Becky Beissel

The Lawton Steps are a public stairway on the Summit Hill bluff in St. Paul, connecting Grand Avenue up to Summit Court. Built into the hillside, they stretch upward in about 77 steps. There’s even a house whose legal address is the stairs themselves, 70 Lawton Steps. It’s one of those unique urban landmarks that has drawn attention from local media, travel writers, and neighbors alike.

Family lore has long connected the steps to my great-grandmother, Claribel Bradway Lawton. She was remembered for her compassion, including efforts to provide blankets and aid to Dakota families during times of hardship, and she became a respected character in her community. Over the years, her story has often been tied to the naming of the steps.

The historical record, however, points elsewhere. The steps take their name from nearby Lawton Street, which appears on city plats as early as 1871 in the Terrace Park neighborhood. By 1883, city engineering records already show work being done “Summit Ave to Lawton St.” In other words, the name was in place more than a decade before Claribel married Ransom M. Lawton in 1884. At that time, Ransome and his brothers, Albert and Charles, were active developers through Lawton Brothers Co. and other ventures, and their names appear across plats and additions throughout St. Paul. It’s far more likely the Lawton name comes from their development activity in the neighborhood.

Still, in my family’s telling, Claribel’s legacy of kindness became inseparable from the story of the Lawton Steps. And I think that’s just as important: remembering not only the developments and plats, but the people whose character shaped the community.

For me, the Lawton Steps carry both a personal connection and a larger civic one. They are a reminder that even something as simple as a set of stairs can endure for generations, shaping how people move through and connect with their city.

That idea of connection is just as relevant today in Ellsworth as it was in St. Paul 150 years ago. When we talk about sidewalks, trails, and parks, it’s not just about concrete and green space. It’s about creating the everyday places where people can walk safely, bump into neighbors, and feel part of something larger than themselves. Connectivity is community.

As a Village, we are beginning important work like a sidewalk inventory and improvement plan, new park planning, and trail discussions that could link neighborhoods and destinations in the years ahead. These projects may not always feel as big or bold as a new building, but they are the steps (quite literally!) that knit us together.

The Lawton Steps remind me that what we build today carries stories into the future. Whether it’s a staircase, a sidewalk, or a park, the choices we make leave a legacy. My hope is that, years from now, future generations in Ellsworth will look back and see that we made the effort to keep our community connected, welcoming, and full of places that bring people together.