The Club Bar

The club bar is often called the house of Kronfeld filled not as a  humorous or derisive application but because it actually is “The House that Frank Built”. For 12 years Frank Kronfeld and his brother, Bill have sought for and purchased unusual Chinese furniture, vases, carvings pictures and statues and have built their Club … Read more

A Hotel of Refinement

The Hotel St. Francis building was erected for George Benz and Sons on the site of the old St. Paul Library after it was destroyed by a fire in 1915. Fred C. Norlander was awarded the building contract.The 215 room St.Francis Hotel and the New Palace Theater opened up in 1916.The name of the theater … Read more

Lyndale and the Basilica Then and Now

You can’t tell by looking at this old photo, but the place where Hennepin and Lyndale Avenues meet was almost as big a traffic snarl in 1943 as it is today. It may have been worse. Back then Minneapolis had close to 100,000 more residents and many more shopping working and living close to downtown. … Read more

Edna S. Purcell House Then and Now

The Edna S. Purcell house was designed by William Gray Purcell & George Grant Elmslie for Purcell and his family in 1913. The house is considered on of the finest examples of work done by the local architecture firm of Purcell and Elmslie. The structure’s horizontal plane, flat roof, use of natural materials and colors … Read more

Lutheran Brotherhood Home Office

The International Style, Lutheran Brotherhood Home Office at was completed in 1956. The building is remembered as one of the first to incorporate curtain-wall construction. The lower level opened on a sunken garden and the ivy covered walls of the Minneapolis Club. Two floors were added during 1967-1968. Minnegasco moved in and renamed the building … Read more