At the Aberdeen

Designed by the architectural firm of Wilcox and Johnston, the Hotel Aberdeen was completed in 1889 for less than $250,000. Perched on the southwest corner of Virginia and Dayton, three blocks away from the grand homes of Summit Avenue, the Aberdeen was a fine, old residential hotel complete with cafe, fine dining and a grand … Read more

The Kasota Building

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

The New Nile

Sydney, William and Julius Volk arrived in Minneapolis by way of Lithuania at the dawn of the Jazz Age.  When the Great Depression hit they took out loans, pooled their savings and went into the movie theater business.  During the 1930’s, old silent movies houses were retrofitted for sound and new theaters opened all over … Read more

New York Life in Minneapolis

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

Where You Are Welcome

You will find Minneapolis a city in which commerce and beauty have fanned a happy combination. It is big as a manufacturer and distributor, yet )t has not developed in material welfare at the expense of its natural gifts. It is a city of culture as well as one of industry. It is a city … Read more

At Lake and 27th Then and Now

And I remember walking through the rain with Reverend Jim. We went into Grandma’s Kitchen and looked out the window at Lake Street. Just another dark morning of coffee and cold air. The night before was a long one. Green Jeans and I had been drinking Special Export in the alley waiting for the doors … Read more

Coal Troops in Action

What these poster stamps are worth as an advertising medium is best told by Mr. Hartin, who says; ” This advertising has given us more general publicity than any piece we have put out in our ten years of business experience. Many of our customers have called at our office for another copy.” Poster stamps … Read more

The Covered Wagon

Back in 1933, not long after the repeal of the 18th amendment,  three traveling sales men who wanted to get off the dusty trail and into business for themselves launched a new restaurant. The Covered Wagon brought sizzling steaks to the heart of the Minneapolis Loop. The Benson  Brothers Hugo and Fritz joined forces with … Read more

Skyline Timeline

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