K. J. Taralseth Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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K. J. Taralseth Company
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The K. J. Taralseth Company building in 1915
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 427 North Main Street, Warren, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1911 |
| Built by | Joseph Bell DeRemer |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000938 |
| Designated | September 6, 2002 |
The K. J. Taralseth Company was a very important store in Warren, Minnesota. It was open from 1888 to 1959. The first building burned down in 1910. So, the owners had a new building built the next year. This new building is still standing today!
Both buildings were home to a department store. They also had space for other businesses. This included a Masonic temple, a special meeting place for a community group. The buildings also hosted many fun community events. The 1911 building, where the K. J. Taralseth Company was for almost 50 years, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it's an important historical building because of its role in business and community life.
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The Story of K. J. Taralseth Company
On May 31, 1882, Knud J. Taralseth opened a general store. It was in a simple wooden building on Main Street in Warren. Knud was an immigrant from Norway. He had lived in the United States for ten years before coming to Warren. He worked as a carpenter for railroads in Red Wing and Minneapolis.
Knud started his business by buying half of a small store. This was in Osakis, Minnesota, in 1878. In 1882, he moved his family to Warren. There, he started his own store business. Warren's population grew, so in 1888, Knud moved his business to a new spot. He bought land on the corner of Main Street and Johnson Avenue. He then built the first two-story building in the city. This new brick-covered building held goods for sale. It also housed the Warren Masonic Lodge and the town's post office.
What the Store Sold
In the late 1800s, the Taralseth Store sold many items. These included dry goods (like fabric), clothing, hats, shoes, and groceries. It was set up like a department store. People thought it was the best general store along the Great Northern train line. This was true for the area between Crookston and Winnipeg. By 1904, Taralseth's store became an official company. It was called the K. J. Taralseth Company. Knud's sons, Ralph and Olaf, worked on the board and as managers. Knud J. Taralseth died one year later, at age 56. Ralph then stepped up to lead the family business.
A Big Fire and Rebuilding
On October 24, 1910, a terrible fire hit the Taralseth Building. The fire started in the basement. It destroyed the building and most of the goods inside. The money lost was about $125,000. This was the biggest loss in Warren's history. Right after the fire, the Taralseth family decided to rebuild the store. While the new building was being built, they sold items in different places around town.
On October 12, 1911, the new two-story brick Taralseth building opened. About fifteen people worked there as salespeople. They sold many things, like clothes for adults and kids, groceries, and hardware. To get customers and beat other stores, the managers changed the display windows every week. The Taralseths also advertised a lot. They sent out mailings and placed ads in newspapers. The local newspaper, Warren Sheaf, said the store was as good as any in the Twin Cities.
A Community Hub
The Taralseth building was known for more than just the store. It was one of the biggest and most important buildings in town. It had offices for other businesses and local officials. The Warren Commercial Club and the local Masonic lodge also had rooms there. The building hosted many social events. The Masonic lodge upstairs held dances for young people. During the holiday season, there were special events for children. The basement became a toy store at Christmas time. Store workers would dress as Santa Claus and give treats to the kids.
Besides owning the top store in Warren, the Taralseth family was also active in the community. Knud helped start school districts. He also served on a school board. Ralph was the mayor and fire chief for many years.
The Store's Later Years
In 1938, bigger stores started to compete with the Taralseth store. Sales slowly went down for twenty years. In 1959, the Taralseth family sold their business. After that, the building had apartments and small businesses. It was empty by the mid-1970s. In 2001, a project began to fix up the building. It was turned into apartments again, with business spaces on the first floor.
Images for kids
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The K. J. Taralseth Company building in 1915
