“History in Motion”
My Parents and Chris, my Twin Brother’s Gingerbread House at the Irongate Mall in Hibbing, 1982
I went to Italy; it was a “Make-a-Wish” gift from my family. I don’t remember much of it, but what I do remember is sitting in a cab with an interpreter and experiencing Italy with each stop the carfull of caring people made. I stayed back and observed Italy.
I was looking for the city workers in any given town. Those working on sidewalks and poles sometimes wear hard hats. The two I remember most were on a very busy street, surrounded by a pole and a pile of bricks. We walked over, and through interpretation, I asked them what they do with the bricks? They responded by saying, “Nothing, we put them right back where they belong, for centuries past and forward.”
They explained that they are sacred here, and when they need to move traffic or re-route travelers, they narrow the path and make the cars smaller to keep history in motion!!!
The Proposed Gazebo for 4th Street (Jefferson Highway) downtown Staples, MN
History in Staples is in Motion. There are so many things the team we have is working on. We are adding a Gazebo with the help of our local community. Our Gazebo will host 14 Sponsors at $2,500 each. This Gazebo will sit prominently at the center of the 25’x140’ lot and serve as a gathering place for the Traveler to rest.
Imagined design for our first Gingerbread House on 4th Street’s Travelers Rest addition to “Little Italy”
Rick Brichacek is sponsoring our first real-life “Gingerbread House” for the park!
The Frost Family History, about the Gingerbread House, is a dream my Mother had in 1952. She and her Mother, Hazel, would meet in secret and plan out the theme for a restaurant that would attract all the mothers, Grandmothers, and kids for homemade baked goods and milkshakes.
It took my family 30 years to build it with the help of my twin brother, Chris, in Hibbing, Minnesota, but finally Mother’s dream came true! The life-size, artist-painted scenes surrounded the baby blue booths. It was a magical place. It was the busiest place in the Irongate Mall for many years. Since then, my parents have traveled all over the world to discover real-life Gingerbread House villages.
It is our dream to bring this Magic to our newest section of “Little Italy”, an addition we call the Travelers Rest. It is our goal to become a “Traveler’s Rest” for local people to gather for lunch, socialize, and greet the travelers who stop, shop, learn art in the park, exercise, and Discover Staples. To honor our Jefferson Highway location in view of our Famous Train Depot.
We are just getting started. If you want your name on one of the few spaces we have left on the Gazebo, stop in Frosty’s Spirits and Social Club or call 218-640-9393 and be a part of HISTORY IN MOTION! Your name will be left on a special place of honor in the Gazebo.
Planning and putting in our “Little Italy” has been 23 years in the making. Here are a few of the drawings I found from many years ago, after I returned from Italy.
Imagine the opening between our building and Tower Pizza on 2nd Street…Rendering from 2004
Brick Pavers are available for sale with your name. Here are the plans from over two decades ago!
Exercise classes will be available again in “Little Italy,” located beside your National Historic Theater, the Batcher Block Opera House… keep watching our Facebook Page, Batcher Block Opera House, for notices.
On 4th Street, Bring your Dreams to the Travelers’ Rest. Space is available to rent if you want to share your Artistic Talents, host a farmers' table of healthy garden offerings, or set up a Retail Pop-Up Shop.
Enjoy your lunch at our new outdoor Gazebo in our Travelers Rest Addition on 4th Street. Open 8 am-8 pm year-round!
History in Staples is in Motion. We are making big plans for you! Stop in at Frosty’s Spirits + Social Club and be a part of History!
Tenative Blueprint to the Travelers’ Rest on 4th Street! Our Newest addition to “Little Italy”.