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Here’s a then and now look at the corner of Robert and Bernard Streets in West St. Paul, comparing circa 1960 to 2020.
Here’s a view from around 1960, looking south on Robert Street at Bernard Street, complete with Herb’s Skelly Service and Garage on the southwest corner and a grocery store on the southeast corner.
And here’s the current look with Burger Time on the southwest corner and vacant retail on the southeast corner (most recently occupied by Kent Optical):
Oct. 2, 2024 Update: Skelly Station Ad
Here’s a newspaper ad from 1935 announcing the grand opening of the Skelly gas station on the corner of Robert and Bernard:
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(1960s photo courtesy of the City of West St. Paul. Note: West St. Paul Reader is not endorsed, affiliated with, or sponsored by the City of West St. Paul.)
One Response
One of the houses just south of Herb’s Skelly/Burger Time was rented by the notorious Barker-Karpis Gang in the 1930s. Apparently, it was so these bank robbers could keep a low profile, and not have to register with the Saint Paul Police Department — Saint Paul was known as somewhat of a safe haven for gangsters in those days.