The Rogers Hotel

The Rogers Hotel was the talk of the town in during the Gay Nineties. The original Rogers embraced 132 feet on 4th and 113 feet on Nicollet.  Legend has it that in 1886,  J. E. “Tooze” Rogers walked into a one story building on the corner and said, ” This looks like a likely place … Read more

The Hotel Ryan

The Ryan Hotel in St. Paul in was the finest luxury hotel Minnesota had to offer in the late 19th century. Designed by architect James J. Egan,  construction of the hotel was funded by a millionaire gold and silver miner named Dennis Ryan. Rising from the Northeast corner of 6th and Robert, this Gothic creation … Read more

In the Banking District

Construction on the National Bank of Commerce Building at 4th and Marquette began in 1887. Designed by Minneapolis architect, Harry W. Jones the building, was completed in 1889. Inspired by Henry H. Richardson’s Field Building in Chicago. The National Bank of Commerce was featured in a 1889 issue of Northwestern Architect. Jones may have worked … Read more

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