Casiville Bullard
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Many skilled black artisans were recruited to Saint Paul to work on buildings going up in the early 1900s. Many of them arrived from Georgia with the marble used in those buildings. Casiville Bullard, a master stonemason, helped build such Saint Paul icons as the current State Capitol, St. Paul Cathedral, and City Hall. His descendants still live and lead in Saint Paul alongside the progeny of other stonecutters, bricklayers and masons. Some of the buildings they worked on still exist around downtown's Rice Park, including Landmark Center, Saint Paul Public Library and The Saint Paul Hotel.
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State Capitol Construction
African American bricklayers and stonemasons aided in the construction of the state capitol building. Date: Approximately 1900 Image courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Minnesota State Capitol construction scene
Date: Approximately 1896 Image courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Works Progress Administration quarry
Stonecutters working at the quarry in Mendota, Minnesota. Date: Approximately 1940 Image courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Landmark Center
Formerly the Federal Courts Building with Rice Park pictured in the foreground. African American stonecutters, bricklayers, and masons worked on some of the most prominent buildings downtown, including the Landmark Center, Saint Paul Public Library and the Saint Paul Hotel. Photographer: Steve Plattner Date: July 16, 1975 Image courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society
Saint Paul Public Library
African American stonecutters, bricklayers, and masons worked on some of the most prominent buildings downtown, including the Landmark Center, Saint Paul Public Library and the Saint Paul Hotel. Date: Approximately 1918 Image courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society