Highland Park | Plaid Line + PRIZM + Scottie News

By: Persephone Pond

Rock Melon is a local band based in Highland Park, Saint Paul. This surf-pop-indie band consists of six talented students from around the Highland Park area. This article will go over a few need-to-know facts about the band before listening to their music.

Before going over the music the band has released as of late, it’s important to know the talent behind music. Here’s a quick introduction to the band.

Zack Nelson (he/him) is a senior at HPSH and the founder of the band. He plays both the guitar and bass. Elzie Bieganek (she/her) is one of the two talented vocalists of Rock Melon, currently attending SPA as a junior. Erin Moore (she/her) is a junior at HPSH, and the second vocalist of Rock Melon. Ryan Mitchell (he/him) and Izzy Montgomery (she/her) both play guitar, and Syan Blackwood (they/them) plays the drums for the band.

Now, the music itself this small band produces showcases a wide range of talent in terms of instrumentals, vocals, and production. All music is recorded by the band, and released on all streaming platforms.

Their latest releases include three singles from their upcoming album. The three tracks are “First Love’s Name”, “Eucalyptus”, and “The Architect”. All of these songs were written by the band members, and feature riveting vocals and soothing instrumentals.

The band plays live music around the Saint Paul/Minneapolis area, so keep an eye out for their next gig. Small venues around the metro area often support other small local bands as well. Attending live concerts is an easy, low commitment way to support these young artists.

To support this growing band, give them a follow on Instagram @rockmelonband. Stream their music on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube music, and more!

By: Karl Salkowski

Clarence Wigington is one of the most beloved and respected architects in the Twin Cities area. He worked primarily between 1920-1940. During that time he designed over 60 buildings which still stand in Saint Paul. He designed a variety of buildings including: golf clubhouses, fire stations, park buildings, airports, and a majority of Saint Paul public schools. Some instances of his work you might recognize are the Highland Water Tower and the Harriet Island Pavilion. In 2000 after a restoration, the Harriet Island Pavilion was renamed the Clarence Wigington Pavilion in his honor.

Clarence Wigington was born in Lawrence, Kansas, but his family soon moved to Omaha, Nebraska where he grew up. He was born in 1888 and lived until 1967. After Clarence graduated from high school at the age of 15, he went to art school before ultimately working for the American Institute of Architects. In 1910, 2 years after he started his own office, Wigington was listed as one of only 59 African-American architects, artists, and draftsmen in the country. Wigington became the first African-American municipal architect, and served as Saint Paul’s senior architect for 34 years.

Wigington designed many buildings as senior architect. Some of the schools and famous places he designed include: Como Park Elementary, Randolph Heights Elementary, Como Park Zoo, and the Roy Wilkins Auditorium.

His most famous architectural design is undoubtedly the Highland Park Water Tower. Along with 3 other Wigington buildings, the Highland Water Tower is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Highland Water Tower was built in 1928 for only $69,483 which equates to around $1,281,173 today. The Highland Water tower could hold nearly 200,000 gallons of water, and has been left nearly unaltered since its construction. Although the Highland Water Tower is no longer in service, the tower is still open to the public 2 times a year during Highland Fest, and the second weekend in October.

Many of Clarence Wigington’s designs are still beloved by the public over a century after they were built. Wigington made a considerable contribution to the architecture of the Twin Cities area, and certainly to that of Highland Park. His architecture has continued to be adored by many throughout the city.

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