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
Lake Avenue is perpendicular to Superior Street in downtown Duluth. Lake Avenue runs up and down the hillside. In Duluth, you are either directed "up the hill" or "down the hill", "away from the Lake" or "toward the Lake." Lake Superior is the primary fixture we orient people to. Lake Avenue is the road that leads you to the Aerial Lift Bridge. When you have crossed the bridge you are on South Lake Avenue on Minnesota Point. The businesses on South Lake Avenue in Canal Park are the businesses "below" Superior Street en route to the Bridge. Many of the buildings on South Lake Avenue are original frame or brick and stone buildings dating from the 1870s and 1880s. The little frame building at the right in the foreground of this photograph is 241-243 South Lake Avenue, the Standard Salt and Cement Company. Across the avenue is General Electric Supply Company at 244-246 South Lake Avenue. The board walk is still functioning. The Coast-to-Coast Stores bought the Duluth division of Marshall-Wells-Kelley How-Thomson Company in 1958, which ended the Duluth Marshall-Wells hardware firm's operation. The sign is not fibbing, Marshall-Wells was in fact the world's largest wholesale hardware company.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This building at 302 East First Street in downtown Duluth has had many occupants. It was a roller skating rink and dance hall in 1911. It was the Shrine Auditorium from about 1927. Here, in about 1937, it is Agen Motor Company a Dodge Plymouth sales and service business.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Superior street businesses; Alworth building 306 to 308 west Superior street was built in 1909 and is Duluth's tallest building with 16 stories; photo number 1912
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Cornice and upper floors of Minnesota Surplus store and Mr. Nick's hamburgers, in the old Duluth Herald newspaper building, and Livingston's Big Duluth men's clothing store, on the lower side of West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Cornice and upper floors of Minnesota Surplus store and Mr. Nick's hamburgers, in the old Duluth Herald newspaper building, on the lower side of West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Retail and office building at 10 East Superior Street or the corner of Lake Avenue and Superior Street. Stories were added in 1924 to total four. It was razed in the summer of 1979.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Bradley building was located at this Lake Avenue and Superior Street intersection of downtown Duluth. In 1924, upper floors were added making it four stories. It was razed in the summer of 1979.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Bridgeman-Russell was founded in 1888, and incorporated in 1903 by Duluthian Henry Bridgeman. Newell Francis Russell was born on a farm near Rush City, Minnesota in 1869. There were a number of Bridgeman ice cream stores in Duluth. This building is at 16 West First Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Bridgeman-Russell processing plant at 1102-1116 West Michigan Street in Duluth. Their fleet of delivery truck have the PURITY brand on each one. The Primus Butter sign on the roof was another brand. Henry Bridgeman founded the company in Duluth in 1888 and incorporated 1903. Russell is Newell Francis Russell who was born on a farm near Rush City. The first retail store opened in 1936 in Duluth, and the company moved into the Twin Cities the following year.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Lower side of West Superior Street of signs for downtown businesses Ace Hardware 212 West Superior Street, Jensens Shoes at 208 West Superior Street with the Endion Station Art Gallery above and Bud's Clothing at 206 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Berg Brothers Drapery Shop and Universal Electric Supply Company are on the street level of the Builders' Exchange office building at the corner of First Street and Lake Avenue North. In 1902, the Duluth Builders' Exchange incorporated. Local builders saw advantages in mustering the most reliable firms into one accessible organization.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The Berg Brothers Drapery Shop and Universal Electric Supply Company are on the street level of the Builders' Exchange office building at the corner of First Street and Lake Avenue North. In 1902, the Duluth Builders' Exchange incorporated. Local builders saw advantages in mustering the most reliable firms into one accessible organization.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The 300 block of North Central Avenue in West Duluth. Businesses include the Boston Store at 320-322, Albert Bergstein Clothing at 326 and the Pekin Cafe at 330.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
Construction of the F. A. Patrick building began in March 1906 at the corner of Fifth Avenue South and Commerce Street. The woolen mill and garment factory had nation-wide customers by 1916.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This local business at 4702 Grand Avenue began as Diamond Calk Horse Shoe in 1907 by Otto Swanstrom the inventor of the "diamond calks" in 1900. The plant was sold in the 1980s. In 1994, the last workers vacated. The building was razed in 1996.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
This local business at 4702 Grand Avenue began as Diamond Calk Horse Shoe in 1907 by Otto Swanstrom the inventor of the "diamond calks" in 1900. The plant was sold in the 1980s. In 1994, the last workers vacated. The building was razed in 1996.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of three adjacent businesses: Arrowhead Cafeteria at 219 West Superior Street, Victor Huot French Confectioner at 217, and the edge of the Lyric Theater with its stained glass windows at 213 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A view of First Street businesses looking east. Power hardware is at 114 West First Street. Arthur W. Bullard lives upstairs and has his Bullard Knitting Mills in the street level of the Rowley Hall building at 112-116 West First Street. Home Made Candy is the confectionery business of James Zootes at 116 West First Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
The corner building at Lake Avenue and West First Street is downtown Duluth holds businesses: Hockin Brace and Paleen furniture, H. L. Cook Company auto repairs garage, and White Sewing Machine Company. Up the avenue is the Masonic Temple's dome.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View looking west on First Street. The Wolvin Building is at 227 West First Street and the Duluth Board of Trade building is across the avenue on the next corner with the arched entryway.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of downtown Duluth looking east from First Avenue West toward Lake Avenue. These are the businesses and buildings on the north or upper side of Superior Street. In sequence from the left are Oreck's clothing at 29-31 West Superior Street, Kinney Shoes 25 West Superior Street, Stack Company dry goods 21 West Superior Street, Kelly Furniture 17 West Superior Street, Hudson Bay Furs 15 West Superior Street,, Wirth building 13 West Superior Street, Silberstein and Bondy Co.. 9 West Superior Street, Wenger Furs 3 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
A view looking east on Superior Street. The King Joy Cafe is at 214 West Superior Street. Hotel Alvarado is at 212 West Superior Street. Floan Leveroos Ahlen Company is at 210-212 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections
View of downtown Duluth looking east from Fourth Avenue West. These are the businesses and buildings on the south side of Superior Street. In sequence from the right are St. Louis Hotel 318-322 West Superior Street, the Torrey office building 314 West Superior Street, Memorial or Moore office building 312 West Superior Street, Alworth office building 306-308 West Superior Street, Lonsdale office building 300 West Superior Street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Northeast Minnesota Historical Collections