Laughter, Falling Water and Time
“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
Hotel Vendome Nos. 17, 19 and 21 South Fourth street, for ten years one of the principal hostelries in Minneapolis which was partially destroyed by fire February 7, 1902 has been reconstructed and is again contacting it thriving business. The building now Hotel Vendome was first designed for offices and has been considered the handsomest … Read more
Born in Belleville, Illinois, William A. Fisher came to Minnesota in 1860. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted with the F company of the Minnesota Volunteers. After the war ended he settled on a farm in Brooklyn Center. A few years later he came to Minneapolis and went to work commanding a … Read more
The scene of circuses, celebrations and concerts and seven years older than New York’s famous Central Park, this land was designated you Public Square in 1849 by John R. Irvine, a territorial pioneer. and Henry M. Rice territorial delegate in United States Senator after statehood. Rice for whom the park was named was native of … Read more