Marshall-Wells Hardware merchandise is loaded and ready for delivery to various railroad lines for transport. The first horse-drawn sleigh will take the orders packed into it to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha depot. The truck behind the sleigh is destined for the Soo Line depot. The next in line will be shipped on the Great Northern railway and the one after that will go to the Northern Pacific. The Union Depot served seven railroads including the GN and NP. It still stands as the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center. All of the other depots are gone. The Marshall-Wells Company started in 1886 as Chapin and Wells Company a wholesale hardware business. Albert Morley Marshall, son of Seth, bought controlling interest in 1893 and changed the name to Marshall-Wells Company. The company grew to include 14 wholesale offices throughout the northwestern U.S. and Canada. In 1955 Ambrook Industries Inc. of New York bought controlling interest. Kelley-How-Thomson and Marshall-Wells merged January 1, 1958. Kelley-How-Thomson had been a subsidiary of Marshall-Wells since 1955 when Ambrook bought Marshall-Wells and reorganized. The Coast-to-Coast Stores bought the Duluth division of Marshall-Wells-Kelley-How-Thomson Company in 1958, which ended the Duluth firm's operation. Also in the image are the People's Hotel 246 Lake Avenue South, and the Lyceum Theater billboard.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Nelson Building, 5628 Grand Avenue, at the intersection of Grand Avenue, Ramsey Street and Fifty Seventh Avenue West, first appears in the Duluth City Directory in 1917.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
National Iron Company was at Fiftieth Avenue West and Ramsey Street. From 1898, it designed and manufactured heavy machinery and structural steel. It employed 190 workers in 1916 with a payroll of $96,000.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Looking east from Michigan street and Sixth Avenue West. The Union Depot is at the right. Hotel Columbia is across the street with its awnings extended.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This West Duluth Street view at Central Avenue and Bristol street shows the building where the Purity Store operated as well as other business signs. It is an example of Romanesque architecture. The view includes men, boys, children, a truck, snow. It is a winter view of the business district. The building was constructed in 1889, and it was razed in 1976. Note the fire escape.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The sculpted details are at the entrance of the Palladio building in downtown Duluth at the corner of Fourth Avenue West and Superior Street. Northwestern Fuel sold coal, coke, and wood from their office at 403 West Superior Street. The 1889 Palladio Building architect was Henry Raeder of Raeder, Coffin and Crocker.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
West Duluth; Forty-Fifth Avenue West and Third Street looking east; this photograph was used as a court exhibit to document some type of accident; houses; businesses; telephone poles; streetcar tracks
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Hugh McKenzie was a principal Duluth photographer. McKenzie's studio was in this Seip Building or Smith Building 101 West Superior on the northwest corner. It was the last frame building in the main business district on Superior Street when it was torn down in 1926.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections