Troubador of the river: Charlie Maguire sings of the Mississippi
Faster than currents in the nearby river, what had been a serious, Roberts-rules-type meeting of government officials, business leaders and environmentalists quickly shifts course to become a joint sing-along. Commissioners of the Mississippi National River Recreational Area (MNRRA), which stretches 72 miles from Anoka to Hastings, have met up with folksinger and now Park Ranger Charlie Maguire.
In his brown outfit with a wide-brimmed hat and wearing a harmonica-stand around his neck while he strums out songs on his guitar, he looks a bit like a cross between Woody Guthrie and a Boy Scout. But Maguire greets the commissioners with a winning smile and enthusiasm that carries the moment as it has with other groups up and down the Twin Cities corridor this summer and fall.
Calling out for a volunteer, he soon has an Army Corp of Engineers Colonel standing in front, waving his arms like a tow-boat deckhand. Meanwhile everyone else croons along slightly offkey to a chorus of "All gone"--a river term basically meaning that barge unloading is completed and it is time to kick back and enjoy the river. It is a metaphor that seemingly applies both to the Mississippi and to Maguire's efforts.
"You bring the river right into the room when you talk about things like that and you give people who work and live together along the river a shared sense of pride," he said. "This is really the right time for the river. People realize the importance of the Mississippi and are excited by seeing it interpreted culturally."
Not that it's always easy for Maguire, who approaches his role in a serious fashion while researching and writing original songs that lead to performances.
"My job is to write songs about this Mississippi River area that have never been written before and then find places to sing," he says matter-of-factly about the unique National Parks Service seasonal job he began in May and which runs through at least mid-October. "I don't think there are too many singing park rangers around. But it's a great way to educate people, which has always been a goal of the Park Service."
Maguire, since moving to Minnesota in the early 1970's, has written an estimated 25-30 songs involving the Mississippi. He has also appeared many times on Garrison Keillor's public radio programs, recorded seven albums, and is an adjunct professor of language arts at Hamline University. In the early 1970's as a VISTA worker, Maguire taught English through the use of music to Mexican migrant workers in North Dakota.
"It's the historical stuff I always liked," he says, while being careful to give credit to other folksingers such as Larry Long who have also been writting about the Mississippi for long periods of time. "We have all kinds of songs and recordings about things in the East or in the 'old country.' But I think people here really love and want to know about their history, too."
The Mississippi, Maguire notes, may be the world's "most musical" river.
"It gave us jazz, it gave us the blues, it gave us folksongs," he said. "Folksingers especially like to sing about people travelling. And this river is just a great big highway, going back to the Native Americans and the trappers."
Sitting in the Kuppernicus coffeeshop, Maguire launches into a discussion followed by song about Pierre Bottineau, an early 19th Century French-Indian trapper who had impacts throughout the future Twin Cities area. He is credited with, among other things, convincing Father Galtier to come from Mendota to say mass at a new church across the river. Galtier named the church St. Paul's, which residents agreed had a more dignified sound than "Pig's Eye."
"This really is a special historic place. I think that's partly why the National Park Service chose this stretch of the river for MNRRA," Maguire said. "We're here to interpret and fill in some gaps. We don't want to step on any toes."
That approach somewhat typifies MNRRA's delicate political balancing act between various business, environmental and government interests. The new organization still faces a stiff test in getting Congressional funding for a proposed $9 million Mississippi River Interpretive Center on Harriet Island.
But at the least MNRRA can help preserve stories of all the people who have lived and worked on the riverfront, says Maguire, who is more than willing to do his part.
"I'm having the time of my life. But it's really about giving other people access and getting them involved," he said. "All I can do is try to tell an interesting story and capture people's interest. They take it from there."
Order copies of Charlie's latest CD "Harbour Lights" for only $15 plus $2.50 shipping/handling, sent to 878 Smith Av. S., St. Paul, MN 55107. Or, if you're still doubtful, a free review article will be sent to you by email. editor@ oldmanriver.com.
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