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Sometimes when you think you’re standing on your own two feet, it’s good to look down at the base under them. The foundations of our lives were built by those who came before us, and without them we would not stand so tall.
One of the people who helped build the structure of St. Anthony Park (and the city of St. Paul) is Fredric Steinhauser, who will be awarded the St. Anthony Park Foundation’s Spirit of the Park Award on July 4.
The Spirit of the Park Award is an annual recognition given by the foundation on behalf of the community to an individual who has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to
St. Anthony Park. Steinhauser will receive a framed plaque, and the foundation will donate $500 to the Fourth of July Committee in his honor. Past recipients of the award are Fred Morlock, Gale Frost, Gerald McKay and Andrew Boss.
Perhaps Steinhauser’s contributions can best be summed up in the words of his colleague Norman Moen, writing in his citation for Faculty Member of the Year 1970 at the University of Minnesota: “The word in any summary of
Dr. Steinhauser’s career is service: service through education, military service, and community service. Loyal, dedicated, diligent, effective service.”
Steinhauser grew up in Lamberton, Minnesota, during the Depression and learned to do his own plumbing, carpentry and electrical work because, as he said in an interview with the Minnesota Historical Society, “you didn’t hire anybody else because you couldn’t afford it. So, we learned to do everything.”
He helped out in his father’s general merchandise store until he was drafted into the Army in 1941, right before the Pearl Harbor attack.
He served in communications and intelligence until 1947, spent another four years during the Korean War as chief of strategic intelligence for the U.S. Joint Command in Tokyo and would have been sent to Vietnam had the war not ended when it did. Altogether, Steinhauser served in the National Guard for 32 years, rising to the rank of brigadier general.
After returning from World War II, Steinhauser received a bachelor’s degree in geography from Mankato State, a master’s degree from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, where he taught for 30 years, receiving many awards for excellence in teaching. He also served in executive positions in the Minnesota Academy of Science and in the National Council for Geographic Education.
It would seem that Steinhauser had enough to keep him busy during those years, especially after marrying and raising a family of four children, but his move to St. Anthony Park in 1957 began a rich and productive period in his civic career.
Early on, Steinhauser recognized the St. Anthony Park Association as a powerful tool for community action. Soon after joining, he became the chair of the Planning Committee and joined the elementary school PTA, combining the efforts of both organizations to improve the community’s park and playground areas, and working to close two streets that had cut between the elementary school and the park grounds. He also was instrumental in maintaining green space around the school when a gymnasium was added.
One of Steinhauser’s many community positions was coordinator of the Fourth of July fireworks display for 10 years.
One project he takes great pride in is a community study undertaken in 1965 with Steinhauser as its chairman. Association members went door to door contacting 97 percent of all those who lived in the area at the time.
The study charted topography, population, zoning, traffic patterns, vegetation, commerce, building distribution and even the occupations of many residents. It was recognized at the time as the most complete community study done by volunteer citizens anywhere.
Based on the study, the association prepared a comprehensive plan for the community. A follow-up study in 1975 reflected newly released census data.
Steinhauser was also involved in improving the commercial district along Como Avenue, convincing the city to allow tree planting in sidewalk cut-outs and getting business owners to pay for the improvements. Association members did the planting.
Realizing that all community organizations would have more clout with St. Paul government if they banded together, Steinhauser spearheaded the Association of St. Paul Communities, becoming its first president and writing its by-laws. The 22 community representatives that made up this group advised the St. Paul City Council about community programs, and the organization later evolved into the present district council system.
Though he is now 90 and retired from leadership activities, Steinhauser still enjoys serving others. He helps other residents plant gardens at the Luther Place condominiums and visits friends in nursing homes. He’s involved in his children’s and grand-children’s lives and is happy they will be at Langford Park on July 4 to see him get the award.
If St. Anthony Park stands tall today, the neighborhood can thank those, like Fred Steinhauser, who helped build its foundation.
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