It can now also be stated, though the transfer of the property has not actually taken place, the Mr. Kittson and the owners of the driving park property have reached an understanding as to all details of sale, and the actual transfer will be made immediately upon arrival home of Mr. Kittson from Tennessee. In anticipation of the transfer Mr. Ben Woodmansee has been instructed to commence cleaning up the grounds and getting everything in readiness for commencement of work upon the improvements Mr. Kittson proposes to make this season, among which are a fine club house, and a row of substantial brick stables, the cost of which will be in the neighborhood of $25,000, making with the grounds and stock bought, fully $100,000. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Monday, May 2, 1881, Page 2)
Ed. Bazille’s brick yard has turned out the first brick of the season. He has secured the contract for Kittson’s mammoth stables, which will require 500,000 brick. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Saturday, May 28, 1881, Page 1)
As mentioned in yesterday’s Globe, the exhibition buildings erected on the Driving Park property for State fair purposes, were sold at auction on Saturday. One of the terms of the requiring the removing of the buildings in from ten to twenty-five days, according to location, the early removal being made necessary from the fact that they stand upon the ground upon which Commodore Kittson is to erect his new stables, or equine palace, and upon which he desires to commence work at once. Searching for a Model. As has been stated in the Globe Commodore Kittson, in his visits to New York, Kentucky, Tennessee and other States, in search for equine celebrities for his breeding farm, devoted considerable time to visiting different breeding farms and making minute examinations of the accommodations provided for the care of stock. Mr. Kittson thus saw and inspected some of the finest and most complete stables in the country, but not one of them fully met his ideas of the structure he desired to grace Kittsondale. After thinking the matter over he finally determined to place the preparation of the plans in the hands of Mr. A. M. Radcliff, the well known architect of this city. Mr. Radcliff, in addition to being one of the best and most experienced architects in the Northwest, is a lover of a good horse himself, and knows what they require for comfort and health. Having received from Mr. Kittson in general terms what his desires were, Mr. Radcliffe went to work and evolved two plans, either one of which would have been a credit to himself as an architect, to the enterprise of Mr. Kittson, to the city of St. Paul and the State of Minnesota. After thoroughly inspecting both, Mr. Kittson selected the one after which the stables are to be built. The Grounds in General. Before proceeding to give a brief description of what the new stables are to be, a paragraph in reference to the general arrangement of the grounds under the changes to be made will not be out of place. While not definitely determined, it is probable the mile trotting track will be retained, and as soon as possible, put in first class condition, by widening the first turn, filling up the low places and providing thorough drainage. If this is done, of course the grand stand and judges’ stand will be retained, only they will be remodeled to conform to the new buildings he is to erect. All the old sheds and stables, except the two built at the time of the State fair in 1877, will be demolished. The two stables will be removed to the west line of the grounds, about opposite their present location, and utilized as hay and straw barns, etc. The old dwelling house in the grove is to be replaced by an elegant club house, and a neat, modern dwelling built near the northwest corner of the grounds. The site selected for the stables, or equine palace, is just west of the first turn of the race-track, about midway of the property from University avenue to Marshall avenue. ...The Material to be used in construction will be brick, with cut stone trimmings, in the Queen Anne style. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Monday, May 30, 1881, Page 1)
The Turf Field and Farm, of the 9th, gives a detailed list of the animals in the trotting department of Midway Park Stud, the new building enterprise of Commodore Kittson of this city. Commenting upon the showing of the Turf says: “Commodore N. W. Kittson, of St. Paul, has been in the last twelve months a large buyer of both mining and trotting stock. He has endeavored to secure the best without regard to price, and if he has not the best it is not because those who acted for him were cramped as to means. He has purchased the old driving park at St. Paul, as well as land on both sides of it, and the entire tract is being converted into a breeding and training farm. One hundred masons and carpenters have been at work on a large brick barn, and it is rapidly approaching completion. The architect has labored to make it fire-proof, therefore has used comparatively little wood. The private offices are spacious and elegant, and the box stalls, 74 in number are well lighted and neatly finished. The stallion boxes are in a separate part of the building, and there is no communication between them and the other boxes. The water is pumped into large tanks by windmills, and is distributed through the stable by means of pipes. Fire hose is attached to the pipes, and it is always ready for use. The name selected for the breeding establishment is Midway Park Stud. ¡n all the number of animals in the trotting department is fifty-one head. (Since this was written the list has been increased by the addition of mares So-So, Fannie Witherspoon and Gem.) The annual crop of foals will, within two years more than double the strength of the establishment. Mr. B. D. Woodmansee is the superintendent of the farm. He is an excellent driver, has had great experience and understands the care of stock...” The new stables at Kittsondale are rapidly approaching completion, and it is now expected to commence occupying part of the stalls the present week. The flooring for the stable, stalls and all, is composed of paving similar to that used on the streets of several cities, being cedar blocks set on end and resting on pitch soaked boards with the interstices filled with a composition of pitch and gravel, while for the stalls the surface is made smooth and water proof by a dressing of asphalt. The floor item alone for the stable cost upwards of $5,000. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Monday, December 19, 1881, Page 1)
Midway Park Stud, as Mr. Kittson has named his breeding farm, where this galaxy of equine stars are gathered, is located about three miles from the heart of the city of St. Paul, the east line of the land extending to the city limits. The main body of the farm, the old St. Paul Driving Park property, lies between Marshall and University avenues, and contains 115 acres. South of Marshall avenue is another tract of excellent pasture land containing thirty acres. There is an excellent mile track on the grounds. For this property Mr. Kittson paid about $45,000. He has since he got possession of it, rebuilt all the fences upon the land, outside and dividing, and sunk several wells, the two requiring an expenditure of some $8,000. ...For the housing and care of his animals Mr. Kittson has had constructed upon a slightly location upon his breeding farm, the Midway Park Stud, a short distance to the west of the excellent mile track upon the farm, one of the largest and most complete stables to be found in this country. The stables front University avenue, back from which they set about 50 rods. The stables are in the form of a Greek cross, 248 feet in length by 180 in width. A paved or macadamized drive is to lead from University avenue to the main entrance to the stables, which is 20 feet wide, with offices on either side for the owner and manager. These are 24x26 feet, with retiring rooms off 16x24 feet, and 12 foot ceiling. From the manager’s room a stairway leads to the second story, 11 feet in the clear, which is divided off into sleeping rooms for the attendants, Broad piazzas are in front of the offices, and from the office of the proprietor, east side of the entrance, is an ornamental tower of observation, 64 feet in height, from which is had a splendid view of St. Paul and the surrounding country. Passing through the main entrance between the offices as above, one enters the arena, or show ring, a room 60x60 and forty-four feet high, with a glass roof, put on in sections, so as to be easily moved when desired for purposes of ventilation, etc. It is here the horses will be brought out for exhibition and exercise when the weather will not permit of outdoor work. For the convenience of the proprietor and manager, as well as visitors, the rear of their respective offices are in glass paneling, so that the horses when brought out can be inspected without leaving their rooms. On the east and west side of the arena are two sulky and carriage rooms, 18x44, and two harness rooms 12x18 each. Beyond the arena is the stable proper, which forms the main column of the cross, running from east to west. This is 87x100 feet and 24 feet high. It contains sixty-four box stalls, 10x12 and 12x12 each, with a broad passage way along the walls and through the centre on each side of which there are two rows of stalls. The stalls are tight boarded to a height of eight or ten feet, with wire screens and open at the top, giving excellent light and ventilation. The stalls and passage ways, in fact the entire interior space, is paved with cedar blocks, laid upon tarred boards, the spaces between the blocks being filled with a combination of tar and gravel. In the stalls a smooth and tight surface is secured by a covering of asphalt. Drainage is made into cast iron gutters running along the foot of the stalls, and discharging into a sewer running through the building and off the grounds. Under the same roof, though separated from the stables proper by a tight partition, is a room for mares and foals 38x50, with six box stalls and a foaling room 28x32, and off this is a colt shed 38x40, while on the opposite side, and entirely separated from the other portions of the building, is the hospital, a large and air room, supplied with every convenience for the care and comfort of sick animals. The building is of brick, with cut stone trimmings, galvanized iron cornices, and covered with fancy cut iron shingles. The outside surface is to be finished off in imitation of pressed brick, while the inside walls are plastered and white coated. There are three large stoves in the building so that the temperature may be kept comparatively moderate in the very coldest of weather. No hay is to be kept in the building that being run in on tramways laid through the centre between the stalls and around the outside. Water is forced into all parts of the building by a large wind mill and tank, the latter 16x20, and standing at an elevation of thirty feet. To water plugs located in different parts of the building hose is constantly attached so that should a fire start by any means it would be almost impossible for it to gain any serious headway. Mr. A. M. Radcliffe, the well known architect, designed the building... Fully completed the building will cost around $50,000. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Saturday, December 31, 1881, Page 3)
One of the points of attraction to strangers visiting St. Paul, and one, too, that is bringing the name of the city, and the enterprise and wealth of its citizens prominently before the people of all sections of the country, is the boarding and training stables of Commodore N. W. Kittson, a cut of which is given above. In the farm, stock and improvements, Mr. Kittson has expended some $250,000, of which amount some $60,000 is represented in the stables. It is in the form of a Greek cross, 248 feet in length by 180 in width. It is of brick, with cut stone trimmings, galvanized iron cornice, and iron roofing. It contains sixty-four box stalls, 10x12, with broad paved passageways along the walls and through the center. In addition there are offices for the proprietor and manager, apartments for the help, carriage and harness rooms, an exercising arena, 60x60, with glass roofing, a hospital, foaling room, etc. It is the largest breeding and training stable under one roof in this country, and second to no one in the perfection of details for the care and comfort of the equine race, and under its roof to-day is gathered the greatest number, speediest and most valuable string of trotters and pacers owned by one man in the world. (Saint Paul Daily Globe, Sunday, December 31, 1882, Page 2)