In October, the North St. Paul Historical Society hosted a presentation on Northwood Country Club in North St. Paul.
Actually, the presentation was on both Northwood Country Clubs: first, the Northwood familiar to longtime area residents as the restaurant and supper club owned and managed by John Heimel, and second, the Northwood familiar to some Minnesota golf history buffs who recognize it as the first Jewish golf club in Minnesota, established in 1915 and abandoned as a golf course in the mid-1940s, probably 1946, with a portion of the membership moving a mile to the southeast and buying Hillcrest Golf Club (also now a lost course, as of fall 2017).
I was not able to attend the presentation but was forwarded a few photos displayed there. They are posted below, courtesy of and thanks to Dan Goodenough, Tony Ducklow and the North St. Paul Historical Society. Click on any of the photos for larger views.
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Awesome! Lived right down the street on Polaris place. Met a lot of life long friends there. (Great place to grow up!)
I grew up with my family on Polaris Place, a block away from the Northwood, from 1952 to 1969. Most of the golf course land had been developed by Gunneson Homes, although a field to the northeast, behind what is now Northwood Park, had several raised areas that were remnants of some of the golf greens.
The Northwood Country Club Restaurant thrived during those years and was packed with locals as well as people from across the twin city area on Friday and Saturday nights. It had a reputation for fine steaks and sea food and hosted many sporting and political gatherings. The kids in our neighborhood would take turns opening the door to the club for arriving guests. Many would flip a nickel or a dime to the child for this service. The largest tipper was the WTCN TV wrestling announcer, Marty O’Neil, who flipped the luckiest child greeter a fifty cent piece!
The biggest winter attraction in the neighborhood was the steep hill behind the Northwood. On a given saturday or sunday afternoon after a heavy snowfall it attracted what seemed like hundreds, (50 to 75) sledders and tobogganers.
In 1955 the then Mayor of North St. Paul, Edwin Dyer broke ground, on a bulldozer furnished by his employer, on what would become Northwood Park. Besides two skating rinks, (one pleasure skating and one hockey), it had a warming house, basketball court and a baseball field. In the early 60’s, Jarle Larifollom built a nursing home next to the Northwood. It’s construction graded away the steep hill behind the Northwood, and the local sledders turned to Northwood Park for recreation.
In the early years residents of the area formed what was known as The Northwood Community Club. The club would hold monthly meetings at the Country Club. They had elected officials and would plan local gatherings and picnics in Northwood Park.
It was the post WWII era. The homes were not fancy, but most of the residents who had left the east side of St. Paul or other inner city Minneapolis, St. Paul areas in search of home ownership in a more rual, slower paced, safe community found what they were in search for.
Thanks for the memories, Dennis. I’ve heard a number of good stories about Northwood, post-golf course. Apologies for not approving this sooner — I have been caught up with many other matters.
Hello Joe, we never meet us before.
I´m a german chef and I meet John and Betty Heimel at Vacationtime in Germany -Bavaria 1971. I`m born 1954. In 1972 they gave me a inivitation to learn anything more about the american kitchen by the Northwood Country Club in Saint Paul MN. So do I work for about 2 Months as a Guestpupil in The club and visit the 916 Vach-Tec Institute in White bearlake.