Oakdale Woman Turns 100 Years Old, Remembers Oakdale Before It was Ever a City

When Hazel Olson moved to Oakdale there were few houses, few roads and plenty of open space. In fact, Oakdale wasn't even a city yet. 

"I can't remember what it was called, but it wasn't Oakdale," Olson said. 

Olson might not remember what Oakdale was referred to when her family moved to the area, but she remembers quite a few things before Oakdale officially became a city in 1974. 

Olson is celebrating her 100th birthday today. She was born on Aug. 30, 1912, though she admits she misplaced her birth certificate a few years ago.

"I don't really see the need to find it," Olson said. "It's not like you need it in heaven anyways," she added, chuckling.

Olson has lived in her Oakdale home off of 47th Street for 62 years. Before that, she lived in the house down the street where she grew up with her parents.

"Gershwin Avenue runs through where my mother's garden used to be," Olson said. 

When Olson lived in her "neighborhood" there were only a few houses. She remembers they had to cut several trees when they finally got a telephone.

"It was one of those old-fashioned telephones and whenver you had a phone call everyone nearby would pick up listen in," Olson said. "Everyone knew all the news going on because they listend in."

On Saturday evenenings the neighbors would come over for a dance where her father played the violin, her mother played the piano and a neighbor played the banjo.

"We would take off the carpet and bring out a stove and have dances," Olson said. "I was just a little girl then."

In her teens, Olson worked at the Luger Furniture Factory in North St. Paul, earning 25 cents an hour. She worked in the factory building the furniture. 

Olson worked that job until she got sick when she was 16 years old and had to have surgery. Olson also quit school and was told she would never have children. 

When she was 18 years old Olson married, Kenneth Shoop, a man she had known since they were 13 years old. Not long after they wed they proved the doctors wrong and had a son namd Kenneth Jr. 

"My dad was so excited that he brought the baby to the doctor who told me I'd never have children," Olson said. 

Her husband was a welder and Olson stayed home with Kenneth Jr. They also provided room and board for workers who lived in the area. Olson earned $5 a week for housing local workers and watching their children. 

When she was 35 years old her husband died in a welding accident across from the current site. She eventually remarried when she was 42 years old to a man named Bill Olson.

"I said I'd never remarry because my first husband was my sweetheart from school," Olson said. 

Her second husband died 15 years ago and her son died five years ago. 

"I haven't got any more family, but my neighbors get so mad at me and say I have a family, a big family who loves me."

A birthday celebration was thrown for Olson at the American Legion in North St. Paul. Oakdale city officials presented Olson with a certificate of recognition for her 100th birthday and declared Aug. 26 as "Hazel Olson Day."

"I don't know how I lived through it all," Olson said.

Check out the Washington County Historic Society for more information on the history of Oakdale. 

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