Historical Fine Dining

By 1878, Stillwater was starting to become a bit more cosmopolitan. The lumber industry was making a lot of people a whole lot of money. So, it was natural that a few creature comforts started to creep into this former frontier town. For example, in the very same issue of the Messenger that this article appeared an advertisement for a local tailor claimed it could best the quality found in Chicago or out east.

Two things I think are interesting to note are first, despite the proprietors hopes that “Live and Let Live” would be a “permenant” fixture at 220 Chestnut Street – a quick look at Google Earth Street View reveals that hasn’t quite been the case. (Although, to be fair, that would have been pretty impressive for a business to survive that long!)

Secondly, I think it’s worth pointing out that the author didn’t detail the menu that could allegedly compare to any “first-class restaurant” but rather listed all the prominent community members who attended the grand opening. This includes Stillwater Messenger owner and operator Victor Seward…and lists Joseph Larravie twice.

Live and Let Live – Stillwater Messenger – April 19, 1878

The New Restaurant on Chestnut Street – Grand Opening Yesterday.

Willetts Bros. & Co.’s new restaurant in the Mower block was formally opened to the public yesterday, a large number of invited guests partaking of the bill of fare presented. The rooms are pleasant, convenient and well adopted to the purpose. The table service is new and complete and of a fine and expensive quality, the cook is one of the best in the city, the proprietors are gentlemen of taste and experience and are determined to make the “Live and Let Live” a popular and permanent in [illegible] on. Yesterday’s bill of fare would have been a credit to any first-class restaurant, and if the managers continue as well as they set out we predict for them a brilliant success.

The following is a list of the guests who partook of yesterday’s hospitality and will verify all we have said in commendation of this new establishment:

Mmes. Jos. Larravie, Peter Blackbird, Elizabeth Billido, Jacob Faloon, Miss Emma Robert, Messrs. C. W. French, J. C. Rhodes, Jr., F. D. Goodrich, John McNall, Ira A. Fuller, J. L. Wheeler, H. C. Farmer, Frank E. Joy, W. E. Easton, Matt. Shortall, C. H. Wiltberger, V. C. Seward, P. Blackbird, W. S. Conrad, C. H. Cobb, Joseph Larravie, F. D. Taylor, M. H. Bromley, C. A. Bromley, W. M. Capron, W. H. Bell, H. W. Smith, C Jackson, H. Drake, M. S. Willard, Alonzo A. Capron, Wm. E. Nickens, S. H. Hadley, A. Tracy, Geo. Tracy, Joseph Schupp, W. P. Sawyer, James Bromley, A. B. Easton, and O. H. Comfort.

Powers in Prison

by Steven R. Powers

Stillwater Gazette, July 2, 1935. Two Minnesota prison guards hung up their canes on the front hall tree for the last time under orders from Gov. Floyd B. Olson. The two totaled 97 years on the job; Martin Powers with 53 years and John White with 44. When interviewed, Powers said, “ I handled a lot of tough men in my time. Settling down with fighting cocks and a garden will be a real change.”

Martin Aloysious Powers was born July 29, 1861, in Barton, Maryland. In 1882, at age 21, Martin traveled to Stillwater, Minnesota, and began work with the Northwestern Car and Manufacturing which was in the same facility as the old Minnesota Stat Prison. This company produced threshing machines and railroad cars.

Martin began his first day of work on April 6, 1882. The Northwestern Car and Manufacturing Company was employing inmates for labor while doing contract work for the State Prison. Martin was a non-prison crew boss or supervisor over inmates. When Martin began working in the prison, John A. Reed was the eighth warden.

On January 9, 1884, the four-story, 300-foot long factory of the Northwestern Car and Manufacturing Company was destroyed by fire. Martin as well as several other men were temporarily unemployed. He used this opportunity to go to Dubuque, Iowa, and while there married Agnes Mulqueeney.

After the young couple returned to Stillwater, Martin was reemployed by the Northwestern Car Company, which soon after became the Minnesota Threshing Manufacturing Company.

In 1891, Martin was promoted from crew boss to guard in various prison shops. He was now employed by the State of Minnesota. Martin never forgot the years he spent working in the threshing machine shops. In a 1935 interview he remarked, “we had to work them [the inmates] real hard in those days. We had two bosses to please. The contractors complained when we didn’t get enough work out of them, and the warden complained when we didn’t keep discipline.”

September 8, 1896 started out to be a routine day. Twelve o’clock, the time the convicts were marched into the dining room for lunch, the guards, including Martin, remained in the aisle. At approximately 12:45, Martin was attacked by a convict named James Rogan.

According to the Stillwater Daily Gazette of September 9, 1896, “James Rogan suddenly rose and drawing his knife, made a lunge at Mr. Powers who was standing close by him. He struck twice, cutting two long gashes, one reaching from the forehead crossing the left eye and the nose, to the right cheek, and the other a little lower down, square across the face and cutting the tip of his nose. Rogan then followed up his attack by throwing a bottle of vinegar at the guard, but this time his victim managed to dodge.”

Deputy Warden Lemon who was in the adjoining room heard the fracas and finally cooled Rogan’s ardor with one blow of his cane. “Put in solitary September 8, 1896, at 1:00 p.m. For assaulting Officer Martin Powers with a shoe, knife and throwing mustard and vinegar bottles at him. Release Rogan at 9:00 a.m. September 12, 1896. Punishment forfeiture – four and one half days, nine hours.” Three years and six months were added to his sentence.

Powers lost total sight in his left eye as a result of the attack.

The state legislature in 1905 arranged for the building of a new prison. On January 25, 1909, the new prison opened for a limited number of prisoners. It took five years to phase the prison population from the old prison to the new one. On July 20, 1914, the last of the prisoners left the old prison – all except eight. Because of certain legal technicalities that required a “prison to be maintained in the city of Stillwater.” Martin Powers was placed in full charge of these men, occupying the unique position of guard, keeper, deputy warden, and warden of a prison all his own. When he finally transferred to the new prison later that year, he was given charge of the fire room crew.

Powers worked hard into his late sixties. On May 31, 1935, Martin received a letter from Warden J. J. Sullivan that explained Governor Floyd B. Olson’s retirement order which compelled Martin and seven other men to quit their jobs because they were eligible for pension. They would be given one-half their former salary from the Minnesota State Employees Association. Martin worked his last day at the prison, July 1, 1935.

An interview with Martin Powers was carried in the Stillwater Daily Gazette on Tuesday July 2, 1935. After working with convicts for 53 years, Powers felt he knew something about human nature. “I have seen more prisoners than any living man in Minnesota. I don’t know of any one living, either prisoner or official, who were there when I started in 1882. I have seen a lot of prisoners come and go, and I think I can size them up pretty well. When a prisoner is assigned to us guards, we have a little talk with him and tell hi m what work is expected of him. I haven’t had any trouble with any of them – not even the tough boys. They all respond to decent treatment.”

On September 7, 1876, the Northfield Minnesota Bank was robbed by James-Younger Gang. Cole, Jim, and Bob Younger were all convicted of robbery and murder and were sentenced to serve life sentences at the Stillwater Prison.

Powers knew all three brothers well. He often reflected on his memories of the now legendary Younger Brothers. “Yes, sir, I locked and unlocked the Younger brothers for 11 years. They were good boys, those Younger brothers. They had brains. They knew what they were up against in prison and they behaved.”

Agnes Powers died in her home in 1939. Martin Powers died two years later on October 1, 1941 and is buried besides his wife in St. Michael’s Cemetery in Bayport. A simple inscription on his marker reads, “Martin Powers, 1861-1941.”

The current State Prison is actually visible from Martin’s grave; allowing in some way, for this long time officer and guard to stand permanent watch over Minnesota’s inmates.