ST. PAUL, Minn. — You may not know his name, but if you’ve ever been to St. Paul, you’ve likely seen his work. Behind that work is the story of a deeply talented architect who defied all odds.
It stands tall above a beloved St. Paul neighborhood. Functional and beautiful, it’s the Highland Park Water Tower.
It’s the architecture that catches the eye — and the story behind it caught Tony Simmons’ attention.
“I love history. I was always curious, what is the history of African Americans coming into St. Paul. And I came across Clarence Wigington and I was like whoa, what an incredible transformational figure,” Simmons said.
Simmons heads up the High School for the Recording Arts in St. Paul, and he’s bringing this history into the present.
“For me, he just really represents everything I care about in understanding our history and my history and the history my young people need to know,” he said.
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