he went before a magistrate to convey some lots to a purchaser, he was told that it was necessary to have them “bounded” - that is, measured – when he broke out, “You tinks I be a damned Jew! My lots bonded! - never! Dey shall be free!” At the first Fourth of July celebration, in 1849, in a grove of trees which stood in front of the present city hall, Judge Meeker, now dead, gave the oration, and W. D. Phillips read the Declaration of Independence. Capt. Robert listened very attentively to both productions, and at the conclusion pronounced Phillips’ speech was the best of the two, and in view of the fact that the captain’s early education had been sadly neglected, this nice discrimination only showed the real merits of the man’s mind. He was a great lover of liberty. Nose Only Visible. Capt. Robert was not only a strong business man, but a man of great sagacity. During the Indian attack, he was pursued by the savages, who were determined to take his life, but the captain dodged his enemies, and finally, crawling into a swamp, lay there for a considerable time, with his whole body hid in the mire and his nose just above the water. The Indians were outwitted, and Robert lived to see many of them hung and the balance driven from the State. As We Remember Him. Capt. Robert was a tall, muscular man, with strong features; decided convictions; great energy; excellent business qualities; and was a born leader of men. He never followed; he always led, and as captain of a steamboat he was in one of his best elements his face was massive, and there was somewhat of the bull dog expression in his countenance, and yet he was kind, and liberal, and social, but never losing sight of the main chance - business! Whatever he did, was done earnestly, vigorously, energetically. In politics he was a power. During the years 1853-4-5, and subsequently, he controlled the French vote, and then he had shrewdness enough to make an alliance with a man of those days, known as “Bill Murray,” who controlled the Irish vote, and between the two they always came out of the battle with a Democratic victory. Murray was Roberts’ lawyer and confidential adviser, and Roberts was Murray’s friend; so when their political victory had been gained, they would sit down together and laugh heartily over the tricks which had been employed to accomplish their ends. Murray is at present city attorney, and has not yet quite forgotten the early lessons in politics taught him by Robert, and yet, if the truth was known, Murray was the teacher and Robert the pupil! After lingering several months, with an aggravated cancer, Capt. Louis Robert died May 10, 1874, very generally lamented, leaving behind him a property worth $500,000, now valued up in to the millions. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Sunday, February 3, 1884, Page 4)
Building Commissioner 3
Death of Hon. John McKusick. The pioneer settler of Stillwater passed away yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock. …Mr. McKusick was born in Cornish, Maine, on December 18, 1815. He located in St. Louis for a short time and in 1840 came to St. Croix Falls in Wisconsin. He became interested in building the first saw mill in this city and in connection with John Fisher, Elias McKean and Elam Greeley erected a small saw mill on the water power that existed here in Stillwater at that time. …Mr. McKusick was a man that has filled a very important niche in the history and growth of Stillwater. He was its first mayor, was repeatedly elected to the senate, and filled many other important and responsible offices of honor and trust. (Stillwater Messenger, Saturday, October 27, 1900, Page 5)
Building Commissioner 4
Death of Major Hatch. At 12 o’clock last night Major E. A. C. Hatch died at his residence on Pleasant avenue at the age of fifty-seven. Major Hatch was born in New York, March 23, 1825, and in 1840 emigrated to Wisconsin where he was engaged in the Sioux trade. He first came to what is now Minnesota in 1843. He was also engaged in the Winnebago trade at Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and after the removal of the Winnebago Indians settled in St. Paul where he has since resided. He has been largely engaged in the Indian trade and other enterprises growing out of it since his residence here, and few men were more accurately informed concerning the various Indian tribes in the Northwest than he was. In 1846 President Pierce asked Hon. H. M. Rice to name some one that he could appoint agent of the Blackfeet Indians, added that whoever accepted the position did so at the peril of his life. Mr. Rice suggested Mr. Hatch and he was appointed. In performing the duties devolving upon his in connection with these Indians his life was many times in danger, but as he was always very cool and equally brave he escaped harm. Many stories are told of the dangerous positions he found himself in. In June, 1863, he was commissioned a major in the volunteer service with instructions to recruit an independent cavalry battalion of six companies for frontier service and defense. He filled up his battalion and soon had it in the field, and commanded it a year, when he resigned. While stationed at Pembina he secured the capture of Shakopee and Medicine Bottle, two noted Indians, who were hung at Fort Snelling in 1865. He assisted in removing the Winnebago Indians from Iowa to Long Prairie. Of late years he has been engaged in general business, and at the time of his death was in the employ of the St. Paul & Manitoba Railroad company, his special duty being the obtaining the right of way for the lines of that road. While thus engaged about a week ago he contracted a cold when on a trip to Grand Forks. Cholera morbus ensued, and when he returned to St. Paul he was almost in a helpless condition. The disease grew worse and last night he expired. He leaves a wife and six children. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Monday, August 14, 1882, Page 4)
Original Landowner
Chas. Bazille, One of Our Oldest Citizens, Gone Hence. Another of our old citizens, Mr. Charles Bazille, has passed away. He died yesterday afternoon at about 5 o’clock, of inflammation of the lungs, after an illness of about two weeks’ duration. Mr. Bazille was born in Nicollet, Canada, Nov. 5, 1812. While quite young he came West and settled in Prairie du Chien, where he remained for several years working at his trade, that of a carpenter. In 1843 he accompanied Louis Robert to St. Paul and both settled. His first work in this city was to erect a frame house for Mr. Robert – the most pretentious structure of which the city in those days could boast. It was built on the present location of the Milwaukee & St. Paul passenger depot, of lumber hewn by hand, whence it was removed to No. 58 East Fourth street, where it still stands. He afterwards built a grist mill on McLeod’s creek. Towards the close of 1845 Mr. Bazille was married to the youngest daughter of Mr. Abraham Perry. They have lived together happily ever since, and have been blessed with a numerous progeny. About the date of his marriage he purchased the old Larrivier claim and laid it out as an addition to St. Paul. It rapidly increased in value, and Mr. Bazille was soon reckoned among the wealthiest citizens of our young and promising city. In 1849 he was elected as the first coroner of the city, and in 1852 was elected to the town council, continuing a member of that body for three years. These were the only political offices he held during his life. In 1851 he donated a block of land to the State as a site for the capitol, which is at present used for that purpose. Although once wealthy, he had of late years lost nearly all of his property, and at the time of his death was in straitened circumstances. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Sunday, June 23, 1878, Page 8)