The bedrock is exposed and being drilled, cut and removed from the construction site. Foundation walls are shown in their wood and metal frames. Various types of construction tools, including type of power-operated drill are shown.
Photograph is taken from approximately present day corners of Kellogg Boulevard and Market Street, looking towards Washington and 4th Streets. The photograph shows the foundation of the construction site almost completed. The building being constructed in the background is the Minnesota Club. In the far background of the construction is the Cathedral of Saint Paul.
Photograph is taken from present day corners of 4th and Washington Streets, looking towards Kellogg Boulevard and Market Street. The entrance to the construction site is off of Kellogg Boulevard. The construction shacks of the Thomas J. Steen company are by that entrance. The construction barricade provides advertisement for North Western Fuel Company's Scranton Coal. Construction for the building cranes has begun.
This photograph is taken from Washington Street looking towards the corners of Market Street and Kellogg Boulevard. A scaffold and building crane are now on site. Some areas of the foundation are being enclosed.
This photograph is taken from approximately the present day corner of Market Street and Kellogg Boulevard, looking towards Washington and 4th Streets. The entire construction area is surrounded by a barricade. A delivery of lumber has a sign on it that reads: "Brooks Brothers Lumber." The second floor of the Minnesota Club is being worked on. The tower of the Cathedral of Saint Paul is visible behind the Minnesota Club. The Saint Paul Auditorium is to the right of the Minnesota Club. The twin spires of the Saint Louis Catholic Church can be seen behind the trees of Rice Park, which is on 4th Street.
The photograph is taken from present day Market Street, looking towards Washington Street. Construction of the scaffolds and building cranes has begun. Construction continues on the third floor of the Minnesota Club.
The photograph is taken from present day Washington Street looking towards Market Street and Kellogg Boulevard. Building crews are constructing scaffolds and assembling cranes. To the right of the crane on the left side of the construction site is the beginning of the construction of the James J. Hill Reference Library. The James J. Hill Reference Library and the Central Library of the Saint Paul Public Library were constructed as one building, separated by a common wall.
Close detail of the construction scaffolding. To the left of the scaffolding are machines used to mix concrete. Workers with wheelbarrows are collecting the mixture. To the right of the mixing drum is a small wooden structure that houses the engine that provides the power to mix the concrete. Exhaust smoke is coming from the stack that rises above the small wooden structure. Various construction workers are on the site. Four men in suits and hats plus another man in a vest and hat seem to be posing for the photographer. These men may be members of the Steen Construction Company. The photograph displays the words "Steen Construction Company."
Photograph is taken at the present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. Dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen are dressed for the occasion are shown around the corner stone. Architect Electus D. Litchfield (1872-1952) stands in lower right corner holding straw hat.
This photograph is taken on the present day corners of Washington and 4th Street. This appears to be the dedication ceremony. The individual standing by the corner stone is making a speech. The speaker is not identified. Dignitaries are seated closest to the speaker. Note the woman in the left side of the photograph, same level as the speaker, who is holding a baby. Workers from the Minnesota Club have ceased working to listen to the speech. In the background, to the right of a pile of building materials, is a street car on 4th Street. In front of the wall stands architect Electus D. Litchfield (1872-1952), who is putting on his straw hat.
Photograph taken from present day Market Street, looking towards the corners of Washington and 4th Street. The scaffolding is completed and the cranes are in place. Lumber, bricks, sand and other aggregate needed for mixing concrete are now on site.
Photograph is taken from the present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. Building materials are now in abundance as construction moves ahead. In this photograph the cranes are now rigged with their cables. The scaffold on the right side of the photograph shows what may be hand holds permitting the crane operator to climb into the operating cab.
Photograph is taken from the present day corners of Kellogg Boulevard and Market Street, looking towards Washington Street. Construction workers and supervisors are on site. To their left is a portable steam engine on a sledge, known as a "donkey engine." Building materials on site include a shipment of bricks. Wood and metal framings are in place for work on the first floor of the library. Scaffolds are now enclosed inside the building walls of the second floor.
Photograph is taken from present day 4th Street. Work begins on the first floor of the library. Foundation work for the library staircase is beginning.
Photograph is taken from present day 4th Street. The first floor of the library is almost complete. Various materials are seen around the foundation of the library. Frame work for a power lift, for moving building materials, is being constructed between the existing scaffolds.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day corner of Washington and 4th Streets. The first floor is enclosed and work on the second floor has begun. A power lift between the scaffolds in now complete and will move building materials to the upper floors. The part of the building on Kellogg Boulevard and Washington Street side, appears to have a rectangular open area. This opening will eventually house eight floors of metal stacks for library materials.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Market Street, looking towards Washington and 4th Streets. Construction materials fill the building site. Bricks can be seen on the workers scaffolding on the interior walls. The steam-powered engine (known as a "donkey engine") that operates the power lift can be seen to the left of the base of the lift. The lift makes use of a conveyor and chute. Note the octagonal shape workers scaffold on the 4th Street side of the building. Windows are being installed in the Minnesota Club. In the upper left of the photograph a horse and wagon can be seen on Kellogg Boulevard.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Washington and 4th Streets, looking towards present day Market Street and Kellogg Boulevard. Interior walls define the various rooms that will be on the second floor. Exterior construction of the James J. Hill Reference Library can now be clearly seen. Note the two workers below the what will be the staircase and main entry to the library.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from the corner of present day Washington and 4th Streets. The upper left portion of the photograph shows the interior and exterior walls of the James J. Hill Reference Library. The lighter color portion is the exterior wall, and the darker portion the interior wall.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Market Street. Work continues on the second floor, exterior walls continue to take shape. Near the center of the photo, a portable steam engine, or "donkey engine" appears to have steam coming out of its tall chimney.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Market Street. The wood frames for the arched windows can be seen in detail. Scaffolding is increasing in height to match construction of walls.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from the corner of present day Washington and 4th Streets. The exterior of the second floor is almost complete. Scaffolding and cranes on the 4th Street side of the building have been raised in height.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from the corner of present day Washington and 4th Streets. The exterior of the second floor is almost complete. Scaffolding and cranes have been raised in height to begin working of the third floor. A wooden frame arch support is now in place above what will be the main entrance to the library.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day Market Street. Construction of the third floor begins. Scaffolding for the power lift and cranes has be raised in height. Interior scaffolds can be seen within the area of the second floor.
Photograph is taken from elevated position of present day Kellogg Boulevard. On the right side of the photograph is the James J. Hill Reference Library. Interior scaffolding and supports are visible for both library buildings.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position from present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. The second floor is now enclosed and work begins on the third floor. The common wall between the Saint Paul Public Library and the James J. Hill Reference Library is visible. In the upper left portion of the photograph, workers on the fourth floor of the James J. Hill Reference Library.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position of present day Washington and 4th Streets. Foundation for the stair case and entrance of the library has begun. Workers present at the near corner between first and second floors (blurred), on the trusses just left of the photo's center and on the far right edge. Work on the roof of the James J. Hill Reference Library has begun.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position of present day Kellogg Boulevard, looking towards Washington and 4th Streets. The power lift has been extended to a further height to deliver building materials to the upper floors. Building bricks and aggregate for concrete are still present on the building site. Building cranes are almost obscured within the walls of the library. Note the addition of a service entrance to the James J. Hill Reference Library. The Cathedral of Saint Paul is visible in the upper left portion of the photograph.
Photograph is taken from an elevated position of present day Kellogg Boulevard, looking towards Washington and 4th Streets. The exterior walls for all four floors are now completed. Roof trusses are now being set in place. Cranes are still visible in the section of the library facing Washington Street, as is a worker with a wheelbarrow on top of the library. Frames for the windows are visible in the construction yard.
Photograph is taken from present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. The exterior wall are completed. Work continues on the main entrances for both Saint Paul Public Library and James J. Hill Reference Library. A building cranes are still visible on site.
The photograph is taken from present day 4th Street. The fa?ade is almost completed. Two building cranes are visible in front of the library. Window frames are now present on the second floor.
The photograph is taken from present day 4th corners of Washington and 4th Streets. Window frames are now installed being installed on the third floors of the library. The roof will soon enclose the library. The power lift is still needed for the finishing work.
The photograph is taken from an elevated position on present day Kellogg Boulevard. Roof trusses are in place and soon the roofing materials will be fixed in place. The power lift is still needed to move materials to the various floors of the library. Construction workers can be seen on the roof. Below the power lift can be seen three round arches. These arches make up the loading and delivery dock for the library.
The photograph is taken from the present day corners of Washington and 4th Streets. The entrance on the far left of the photograph is for the James J. Hill Reference Library. The entrance to the center of the photograph is for the Saint Paul Public Library.
The photograph is taken from an elevated position on present day Kellogg Boulevard. The scaffolds with their cranes, and the power lift have been removed. Finishing work continues on the room. Three rectangular openings on the roof will be for skylights. Windows that have the frames installed are now being sealed.
The photograph is taken from an elevated position on present day Kellogg Boulevard. The roof work is complete. A moving cover is in place over the skylights. Most of the windows have frames and are being sealed. Near photo's center, a man works on scaffold suspended from roof. Also a bell sits to the right edge of the pile of building materials, although neither the Central Library nor any branch of the Saint Paul Public Library is known to have a bell.
The photograph is taken from present day 4th Street. Work continues on the main entrance to the Saint Paul Public Library. Some windows remain open for delivery or removal of building materials.
The photograph is taken from an elevated position on present day Kellogg Boulevard. A wooden staircase allows easy access to the second floor of the library. An advertisement on the barricade reads in part "Gordon Pure Fur?".
The photograph is taken from an elevated position on present day Kellogg Boulevard. Building materials are piled up in the worksite. Note the three horse drawn wagons on the building site.
The photograph is taken from the staircase on the 4th Street side of the library. The oval decorative motif depicts the coat of arms of the library, a theme that is repeated within the library building.