Pine Tree Lumber Company Office Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pine Tree Lumber Company Office Building
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Front of the office building
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 735 1st St., NE, Little Falls, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1891 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001991 |
| Added to NRHP | September 5, 1985 |
The Pine Tree Lumber Company Office Building is a very old and important building located in Little Falls, Minnesota. It was built in 1891 to be the main office for the Pine Tree Lumber Company. This company was led by Charles Weyerhaeuser and Richard Musser.
This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 5, 1985. This means it's recognized as a special place in history. Little Falls was a great spot for the company because it was right on the Mississippi River. Also, the Northern Pacific Railway ran through the town, making it easy to move wood.
The lumber business helped Little Falls grow a lot during a time called the "timber boom." This building is the only one left that reminds us of this big company.
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Discovering the Office Building
This historic building is in a wooded area next to the Mississippi River. It's about half a mile north of the main shopping area in Little Falls. The building faces east on First Street, which is a major road in the town.
Near the building, you can still see a railroad track and a bridge from the Northern Pacific Railway. These tracks were used to serve the company's wood processing factories, which were on both sides of the river. Right next to the tracks was the large lumber mill on the east side of the river.
What the Building Looks Like
The office building is two-stories tall and made of brick. It sits on a strong granite base. The roof is shaped like a hipped roof with a flat top in the middle.
You can see curved windows on the roof, called "eyebrow dormers." These let light into the attic space. The windows are often in pairs and have flat arches above them. Many parts of the building, like the decorative cornices and window frames, are symmetrical. This design shows off the Italianate and classical revival styles, which were popular for business buildings back then.
The building has very large windows. This shows it was built for business, not for living. However, in 1927, the building was sold. Its offices were then changed into apartments.
The Pine Tree Lumber Company Story
The Pine Tree Lumber Company started in Little Falls between 1890 and 1892. It was created by several important lumber magnates from Wisconsin and Minnesota. One of the most famous was Frederick Weyerhaeuser. This company was his first big step into the lumber business in Minnesota.
How the Company Operated
The company officially started its work in Little Falls on May 18, 1891. It was a huge employer, with about 500 men working there. The company quickly became the biggest industry in town. Each year, they would cut about 60 million feet of pine wood. They also made ten million laths, which are thin strips of wood.
In 1915, Charles Weyerhaeuser, Frederick's son, was listed as the president of the company. The Pine Tree Lumber Company also had sawmills in Oregon and Washington.
The company reached its busiest time in 1902. After that, less and less wood was available. The Pine Tree Lumber Company eventually closed its doors around 1920.
