Lumber Exchange II

On my way to the bus, i snapped these last few pictures that i have of the Lumber Exchange. In the previous post i mentioned a chandelier that could be seen from the second floor lobby. Behind me where elevators. The picture above is one of the elevators on that second floor. It's not the greatest picture as i really wanted to hone in on the medallion above the door. This is where i wish i had zoom.
What's interesting about the medallion is that on the first floor, there is one exactly like it above the door. The only difference is that the medallion on the first floor is completely green. I'm wondering if the coloring on the medallion on the second floor has any significance? I was thinking that maybe it was to indicate which floor it is? Who knows. I suppose i could actually search for info. online, but it's more fun to speculate at this point.



This last image is taken from one of three directory boards (the "F"s). The triangle is repeated three times, one on top of each directory column. I'm not so sure this is original... Did they have directories like this in the 1800's or 1900's? I'll have to check to see when this building was built.

Okay, i just searched for info. Read on if you would like a history lesson. Stop now if you don't.

The Lumber Exchange Building was the first skyscrapper built in Mpls. MN., and dates to 1885. It was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by Franklin B. Long and Frederick Kees and was billed as one of the first fireproof buildings in the country. It is the oldest high-rise building standing in Minneapolis, and is the oldest building outside of New York City with 12 or more floors.
The building was built in multiple stages. Originally a tall, thin structure, an additional wing was added in 1890. Later, two stories were added at the top of the building. James Lileks, Minneapolis writer and architectural critic, says,
“ It's one of the few survivors from the early skyscraper era – and perhaps the ugliest. Of all the buildings on Hennepin, it's the least significant; across the street, the Masonic Temple – a near contemporary – is far more intriguing. The Lumber Exchange survived, though; perhaps it was just too big to knock down. It survived a fire, disrepair, neglect … it just won't go away."[5] ”
The Lumber Exchange Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumber_Exchange_Building

You know what's interesting? Not a single article on the interior of the building. If someone is looking for a research project, there's one waiting for you in the Lumber Exchange Building. As you and i know, if there isn't an article of sorts on the web, then there are no articles in existence period! (snark, snark, snark :))