Yesterday and Today in Shakopee

Shakopee Annual Picnic

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The Shakopee annual picnic stands as one of the longest lasting traditions in Shakopee. The historic photo was taken in 1925 and a majority of the residents in the photo are dressed up in suits and dresses. Today, the annual picnic is held at Lions Park in late September. Food is free and anyone of the community can attend.

Rock Spring Cafe

In 1927, Elizabeth Ries took over operations at the Rock Spring Café and it was the Bee’s Knees! Elizabeth Ries was the daughter of Jacob Ries, who founded Ries Bottling Works in 1872, and owned the Rock Spring Café, but that wasn’t all she was known for. Ries was also elected the first female mayor of Shakopee in 1925, just five years after women were granted the right to vote. As mayor, she approved the (now historic) Holmes Street Bridge, gifted a Shakopee Sanico Stove to President Wilson, and appeared on WCCO with a group of male singers who she dubbed The Lady Mayor’s Trio. The Rock Spring Café was torn down years later, but was rebuilt in 1980 and is today the home of Turtle’s 1890 Social Center. The site remains a staple place to eat in Shakopee.

downtown wwii parade

On September 2nd, 1945, Americans all over the country celebrated the end of World War II. The weeks following were a very busy time, as troops came home and the country continued to rejoice. The first photo displays one of those celebrations. Soldiers marched through the streets as they were welcomed home and the town was decorated in banners. Roughly 65 years later, Shakopee continues to put together celebrations and parades. In 2019, the tradition of lighting a town Christmas tree was started and will continue after the pandemic. In addition to new transitions the street has changed adding new small business, statues and murals. If you ever find yourself in downtown Shakopee make sure to find the status of Samuel W. Pond, a Christian missionary who was invited to the land by Chief Sakpe II.

St. Mark’s Catholic Church

With its high steeple. St. Marks is one of the most well-known churches in Shakopee. The catholic church opened its doors in 1856 with a German Gothic styling to the building. The original stained glass still shines through the church when it was shipped from a family chapel of Emperor Franz of Austria. Sadly, in August of 2005 an electrical fire broke out, burning a majority of the interior leaving everything to be replaced other than the stained glass windows and pews.