Open House: If These Walls Could Talk

Opening Jan. 14, 2006

Open House: If These Walls Could Talk “Cast”

Former inhabitants of 470 Hopkins Street on the East Side

The following individuals have generously opened their lives and shared stories with the Minnesota Historical Society to help create “Open House.” We gratefully acknowledge their cooperation and candor. Media interview requests may be handled through MHS contacts.

Michelina and Russell Frascone
lived in the house 1931-1956; Michelina’s parents (Dominick and Filomena D’Aloia) lived there from 1928-1949; her uncle and aunt (Filomeno and Rose Cocchiarella) lived on the other side of the duplex (1924-1946).

Key stories featured in the exhibit:

Thanksgiving night, 1946-when Uncle Filomeno was called at night to repair track, was struck by a train and killed
helping relatives pass the citizenship exam
curing sausages in the attic

Jerry D’Aloia
lived in the house from 1932-1949 and 1954-1956 (with wife Barbara); younger brother of Michelina Frascone
Key stories featured in the exhibit:

raising chickens in the basement for Michelina’s wedding
while working at Hamm’s brewery, the day he flipped the wrong valve and the toilets overflowed with beer
his father and uncle worked as railroad track repairmen

Angie and Dick Krismer
lived in the house 1958-1967
Key stories featured in the exhibit:

being a “mixed marriage” (Italian and German) in a Little Italy neighborhood
dealing intimately with the alcoholism problems of their upstairs neighbors, the Berrys
creating an “assembly line” to give their 4 kids a bath in tight quarters
flying kites with the neighborhood kids-higher and higher until the string broke and then following it in the station wagon
working at the slaughterhouse in South St. Paul; the screams of the pigs damaged Dick’s hearing

June Cramer Mayer and Diane Hegner (mother-daughter)
lived in the house from 1957-1979
Key stories featured in the exhibit:

the day the house caught on fire (Diane was inside), burning off the third floor
neighborhood birthday parties in the yard; parties in the basement
family struggles with alcoholism and abuse

Pang Toua Yang and Mai Vang [do not speak English]
lived in the house from 2002-2004, with daughter Elizabeth Young as landlord
Key stories featured in the exhibit:

serving in South Vietnamese army, fleeing for Thailand after U.S. pulled out; immigrated to St. Paul
using shaman altar to help treat burns suffered in backyard accident
passing the citizenship exam

Elizabeth Young
current owner (with Michael Wong) of the house. Her parents, Pang Toua Yang and Mai Vang, lived in the house from 2002-2004
Key stories featured in the exhibit:

born in Laos, fled to Thailand as a child with her parents; settled in St. Paul as refugees
went to school and decided to go into real estate; now owns 23 properties, mostly on the East Side, including 470 Hopkins St.