Every home has a story. Karen Kaler spent 8 years living in Eastcliff in St. Paul, MN as partner to the president of the University of Minnesota and knew that someone had to tell the story of the historic building, its residents, and famous visitors.
"When my husband became president of the University of Minnesota in 2011, it was the official residence," says Kaler of the home that was donated to the University by the Brooks family. In her research, Kaler connected with members of the Brooks family to hear firsthand stories from as early as the 1920s.
The book is structured to be a bit of a tour of the house. Chronology isn't paramount. Rather, the book wanders and explores. "A tour of the house is really how things come alive... so I wanted to do it walking through the house," says Kaler.
Eastcliff: History of a Home can be purchased online through the University of Minnesota Press website or via the author's website where readers can also find additional material about Eastcliff.
Minnesota Reads is produced at The North 103.3 with funding provided in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.