G Street

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Gabriel Rd. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828 – 1882) was an English poet, illustrator, painter and translator. He founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848. The Pre-Raphaelites were, according to Wikipedia "a group of English painters, poets, and critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The three founders were joined by William Michael Rossetti, James Collinson, Frederic George Stephens and Thomas Woolner to form the seven-member "brotherhood". The group's intention was to reform art by rejecting what it considered the mechanistic approach first adopted by Mannerist artists who succeeded Raphael and Michelangelo. Its members believed the Classical poses and elegant compositions of Raphael in particular had been a corrupting influence on the academic teaching of art, hence the name "Pre-Raphaelite". In particular, the group objected to the influence of Sir Joshua Reynolds, founder of the English Royal Academy of Arts, whom they called "Sir Sloshua". To the Pre-Raphaelites, according to William Michael Rossetti, "sloshy" meant "anything lax or scamped in the process of painting ... and hence ... any thing or person of a commonplace or conventional kind". In contrast, the brotherhood wanted a return to the abundant detail, intense colours and complex compositions of Quattrocento Italian art. The group associated their work with John Ruskin, an English artist whose influences were driven by his religious background." Another seven-member poetry group were The Pleiades, which Wikipedia describes as: "La Pléiade is the name given to a group of 16th-century French Renaissance poets whose principal members were Pierre de Ronsard, Joachim du Bellay and Jean-Antoine de Baïf. The name was a reference to another literary group, the original Alexandrian Pleiad of seven Alexandrian poets and tragedians (3rd century B.C.), corresponding to the seven stars of the Pleiades star cluster. The name "Pléiade" was also adopted in 1323 by a group of fourteen poets (seven men and seven women) in Toulouse. Pierre de Ronsard (1524–1585) was the principal member of the French group. His poem, Roses, is referenced in the book, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery (born 1969). Barbery is a French author and a professor of philosophy which helps, in a way, to explain the story. The translator,  Alison Anderson, chose, for some reason, to translate a particular word as "retard" as in the sentence, "the dress made me look like a semi-retard." The word occurs three other times in the same context. This author has written to both the publisher and Barbery to ask why that word needed to be translated in such an archaic fashion. No answer as yet. A note to Subaru automobile owners: Subaru is the Japanese word for the constellation, Pleiades. This gives a Subaru owners a literary edge that no other car model can attain. Here is the text of Ronsard's poem, Roses: I send you here a wreath of blossoms blown, And woven flowers at sunset gathered, Another dawn had seen them ruined, and shed Loose leaves upon the grass at random strown. By this, their sure example, be it known, That all your beauties, now in perfect flower, Shall fade as these, and wither in an hour, Flowerlike, and brief of days, as the flower sown. Ah, time is flying, lady - time is flying; Nay, ’tis not time that flies but we that go, Who in short space shall be in churchyard lying, And of our loving parley none shall know, Nor any man consider what we were; Be therefore kind, my love, whiles thou art fair.

Galtier St. In 1841, Father Lucien Galtier, a French Catholic missionary, built the Church of Saint Paul on the bank of the Mississippi River.  This chapel rested on the site of the present City of Saint Paul, which was named after the chapel.  Before this time, the area had been called Pigs Eye after the saloon proprietor Pierre “Pig’s Eye” Parrant. The story is told in  Saint Paul, The First 150 Years by Virginia Brainard Kunz and published in 1991.

Gannon Rd. Frann Preston-Gannon is a British children's author and illustrator. She has a number of picture books to her credit, including, Hot Dog, Cold Dog, published 2014.

Garden Way The Secret Garden is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924). It was initially published in serial format starting in the autumn of 1910, and was first published in its entirety in 1911.

Garfield St. The street is named for the president and if you’ve ever wanted to read something by Horatio Alger here’s your chance: From Canal Boy to President Or the Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield. It’s available on Kindle.

Gary Pl. Named for the eldest son of real estate developer, Alexander Tankenoff. No literary  connection other than that his first name is the same as Gary Snyder (born 1930) who is a poet and  environmental activist. Snyder won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1975. Snyder is also a translator and has translated many of the poems attributed to the 9th century Chinese poet, Han Shan. Here is one: The path to Han-Shan's place is laughable, A path, but no sign of cart or horse. Converging gorges - hard to trace their twists Jumbled cliffs - unbelievably rugged. A thousand grasses bend with dew, A hill of pines hums in the wind. And now I've lost the shortcut home, Body asking shadow, how do you keep up?

Gateway Dr. Gateway is a 2009 young adult fantasy novel by Sharon Shinn (born 1957). It tells a story of a Chinese-American teenager who is transported to a parallel world where she is given a dangerous assignment.

Genesee St. Red Jacket (c. 1750–1830) was a Native American Seneca orator and chief of the Wolf clan. He negotiated on behalf of his nation with the new United States after the American Revolutionary War, when the Seneca as British allies were forced to cede much land, and signed the Treaty of Canandaigua (1794). Red Jacket lived much of his adult life in Seneca territory in the Genesee River Valley in what is now  New York State. You can read his speech in The Wisdom of the Great Chiefs: The Classic Speeches of Chief Red Jacket, Chief Joseph, and Chief Seattle published 1994.

George St. Curious George is the main character of a series of children's books by the same name, written by Hans Augusto Rey (1898-1977) and his wife, Margret Rey (1906-1996). The first book in the series was published in 1939. You can read the story about the authors' escape from Nazi-occupied France in  The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret and H.A. Rey written by Louise Borden and published in 2010.

Geranium Ave. "The Geranium" is an early short story by Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964). The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang (born 1980) is a fascinating account of the author’s journey from the refugee camps in Thailand to life in Saint Paul. Yang attended elementary school at North End Elementary School in Saint Paul. The school is located on Geranium Avenue. This author is proud to have taught at North End Elementary School for ten years and met Kao Yang when she visited the school after publishing her memoir.

Germain Ct. Edgar Degas (born Hilaire-Germain-Edgar De Gas; 1834 – 1917) was a French artist famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints, and drawings. Degas and the Little Dancer is a children’s book published in 2007 by Laurence Anholt. If you are ever in New Orleans you can visit the Degas home. The book, Degas and New Orleans: A French Impressionist in America published in 2000 and written by Gail Feigenbaum will give you a look into the home.

Gibbs Ave. Heman Gibbs (1815-1891) lends his name to the street and to the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life which  is located at 2097 West Larpenteur Ave., Saint Paul, Minnesota. His wife was Jane Gibbs, born Jane DeBow, who was kidnapped by missionaries in New York and brought to Minnesota as a replacement for their deceased daughter. You can read about her in Jane Gibbs: Little Bird That Was Caught, published in 1997 and written by Anne E. Neuberger.

Gilbert Ave. Gilbert Keith Chesterton, (1874 – 1936) better known as G. K. Chesterton, was a British writer and art critic.

Glen Terrace Edward Abbey (1927 –1989) was an author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire. Edward Abbey’s environmental work focused heavily on protecting Glen Canyon in northern Arizona.

Glendale St. DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (DWA) is an animation studio based in Glendale, California. You may have heard of some of their films: Shrek!, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and a few others. The logo for DreamWorks features a little boy sitting on the moon and holding a fishing rod. He is William Hunt, the son of the logo designer, Robert Hunt.

Glenridge Ave. Three Sisters of Glenridge: How WWII Changed Their Lives is a 2009 novel  by Helen Hendricks Friess.

Goodhue St. Jacqueline West (born 1979) is a children’s literature author and poet. Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and her "Elsewhere" fantasy series has appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. She was born in Red Wing, Minnesota, which is in Goodhue County.

Goodrich Ave. F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived at 626 Goodrich Avenue from 1921-22 during which time their daughter was born and Fitzgerald wrote his novel The Beautiful and Damned. Fitzgerald’s homes gets a mention in Traveling Literary America: A Complete Guide to Literary Landmarks, published in 2005 by B. J. Welborn. Poet and author, Kay Boyle, born 1902, lived on Goodrich Avenue for the first year of her life. Here is her first published poem: Monody to the Sound of Zithers I have wanted other things more than lovers … I have desired peace, intimately to know The secret curves of deep-bosomed contentment, To learn by heart things beautiful and slow. Cities at night, and cloudful skies, I've wanted; And open cottage doors, old colors and smells a part; All dim things, layers of river-mist on river— To capture Beauty's hands and lay them on my heart. I have wanted clean rain to kiss my eyelids, Sea-spray and silver foam to kiss my mouth. I have wanted strong winds to flay me with passion; And, to soothe me, tired winds from the south. These things have I wanted more than lovers … Jewels in my hands, and dew on morning grass— Familiar things, while lovers have been strangers. Friended thus, I have let nothing pass.

Gordon Ave. George Gordon Byron, (1788–1824), known as Lord Byron, was a British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement. His best-known work is the lengthy narrative poem Don Juan and the short lyric She Walks in Beauty. She Walks in Beauty: A Woman's Journey Through Poems is a collection of poems selected and introduced by Caroline Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy once shared the information that her mother, Jacqueline, would have the two children copy out their favorite poem and present it as birthday gifts for the parents. Great idea. This author isn’t so sure why a poem by a male poet is used as the source for the  title of a collection of poems for women. Especially a poet who was not exactly a great role model in honorable dealings with women.

Gorman Ave. Michael Gorman (born 1941) is a librarian, library scholar and editor/writer on library issues noted for his traditional views. He is a past- president of the American Library Association (ALA). He is the author of Our Enduring Values: Librarianship in the 21st Century published in the year 2000.

Gotzian St. Emma Brunson (1887-1980) was an American architect. She was from Minnesota. The Theodore Maier residence, 616 Gotzian, St. Paul (1926) was one of her designs. She gets a mention in Minnesota Architects: A Biographical Dictionary by Alan Lathrop and published in 2010.

Gove Pl. Philip Babcock Gove (1902–1972) was an American lexicographer who was editor-in-chief of the Webster's Third New International Dictionary, published in 1961.

Grace St. Grace Pearl Ingalls Dow (1877–1941) was the fifth and last child of Caroline and Charles Ingalls. She was the youngest sister of Laura Ingalls Wilder, known for her Little House on the Prairie books.

Graham Ave. Jorie Graham (born 1950) is an American poet. The Poetry Foundation called Graham "one of the most celebrated poets of the American post-war generation." She replaced poet Seamus Heaney as Boylston Professor at Harvard, becoming the first woman to be appointed to this position. She won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry (1996) for The Dream of the Unified Field: Selected Poems 1974-1994 and was chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 1997 to 2003.

Grand Ave. Sixth Chamber Used Books is located at 1332 Grand Avenue, Saint Paul. The Red Balloon Bookshop is located at 891 Grand Avenue. It specializes in children’s books. Read carbon! Buy it from brick and mortar! Is Amazon really worth the loss of independent bookstores?

Granite St. British author, Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) refers to Nature  in her novel, Orlando, as  one “who has played so many queer tricks upon us, making us so unequally of clay and diamonds, of rainbow and granite, and stuffed them into a case."

Grantham St. Grantham is a town in the  district of Lincolnshire, England. It’s the home of Kings School which Isaac Newton attended from ages twelve through seventeen. You can try some of his ideas in the book, Isaac Newton and Physics for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series) published in  2009 and written by Kerrie Logan Hollihan.

Green St. Ernest Green (born 1941) was one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Green was the first African-American to graduate from the school in 1958. In 1999, he and the other members of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Bill Clinton.  Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High was published in 2007 by Melba Pattillo Beals. The author was one of the Little Rock Nine. Be sure to get the unabridged version.

Greenbrier St. Greenbrier Valley is in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. This is the same area where the Joyce Kilmer National Forest is located. Kilmer was the World War One soldier and poet whose most famous poem is Trees. He was killed in action. His commanding officer was William Donovan who would go on to lead the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in World War II. This author’s father served in the OSS first in France with the French Resistance and then assigned to China where he was captured and spent the last six months of the war in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. After liberation, he was assigned to investigate reports that the Japanese guards had beheaded many of the American prisoners in the final days before the end of the war. He found that the reports were true, but when he filed his report he found that it became classified and was never made public. In 2011, in Saint Paul, the son of a deceased American veteran of the war found a Japanese ceremonial sword in his father’s attic. A very public event was made at the Saint Paul Conservatory in order to return the sword to the son of the Japanese officer to whom it had belonged. This author attended the ceremony and attempted to ask people if the sword had been tested for blood samples. He was unsuccessful in reminding those people are appeared to be bowing before the sword that the “ceremonial” sword may have been involved in what was considered by the Japanese army as a beheading ceremony. This author’s father found that the ceremonial ritual was not an actual “beheading.” The idea was to slice through the throat  just enough to leave the head hanging by the neck. The Japanese government has never acknowledged the beheadings. Unfortunate, as a simple apology would go a long way. Here is Kilmer’s poem, Trees: I think that I shall never see    A poem lovely as a tree.    A tree whose hungry mouth is prest    Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;     A tree that looks at God all day,    And lifts her leafy arms to pray;     A tree that may in summer wear    A nest of robins in her hair;     Upon whose bosom snow has lain;     Who intimately lives with rain.    Poems are made by fools like me,    But only God can make a tree.

Greenwood Ave. Greenwood the Great is the name of the forest in The Hobbit, and in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Later in the legend, it’s name becomes Mirkwood.

Griffith St. William Henry Jackson Griffith (born 1944) is a cartoonist who signs his work Bill Griffith and Griffy. He is best known for his daily comic strip Zippy.

Griggs St. Sutton Elbert Griggs (1872 - 1933) was an African-American author, Baptist minister, and social activist. He is best known for his novel Imperium in Imperio, a utopian work that envisions a separate African-American state within the United States. (from wikipedia)

Grotto St. The Grim Grotto is the eleventh novel in the children's novel series A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.

Grove St. Sir George Grove,(1820 – 1900) was an English writer on music, known as the founding editor of Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians.

Gurney St. Ivor Gurney (1890 – 1937) was an English composer and poet. He is known as one of the War Poets of World War One.