| The Minnesota Pioneer to its Patrons | |
| By Label: | attributed to either |
| Author: | James Goodhue or Lucien Galtier |
| First: | Minnesota Pioneer |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Subject: | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Genre: | Doggerel |
| Rhyme: | AABB |
| Publication Date: | January 2, 1950 |
| Media Type: | Newspaper |
| Lines: | 78 |
"The Minnesota Pioneer to its Patrons" is a humorous poem about the city of Saint Paul, Minnesota, published in the Minnesota Pioneer on January 2, 1850 (but dated January 1, 1850). It has variously been attributed to the newspaper editor James Goodhue or to Father Lucien Galtier.
From the early 1700s, newspapers had begun to publish new years' proclamations. By the 1800s, they had an established form of summarizing the previous year and looking forward to the year to come. The address given on January 2, 1850, in the Minnesota Pioneer was the first to be given to the newly established Minnesota Territory. The poem outlined the history of the area and the origins of Saint Paul, referencing the prior geographical moniker of "Pig's Eye", and laid out an optimistic view of the future, ending with a reference to the Conversion of Paul the Apostle and the changing of the settlement's name from the "Pig's Eye" to "Saint Paul".[1] It has been described as an "amusing doggerel".[2]
The poem was published without attribution. Father Lucien Galtier is sometimes said to have proclaimed the final phrases at the dedication of the log cabin chapel of Saint Paul on November 1, 1941.[3] The poem in its entirety was often attributed in the decades following publication to the Minnesota Pioneer editor, James Goodhue.[4] [3] [5] [6]
The poem was often cited in the early decades of the twentieth century as a confirmation of the "christening" and "metamorphosis" of the settlement.[7] [8] [9] It was also cited when honoring Father Galtier after his death for his role in naming the city.[5]
Narrated by the "Old Year" of 1849, the poem reflects on the transformation of the small settlement of Pig's Eye into the City of Saint Paul. Describing various struggles in Europe, the narrator expresses thankfulness for America, despite the presidency of Zachary Taylor.[1] The poem celebrates the great growth in commerce along the Mississippi River and, alluding to the conversion of Paul the Apostle, declares the area from Saint Anthony Falls[10] to Pig's Eye Landing to be "converted" from Pig's Eye to Saint Paul.