KinSource - Tale of the Week - Ghost of the Gang Haunts Rice Street

KinSource

Minnesota Musings

The St. Paul Globe, May 28, 1904, page 2

GHOST OF THE GANG HAUNTS RICE STREET

Citizens Protest That the District is No Longer "Tough" or Disorderly.

That the evil which men do lives after them was strenuously asserted last night by members of the North Side Improvement association, who declared that the reputation of the long-extinct, though still famous "Rice street gang" depreciated the value of real estate in their section of the city.

It was maintained that the impression remains in the city that Rice street and its adjoining territory is still "tough" as it was in the days of the "gang", the members of which are all now dead or behind the bars, and restrains many people from settling in the north end of the Eighth and Ninth wards.

A lively discussion was precipitated at the meeting, which was held at St. Bernard's hall, Albermarle and Rose streets, by M. J. Schorn, former deputy sheriff, who urged the association to use its influence to dispel the mistaken idea that the inhabitants of the former haunts of the notorious "gang" are in danger of losing either life, limbs or property to violence.

Safe to Live on Rice Street.

"Why, it's as safe to live on Rice street or in its vicinity as it is to live in any other part of the city," declared Schorn. "But somehow the impression still remains that the north end of the Eighth ward is a "tough" district, and many people who would otherwise settle here are deterred from doing so by the mythical 'Rice street gang,' which ceased to exist fifteen or twenty years ago, when the last member was sent over the road.

"The result of this mistaken idea is that the development of our part of the city is slow. People somehow have the impression that if they build out in this part of town their property will constantly be subject to attack, and that they will be in danger of suffering personal abuse. There never are any robberies or assaults in our district and there are few disturbances, and those which occur are generally caused by men and boys who come from other sections. Women are never molested on the street, and men have no fear of being held up. This probably was not true twenty years ago, but it is at the present time.

Might Change the Name of Street.

Another member suggested that the name of Rice street be changed, in order to do away with the unpleasant recollections of the gang so frequently called to mind, while another urged the association to appoint a committee to ask the managers of the variety theaters to have all slighting allusions to Rice street eliminated.

Committees were instructed to request the police department for another patrolman, as it was said that the one man who now covers the north half of the Eighth ward has too much territory. Better fire protection was also demanded, and an effort will be made to have the board of fire commissioners place an engine in the station at Front and Matilda, which is now provided with only a hose cart.

A committee reported that the gas company had consented to lay gaspipes on Rice street from Front to Geranium.