Laughter, Falling Water and Time
Designed by the Minneapolis firm, Long F.B. & Co, construction on the seven story Kasota Building began in 1884. In August of that year, the Minneapolis Tribune reported that the building, on the corner of 4th and Hennepin had reached the sixth story. There were rumors that the remaining vacant space east of the part … Read more
Built in 1890 by the 10-story New York Life Insurance Co. this building stood at the corner of Fifth Street and Second Avenue South with a frontage of 165 feet on the former and 121 feet on the latter thoroughfare. In exterior appearance it was massive and substantial. The lower stories were of St. Cloud … Read more
The 157 foot Globe Building at 4th Street South was the tallest building in the city from 1882–1886. Fire Insurance maps indicate this building was 124 feet to the top of a rear penthouse, but the turret at the southeast corner rose higher than this.Originally built as an office building it had become a parking … Read more
“Within the four walls of this new building, business will be transacted which will affect the breadstuffs of the world.” —George A. Pillsbury President, Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Founded as the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce in 1881, The Minneapolis Grain Exchange was at one time the country’s biggest wheat, barley, rye, and flax market. Designed … Read more
The use of trading stamps followed the spread of service stations and grocery stores chains across America in the early decades of the last century. After the Second World War supermarkets began issuing trading stamps as a customer incentives and before 1960 at least 250,000 retailer issued trading stamps. Trading stamp companies had over a … Read more
SHAPELESS masses of stone and iron ore, sleeping beneath the soil of Minnesota, have been raised from their age-old beds to answer the call of engineer, architect and builder .. . men who vision great buildings and make their visions real. Today such a vision is taking form before our eyes, cleancut and symmetrical, as … Read more
In July of ’03 the demolition of a small frame building in Washington Avenue opposite the Milwaukee Road station opened up a view to one of the very oldest houses in the young city of Minneapolis. Erected in 1856 by John H. Spear, the house was hidden from the street for almost 15 years. When … Read more
After almost twenty years of planning, the Swedish Hospital of Minneapolis was incorporated on January 10th, 1898. The first home for the new institution was a rented, two-story frame house at 1419 South 9th Street. Just three years later, 5,000 people, mostly Swedes, celebrated laying a cornerstone for a new building at 723 10th Avenue … Read more
In the late 1800s and the early decades of the last century, produce passed through a corner of the old Minneapolis Warehouse District called Commission Row. The heart of the bustling business of farmers and grocers, the Central Market was just behind the Butker Brothers Warehouse, where 2nd Avenue North crossed 6th Street. There was … Read more