343 Selby Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota (razed)
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Haynes Photography Studio | |
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| Address: | 343 Selby Avenue |
| City/locality- State/province |
Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| County- State/province: |
Ramsey County, Minnesota |
| State/province: | Minnesota |
| Country: | United States |
| Historic Function: | Photography studio |
| Material of Exterior Wall Covering: | Wood |
| Material of Roof: | Asphalt Shingles |
Frank Jay Haynes was born in Saline, Michigan, October 28, 1853. His career as a photographer began in Moorhead, Minnesota. Haynes took advantage of his position in the edge of the U.S. frontier early in his career by traveling the Dakota and Montana Territories, photographing the westward expansion of the U.S. The images that Haynes captured at this time became very popular in the eastern states, and in 1883 he became the official photographer for the Northern Pacific Railroad. This position gave Haynes a unique opportunity to photograph a singular time in history: Images of the growing Northwestern railroad network overlap with images of Native American life. Haynes was the Northern Pacific Railroad’s official photographer for over twenty years, and for much of that time he used a “Palace Studio Car” that allowed him to take his development studio to any corner of the Northwest that was accessible by rail. Haynes traveled extensively in the Northwest, even as far as Alaska, but he best known for his photos of Yellowstone National Park.
Haynes first went to Yellowstone in 1881. Northern Pacific Railroad maintained a line through Yellowstone Park, and they most likely encouraged Haynes to document this very scenic segment of their rail network. In 1884 Haynes was given the distinguished honor of being Yellowstone’s official park photographer, and the images he captured of the park in the following years enhanced the reputation of both the park and its photographer.
In 1889 Haynes began working out of Saint Paul in partnership with his brother Frederick E. Haynes, but Frank Haynes continued to photograph the western states until his retirement in 1916. Frank and Frederick Haynes split their business arrangement in 1892, and Frank operated a photography studio at the house pictured here from 1895 till 1908. A park now takes up the entire block on which this building used to sit.
Memory Header
In the 1940s and maybe '50s there was a long, one story clapboard building at 343 Selby Avenue. I don't remember for sure if it was a photography studio or was occupied by an architect. But it evidently had been there for many years. Maybe it was part of the original building. It had a long porch in the front. I don't know when the building was razed, but I remember it well.
Photo Gallery
Related Links
Montana Historical Society collection of Haynes photography
Minnesota Photographers Directory
Here are some photos by Frank Haynes from the MNHS Photo and Art Database
Syndicate Block where Frank's brother, Frederick Haynes had a studio
Notes
