Imagine if buildings could talk. What tales would the Day Block Building in Minneapolis tell?
The Day Block Building stands here at 1103 Washington Ave S. It is a testament to Minneapolis’s vibrant history. Leonard Day, a lumber and flour milling entrepreneur, built it in 1883. He named the Day Block Building after himself. This was a common practice then. It was like a vanity license plate.
Interestingly, the exact reason Day built it remains unknown. Sadly, he died the same year it was built.
Between 1884 and 1885, the Day Block Building served as a hospital. The Michigan and Wisconsin Hospital Company treated mill workers. These workers got healthcare for only $10 a year.
From 1887, Peter O. Melby ran his furniture and undertaking business here. Melby was a Norwegian immigrant. He crafted furniture and offered undertaking services for over thirty years.
Newspaper ads reveal Union Clothing also occupied the Day Block Building. Early ads were in Norwegian. This highlighted the area’s Norwegian community. Later, ads appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Andrew Skoog, a Swedish choir leader, ran a music store here from 1892 to 1893. He composed hymns for local churches.
The Day Block Building even attracted famous literary figures. Knute Hamsun, a Nobel Prize winner, visited Melby’s store. He observed Americans for a book.
In 1912, a fire damaged the Day Block Building and its businesses. This included Melby’s store and the Advance Hotel. The Advance Hotel was a rooming house for hardworking men.
In 1919, burglars stole clothing and jewelry from Union Clothing. The loss was between $400 and $500.
Frank’s Plumbing was a long-term tenant. It occupied the Day Block Building for six decades. Maurice Frank opened it in 1946. It specialized in antique plumbing parts.
In 1949, Oken Brothers bought the Day Block Building. They ran a grocery store on the lower floor. The upper floors became a boarding house.
Jeff Hahn purchased the Day Block Building in 2005. He restored its historic character. In 2006, his web development firm moved to the third floor.
The Day Block Event Center opened on the second floor in 2009. Day Block Brewing, a brewpub, opened on the ground floor in 2014.
Today, the Day Block Building stands proudly. It is near the US Bank Stadium and the Mill City Museum. It has witnessed countless stories unfold. The Day Block Building continues to evolve. It honors its rich past. Its entrepreneurial spirit remains alive. This historic building stands as a symbol of Minneapolis’s enduring legacy.