Pan Motor Company Office and Sheet Metal Works facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pan Motor Company Office and Sheet Metal Works
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The Pan Motor Company Office viewed from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 435–437 33rd Avenue N., St. Cloud, Minnesota |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1919–1920 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001694 |
| Added to NRHP | January 31, 1984 |
The Pan Motor Company Office and Sheet Metal Works are two old buildings in St. Cloud, Minnesota, United States. They are the only parts left of a big factory that used to make cars. These buildings were built between 1919 and 1920 for the Pan Motor Company.
This company was started by Samuel Pandolfo. It made about 750 cars from 1917 until it closed in 1922. The office building is made of brick and has one floor. The sheet metal works building is much bigger, made of steel and concrete. Both buildings are important because they show St. Cloud's first large factory and Minnesota's attempt to build cars. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Contents
History of the Pan Motor Company
Samuel Pandolfo's Dream Car
Samuel "Sam" Connor Pandolfo (1874–1960) had many jobs. He was a teacher, then sold insurance, and finally became a car maker. As he traveled for his insurance job, he got an idea for a new kind of car.
He wanted a car that was perfect for travelers. His dream car would have seats that folded down for sleeping. It would also have special spots for tools, extra gas, and even food and drinks. The car would also be high enough to drive on bumpy country roads.
Starting the Car Company
In 1916, Sam Pandolfo began selling shares for his new car company. He traveled from New Mexico all the way to Chicago. The shares cost $10 each (which is like about $280 today). People bought them easily.
By 1917, about 9,000 people owned shares in his company. In March 1917, St. Cloud, Minnesota, was chosen as the home for the new Pan Motor Company. This spot was picked because it was close to important shipping areas and iron mines. St. Cloud also had two main train lines and two power dams on the Mississippi River.
A Big Celebration and a New Town
On July 4, 1917, Sam Pandolfo threw a huge picnic. A very large crowd came to see the first Pan Automobile. They had tons of food, like 15,434 pounds of beef and 8,000 loaves of bread! Even with all that food, it wasn't enough for everyone. But many people bought shares, which made Pandolfo happy.
The company built a lot more than just car factories. They built a whole town called Pan-Town next to the Mississippi River for their workers. This town had 58 homes, a fire department, and a hotel. The company also built a very large drop forge plant, which was the biggest west of Chicago.
Challenges and the Company's End
The company kept selling shares to get money for all this building. They also spent a lot of money on mailing out advertisements. They spent between $30,000 and $40,000 each year just on postage!
However, the company only made about 735 cars. People who bought shares were not getting any money back. A group called the Associated Advertising Clubs of Minneapolis complained about the company. They said Pandolfo spent too much money on advertising, more than allowed by his company's rules.
Even though the first complaint was dismissed, the issue kept getting attention. The Pan Motor Company struggled. It tried making car parts for other companies and metal products under its own name. But in 1922, the company finally closed. Car production stopped, and St. Cloud lost its chance to become a major car-making city like Detroit.
Images for kids
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A share from the Pan Motor Company, issued on February 6, 1919.
