Black and white photograph of John O'Connor during the height of his power in St. Paul, c.1912.

John O'Connor, Chief of St. Paul Police

John O'Connor during the height of his power in St. Paul, c.1912.

O'Connor Layover Agreement

The O'Connor layover agreement was instituted by John O'Connor shortly after his promotion from St. Paul detective to chief of police on June 11, 1900. It allowed criminals to stay in the city under three conditions: that they checked in with police upon their arrival; agreed to pay bribes to city officials; and committed no major crimes in the city of St. Paul. This arrangement lasted for almost forty years, ending when rampant corruption forced crusading local citizens and the federal government to step in.

Color image of the plaque marking the location of St. Paul's Central Park, now the site of a parking lot at 54 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Central Park plaque

The plaque marking the location of St. Paul's Central Park, now the site of a parking lot at 54 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., 2014. Photograph by Paul Nelson.

The last known photograph of St. Paul's Central Park in use as a park, 1960.

Last known photograph of St. Paul's Central Park in use as a park

The last known photograph of St. Paul's Central Park in use as a park, 1960.

Black and white photograph of St. Paul's Central Park, c.1956. Its view looks south along Central Park Place West; the former Blood mansion is in the foreground.

St. Paul's Central Park, former Blood mansion is in the foreground

St. Paul's Central Park, c.1956. Its view looks south along Central Park Place West; the former Blood mansion is in the foreground.

Black and white aerial photograph by R.E. Nielsen of St. Paul's Central Park, c.1955.

Aerial photograph of St. Paul's Central Park

Aerial photograph by R.E. Nielsen of St. Paul's Central Park, c.1955. The scuffed open space is the much-degraded Central Park. Near the top, the Minnesota Historical Society and Mechanic Arts High School.

Black and white photograph of the wading pool being built in Central Park, 1929.

Constructing the wading pool, Central Park, St. Paul

Building the wading pool in St. Paul's Central Park, 1929. The view is south-southeast. Photograph by the St. Paul Dispatch and Pioneer Press.

Tinted photographic postcard on paper. Its view faces northwest across Central Park toward the (then new) State Capitol, c.1915.

View of the State Capitol and Central Park, St. Paul

Tinted photographic postcard on paper. Its view faces northwest across Central Park toward the (then new) State Capitol, c.1915.

Black and white photograph looking northwest across Central Park, St. Paul, c.1900.

Looking northwest across Central Park, St. Paul

Looking northwest across the park, c.1900. The turreted house near the center is, or are, the Hardenbergh and Blood mansions, a double house designed by Clarence H. Johnston. To the right, at the north end of the park is the Uri Lamprey house, which predated the park. The west wing Minnesota Judicial Center now occupies that site.

Black and white photograph of Central Park Place East, with the James Humphrey House and the Gustave Schurmeier rowhouses, c.1900.

Central Park, St. Paul with the James Humphrey House and the Gustave Schurmeier rowhouses

Photograph of Central Park Place East, with the James Humphrey House and the Gustave Schurmeier rowhouses, c.1900.

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