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The farm has "given us a <br />whole lot more than just <br />trees and land. It's given <br />us a lifestyle; it's given us a <br />way to structure and run <br />our own lives. It's given us <br />appreciation for the land <br />and appreciation for liv- <br />ing things .... And even <br />though the farm isn't there <br />in the future, a part of us <br />will always be there." <br /> <br />-- Nell Krueger, in family video <br /> <br /> Star Tribune Photo by Mike Zerby <br />Al and Elaine Krueger, with their son Nell and his wife, Debble, stand on the site of the family's <br />former Christmas tree farm on Hwy, 36 near StillWater, "1 never planned on moving," Al <br />Krueger said. "1 always said they'd have to carry me out in a pine box with a few balsam <br />boughs. Times change. Never say never." <br /> <br /> ~hoto courtesy of the Krueger family <br />Al Krueger's grandfather Fredrick bought the farm <br />in 1883. He posed for a photo at the homestead, <br />3 miles west of the St. Croix River. <br /> <br />In"develoPmenfs path,, a farm folds <br /> <br />The transformation <br />of the Krueger <br />family's land - from <br />Christmas tree farm <br />to suburban <br />landscape - is a <br />story that's being <br />played across the <br />metro area. <br /> <br />By Dennis Cassano <br />Star Tribune Staff Writer <br /> <br /> The home video shows the Krueger family work- <br />ing in the fields, nurturing and pruning the spruce <br />and balsam for sale at Christmas: <br /> But in the background of that pastoral calm is the <br />never-ending din from traffic speeding by on Hvw. <br />36 just west of Stillwater. <br /> The clash of images is profound, and the 'family <br />knew that all those cars meant the 101-acre Krueger <br />Tree Farm would be sold for development. <br /> Now all that's left is the video. The 64 acres of <br />conifers and 37 acres of woods-- once a rural part of <br />Basqown Township -- are the site of a Menards store <br />and 69 upscale houses in the city of Oak Park <br /> <br /> Heights. <br /> The anguished decision by A1 and Elaine Krueger <br /> in 1992 to sell the farm that had been in the Krueger <br /> family for'more than 100 years is one that has been <br /> made by thousands of families in the Twin Cities and <br /> other growing metropolitan areas -- and will be <br />'made by many more. <br /> From 1990 to 1996, more than 150,000 acres of <br /> farm fields have become suburban lots, strip malls <br /> and industrial sites in 14 counties that are part of the <br /> extended Twin Cities metro area. <br /> <br />Turn to TREES on A6 .,... <br />Also on A6: <br />-- The farm's developer has fared well. <br />-- Changes along the Hwy. 36 corridor. <br /> <br /> <br />