Frogtown

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  Arnoldo Curiel

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Arnoldo Curiel is a Mexican male born on June 22nd, 1972. He lived with his parents and three siblings. Both of his parents worked. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Curiel talks about growing up in a tight-knit family. He talked about how his parents worked late nights and the kids had to fend for themselves. Curiel mentions how his family's financial circumstances influenced his spending habits as an adult, initially leading him to overspend on his own children to make up for his own upbringing, and how he has adjusted that over time. Curiel talks about some of the religious practices his family participated in during holidays. He talked about the deep faith some of his extended family holds. He also touches on his own beliefs today. Curiel goes on to talk about how you really knew your neighbors growing up in Frogtown and how neighbors would look out for each other. Curiel talks about friends he had growing up. Curiel talks about his time in school, some of the racial dynamics at play at school, and a teacher that left an impression on him. Curiel discusses some of the issues that occurred when he was growing up like the crack epidemic, drug war, racial divide, and poverty. Lastly Curiel reflects on how his family, racial ethnicity, and neighborhood shaped his identity.

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  Edwin Holt

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Edwin G. Holt Jr. is a Caucasian male born on September 27th, 1948. His immediate family consisted of his mother, who was a stay-at-home mom, and his father, who worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad. He has a younger sister and brother. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Holt describes his family structure, consisting of his parents, a younger sister, and a brother who was born on his tenth birthday. He mentioned that many extended family members lived in the area, and that they frequently had family gatherings and get-togethers. He talks about his childhood dog, Fido. Holt also touches on household chores. Holt recalls that his mother mainly took care of them, and they, as kids, were not expected to do many chores. Holt reflects on the economic status growing up and how his parents were able to provide for the sports he was involved in. He goes on to talk about frugal and responsible habits with money. This financial behavior was influenced by the lessons learned from his parents. Holt describes his Lutheran upbringing, the significance of religion in his family during childhood. Holt goes on to talk about how his beliefs have evolved as an adult, less invested in the church itself but still concepts and beliefs in religion. Holt talks about the freedom of playing with friends, recalls vacations to a cabin and grandparents' farm, and the value and expectation of honesty in his family. Holt talks about friends he has lost over the years and some connections he has been able to maintain through Facebook. Holt then reflects on his experiences with schooling. He talks about his early experiences in school, enlisting in the military, becoming a military journalist, and later returning to school more motivated. Lastly, Holt discusses local and global issues that affected them during his childhood. He mentions the Cuban Missile Crisis, the fear of nuclear war, and drills for atomic bomb preparedness. The Vietnam War also became a prominent concern as he grew older. Health threats, such as polio, were significant during his grade school days. Additionally, he reflects on race relations, specifically the tensions between neighborhoods divided by University Avenue in terms of race and ethnicity.

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  Janice Bisch

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Janice Bisch is a Caucasian female born on June 25, 1965. She was born into a family of two sisters and one brother. Her father worked as a mechanic and for the city of Saint Paul. Her mother worked as a secretary at St. Vincent's Church. Bisch grew up in the Saint Paul neighborhood of Frogtown. She was raised with Catholic beliefs and regularly went to church. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Bisch explains how her parents' money-saving habits influence the way she spends money as an adult and the fun, low-budget leisure time activities they did. She reminisces on the Sunday drives she and her family did. Bische recalls how important Catholicism was during her childhood and fondly remembers Sister Rosemary as an influential figure. Lastly, Bische elaborates on the local and global issues she went through in her neighborhood, which included the Vietnam War, illicit crimes, and the Cold War.

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  Roger Schubring

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Roger Orville Schubring is a Caucasian male born on July 1, 1949. He has an older brother and one younger sister. His father worked on the railroad, and his mother worked part time at Brown and Bigelow and later as a teacher’s aide. He grew up Episcopalian. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Schubring starts by sharing what his family looked like and how he was closest to his father. He mentions what family pets they had, as well as how household chores were divided amongst the family members. He briefly discusses some of his favorite dinner meals, as well as how his family's economic status influenced his childhood. He goes on to describe how this has affected him in his current adult life. Schubring talks about how, while it was important to learn about religion, he had trouble understanding everything when he was younger. He describes what the neighborhood looked like, touching on what his home looked like, as well as him and his family's relationship with the neighbors. He shares what some of his favorite pastimes were, such as sports, travelling with his family via train, walking around in the neighborhood with friends, and playing with toy soldiers and plastic cannons. Schubring lists the television shows he enjoyed watching, as well as some bands that he enjoyed. He transitions the topic by talking about his school life and his favorite teachers, as well as sharing a couple of memories about his time in school. He ends the interview by describing the local issues affecting the neighborhood, mostly talking about financial issues, the Vietnam War, and poverty.

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  Angie Devaney

  Julie M. Luker

  BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Angela Devaney is a Caucasian female born on February 25, 1968. She is the youngest of four children. Her mother worked as a cue puncher for a railroad, and her father had various jobs: including being a mover and a grounds mechanic. She grew up Catholic. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED: Devaney starts by sharing some of her memories with her extended memory, such as large family gatherings and get-togethers. She mentions how she had a dog named Sparky. She briefly goes on about how she felt like a maid in her family because her older brothers didn't have household responsibilities, and since her mother suffered from anxiety and depression, Devaney fell into the mom role. She goes on to describe her family's economic status and her parent's jobs, stating how they had enough money for the family, but that money was always a topic of anxiety. She talks about her experience with Catholicism, and how she felt that it wasn't a kind religion because it seemed punishment-based. Devaney shares that there was an unspoken rule in her family about not dating outside of her race. She describes what her neighborhood looked like when she grew up, mentioning how it was a lot of fun, and how she was able to play with other kids in the community. She goes on to say how her neighborhood felt safe until she was about 8 years old, mentioning how some of her friends got into prostitution or drugs. She briefly talks about how her dad built a house, and how long that took. She mentions how leisure time consisted of playing on the playground, and how they would play around the capital, and they would watch from the balcony: she also talks about how they she could get a good meal from White Castle with one dollar, as well as having fun at the science museum. Devaney talks about how school was a very safe place for her because of the structure, and how it provided her with involvement and a love for furthering her education: stating how she was the first in the family to go to college and how she was always hungry for knowledge. She ends the interview by describing the local issues affecting the neighborhood, such as lack of food and abuse in the home.