Pence Automobile Company Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Pence Automobile Company Building
|
|
The Pence Automobile Company Building from the east
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 800 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Architect | Long, Franklin; et al. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 07001314 |
| Added to NRHP | December 27, 2007 |
The Pence Automobile Company Building is an important building in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it is a special place recognized for its history.
This building was designed in 1909 by architects Long and Long. It has a style called Classical Revival, which looks a bit like ancient Greek or Roman buildings. The Pence building was used to sell cars, fix them, and store car parts and new vehicles. It was added to the National Register because it shows how much the car industry grew in the early 1900s.
Contents
Building History and Design
The Pence Automobile Company Building looks a lot like the early skyscrapers designed by famous architects like Louis Sullivan. These buildings often had three main parts: a base, a shaft, and a top, like a column.
The Pence building has a simple middle section, but its base has many interesting details. You can see classical designs, like sculptures, mixed with special terra cotta decorations. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay used for building and art. These details are similar to the designs Louis Sullivan used on his buildings.
Harry E. Pence and His Car Business
Harry E. Pence (1868-1933) was the person who owned the Pence Automobile Company. He was born in Springboro, Ohio. When he was 18, he moved to Minneapolis to work with his uncle, John Wesley Pence, who had many businesses.
In 1902, Harry Pence watched a car race in Minneapolis. This race made him decide to start selling cars. He chose to sell Cadillac cars because he thought they were reliable and easy to service. His dealership was only the second car dealership in Minneapolis. In 1903, he sold 83 cars!
From Cadillac to Buick
Harry Pence soon believed that cars needed bigger engines than the single-cylinder engines Cadillac was making. Cadillac did not agree with his idea. So, Pence decided to switch to selling Buick cars instead, because Buick agreed to make larger engines.
Pence's dealership became very successful. At one point, his company sold almost one-third of all the Buick cars made!
Pence's Other Business Ventures
Harry Pence also became involved in other businesses. In 1918, he took over a railway company called the Minneapolis St. Paul Rochester & Dubuque Electric Traction Company. This company was also known as The Dan Patch Electric Lines. After its previous owner, Marion Willis Savage, passed away, Harry Pence reorganized the company. He renamed it the Minneapolis, Northfield & Southern Railway.
Images for kids
-
The Pence Automobile Company Building from the east
