A PDF version of this 2011 bibliography is viewable and downloadable at the bottom this page.  Additional archives and sources for later stages of research trhough 2014 are available under the Resources page.

Who Built Our Minnesota State Capitol Building?

 

Project Bibliography

 

Randy Croce

David Riehle

John Sielaff,

Victoria H. Woodcock

 

March 2011

~ ~ ~

Introduction

 

This document is a compilation of most of the sources of information we consulted in support of the “Who Built Our Capitol?” project being carried out by the Labor Education Service of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities as of the end of the first research stage in 2011. This document contains information about the following types of primary and secondary research materials: newspapers, photographs, census records, web sites and books, and was obtained from the Minnesota Historical Society, the Marble Valley Historical Society and Museum, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Genealogical Society, and numerous individuals. These scraps of information have slowly come together to paint a picture of the lives of the individuals who worked on the Capitol building, and for five men, their deaths on the work site.

 

Victoria Woodcock, MS, MLIS – researcher, report author

March 2011

 

Other Researchers:

Randy Croce (Project Director)

David Riehle

John Sielaff

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Newspapers

The following newspapers are in microform format at the Minnesota Historical Society Microfilm Library, Saint Paul, Minnesota.

 

Search terms:

Hennepin County (Minn.)—Newspapers

Labor Unions—Minnesota—Minneapolis--Newspapers

Minneapolis (Minn.)—Newspapers

Minnesota State Federation of Labor--Newspapers

Ramsey County (Minn.)—Newspapers

Saint Paul (Minn.)—Newspapers

Saint Paul Trades and Labor Assembly (Saint Paul, Minn.)--Newspapers

Trades and Labor Assembly of Minneapolis

 

Anchor and Shield (A.O.U.W.) & The AOUW Guide

Publication dates

Newspapers devoted to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, a fraternal order that sold life insurance to working class white men (no women, no African Americans) and also provided social entertainments for its members. From lists of chapter affiliates, it was probably a large organization. Criteria for joining usually printed on front page.

 

Afro-American Advance

Publication dates: 1899-1905

Articles of interest to African American community in Twin Cities. No mention of capitol construction

 

 

Interurban

Publication dates

Newspaper coverage of the Hamline area of St. Paul. International, national news. Some neighborhood news. No mention of capitol construction or working men or women.

 

Saint Paul Dispatch

Weekly

1869-1903

 

-May 7, 1896, page 5/”First Sod is Cut:” ground breaking for capitol building.

 

-same date and page/ “To A Saint Paul Man:” awarding of foundation contract to George J. Grant.

 

-May 14, 1896, page 8/Photograph of groundbreaking ceremony.

 

-May 28, 1896, page 5/”Seventeen Want It: That Many Would Be Superintendent of Construction:” mentions the names of the men who applied for this position.

 

-July 23, 1897, last page/”On The Grand Order:” full page artists rendering of the interior of the chambers of the Senate, Court, and House of Representatives.

 

-July 21, 1897 page 5/”Carnival of Fun:” List of events surrounding the laying of the capitol cornerstone.

 

-July 28,1897 front page/”Stone in Place.”

 

-August 2, 1897, page 5/”Capitol Building Finances.”

 

-same date and page/”Of Georgia Marble:” comparison of Minnesota granite and Georgia marble.

 

-June 25, 1903/”Head Long to His Death:” Death of John Corregan.

 

-January 2, 1905/”Swarming on the New Hive:” political cartoon showing the opening of the capitol building.

 

-August 16, 1897, front page/ “It Is Settled:” choice of Georgia marble for the exterior.

 

Saint Paul Pioneer Press

 

See articles cited in Appendix 3: Accidental Deaths and Appendix 4: People Involved in Building the MN State Capitol

 

 

The Minneapolis Journal

Publication dates: 1888-1939

 

-August 3, 1897, pg. 6/ “Home-Grown Stone.”

-same date and page/”That Capitol Stone:” article about organized labor.

 

-September 1, 1897, front page/”In A Shell of Marble.”

-same date, page 4/” The Capitol Stone:” editorial about out of state materials.

 

-September 2, 1897, front page/ political cartoon-shows out of work Minnesota quarry man

 

 

-August 28, 1897/”No Georgia Marble:” article about organized labor’s opposition to Georgia marble being used in state capitol building construction.

 

The Minneapolis Tribune

 

-August 4 1902, p. 6/ 400 men working on capitol; “Last marble laid:” Stoneworkers strike over non-union blacksmith

 

-January 28, 1904/ “All Join Together: Contractors and laborers unite in fight against Capitol Commission” Painting and decorator companies and workers protest against Capitol Commission using outside painters

 

See also articles cited in Appendix 3: Accidental Deaths and Appendix 4: People Involved in Building the MN State Capitol

 

The Minnesota Union Advocate

Publication dates: February 5, 1897 – December 28, 1900

 

-April 28, 1897/Local Events: article about how work on the new government building would provide work for local bricklayers.

 

-June 25, 1897/”Of Native Stone:”article demanding the use of Minnesota stone in the new capitol building construction. “Mass Meeting:” union resolution to support the use of Minnesota stone.

 

-September 3, 1897/Labor Day issue. A number of articles about female union leaders.

 

The Laborer/ The Socialist Party of Minnesota

1894

No local information on labor or working men in St. Paul or Ramsey county. Consists mostly of national news, a lot of Socialist ideologies explained.

 

The Saint Paul Daily Globe

Publication dates:

Daily

-May 6, 1898, page 4/”Only Lived a Few Hours:” article about the death of Felix Arthur.

 

-May 21, 1899/” Some Bad Accidents:” article about the injury of William (Vernon)Cole and the death of Michael McNierney.

 

-April 28, 1900/” One Dead, One Injured:” article about the death of Albert Swanson.

 

-June 30, 1900, page 2/”Capitol Accidents Fall:” article about the death of Florian Zauner.

 

-January 3, 1905/full page on the opening of the new capitol building.

 

The Saint Paul Union Advocate

Publication dates:

Weekly

Paper consists of national news items, essays on why organized labor was important-local news largely devoted to local union meetings. Classified ads consisted of union supported business.

 

-Friday, January 2, 1903/Woman’s issue

 

-many missing issues. Mostly reprints of articles of national labor interest. Very brief blurbs of local union meetings.

 

The Union/Official Organ of the Minneapolis Trades and Labor Assembly

Publication dates: 1894-1907

Weekly

 

 

Miscellaneous Records

 

Death Records

 

Coroner’s Record Books, 1901-1975

State Archives of Ramsey County

Record ID: 001735745

John Carrington (AKA Corigton, Corregan, Bowdin, or Bowden)

Post Mortem Examination Record/J. Ohage, MD

June 25, 1903.

 

Minnesota Health Department

Death Record Cards 1900

Saint Paul

Ramsey County

Microfilm Roll 12, A-R

Alfred Magnuson (AKA L. Magnuson) Death Card

 

Minnesota Health Department

Death Record Cards 1900

Saint Paul

Ramsey County

Microfilm Roll 13, S-Z

Albert Swanson Death Card

Florian Zauner (AKA Florane Zauner) Death Card

Labor Union Records

Search Terms

-labor and laboring classes—Minnesota

-labor unions—Minnesota-Saint Paul

 

International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 36

Saint Paul, Minn.

Organizational records for 1903-1907

 

Carpenter’s and Joiners Brotherhood of America, Local 87

Organizational records consisting of:

-   Union meeting minute books,

-   Local membership and dues records,

-   financial records, and daybooks.

 

Daybooks

Vol. 22

-this is a detailed record of dues payment on the part of union members. Shows name and date of initiation, birth date, and record of payment.

 

Vol.51

-Membership and visitor records. Names and addresses of members from other locals who have traveled to the Twin Cities to work. Very extensive record. Dated 1899-1920s.

 

Vol. 58

-Day book summary of expenses. The pages are very full of members names. Many members working at this time.

 

Vol. 50

Record Book begins in 1885

-Very detailed record of expenses. Shows receipts on the left page expenses on the right.

 

Vol. 57

Day book

-shows records of payments by members. Very detailed. Includes summaries of payments and expenditures.

 

Vol. 55

Ledger book-pages cut out

Bricklayers, Masons, and Cement Blocklayers, Local 1

Organizational records for 1882-1950.

 

P-6, Box 2, book labeled Vol.2

-   correspondance and related records,

-   -traveling cards,

-   certificates of deposit,

-   secretary’s record books. Some mention of where the men were working but nothing on the capitol site. Does contain the names and addresses of individual members. Also contains lists of men who were delinquent with their dues payments.

 

-Resolution adopted that supports the use of home materials on new capitol building.

 

P-6, Box 4, Day Books

Vol. 16

-Account books of the union local #1. Detailed records of local income and disbursements.

 

Vol. 18

-Names of scab bricklayers and amount of their fine ($50).

 

Vol. 17

-Extensive record of traveling cards, correspondence.

-Names of members and their dues payments.

 

Vol. 14

-Names and addresses of union members and names of individual(s) to whom death benefits were to be paid.

 

Vol. 6

-meeting minutes

 

Records representing severalMinnesota bricklayers, stonecutters, masons, mosaic and tile layers unionsstored at theMinneapolis office of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union Local 1, 1888-1996

See Appendix 5 for list of all volumes and some entries relevant to Capitol and the local’s address.

 

Records representing several sheet metal and related unions in Minnesota, 1895-1967,stored at the officesof Sheet Metal Workers Local 10, Maplewood, MN

See Appendix 5 for list of all volumes and an entry relevant to Capitol and the local’s address.

 

St. Paul Building and Construction Trades Council

     No longer has any records from the Capitol construction era

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address Books

 

Minneapolis-Saint Paul City Address Books

Dual City Blue Books, 1897-1898 (Household directories)

 

This particular book contained the following information:

pg. 3-“Hints on Etiquette”

pg. 24-25-City government officials and their addresses

pg. 25-Fire department

pg. 27-List if all churches

pg. 33-Social clubs

pg. 35-Names and addresses of newspapers

pg. 43-65-Streets and avenues in St. Paul

pg. 247-St.Paul shopping guide

 

Other Files Relating to Capitol Construction

 

Minnesota’s New Capitol, America’s Most Artistic Building and the Handsomest West of the Alleghenies

Call # F613.S82 N656 1904-Unavailable

 

Minnesota Historical Society Sound and Visual Collection/Charles W. Jerome Photographic Albums

Album #- Exterior and Interior Photos of Minnesota Capitol Building

Call # II.16

 

Specifications of the General Construction, State Capitol Building for State of Minnesota, located in City of St. Paul

Author: Minnesota: Board of State Capitol Commissioners

Call # F613.S8 C2 M6

 

Minnesota History Society Pamphlet Collection

Pamphlets Relating to the Minnesota State Capitol and Environs

St. Paul, MN  1898

F613. S8 C2

Photos of the grounds surrounding the construction site and later photos of the grounds after the capitol was built. Shows the immediate neighborhoods surrounding the capitol.

 

Minnesota Board of State Capitol Commissioners

Call # 113.C.1.8F

       113.C.1.9B

       113.C.1.10

       112.D.1.2F-I

      

These specific collections contain specifications, bids, and contract awards for all the construction and interior furnishings for the capitol construction. Extensive and detailed.

 

Call # 113.C.2.1B

In addition to information re furnishings, this particular file contains detailed payroll information from Dale & Baumgartner, and Butler Brothers and the final settlement with Cass Gilbert showing the names of all the contractors and suppliers and the total amount they were paid.

 

Examples:

Butler Brothers Capitol Extra Work Pay Roll, Bill 11270, 1905

Lists specific jobs, such as fastening gallery seats, replacing broken windows, etc. with names, occupations pay rates and hours.

 

Dale & Bumgardner (subcontractor) payroll records for New Capitol, November 1904 lists names, occupations, hours, pay rates and total monthly compensation.

 

Historic Preservation Office

National Registry of Historic Places

     Minnesota State Capitol Building

     Casiville Bullard House (bricklayer & stone mason)

 

 

Minnesota Historical Society/Museum Collections

 

Oakland Women’s Temperance Union (St. Paul, Minnesota)

c. 1905/Meeting Announcement

Call # 1989.358.2

 

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Biennial Report, 1899-1900

119.C.4.5.B

Includes information on numbers of people employed, their occupations, working time and weekly wages, inspection reports and accident statistics broken down by occupation.

 

Labor and Industry Dept., Bureau of Labor Statistics Biennial Reports, 1888-1930

119.C.4.5.B

The 1903-04 Report has detailed information on Minnesota accidents and strikes, including a 1904 lockout in Kasota of International Stone Cutters Union quarry workers by C.W. Babcock, which supplied the limestone for the interior of the Capitol. 

 

Music Collection

     Sheet Music for songs from Capitol Construction period

“The Appeal: Grand Triumphal March” by William A. Weir. St. Paul: W.J. Dyer & Bro.

“Minnesota Street Rag March” by Fred Swanson.  St. Paul: American Music Publishing.   

OTHER ARCHIVES

 

Fred Danner, Cleveland, MN

Private collection of Kasota, MN area photographs and

documents, including many materials on local limestone industry from Capitol construction period

 

Georgianna E. Herman Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies Library

The Penny Press 
-Dec 9, 1895; pg. 8; Issue 43; col E/ “Labor Federation Workingmen of the State Discuss Matters of Interest to Their Organization” (Opposes use of convict labor in building Capitol)

-April 21, 1896/ Bids on Capitol foundation
-May 12, 1896; Issue 135; col D/ “Northwest Notes Winona, MN Stone from the Steinbauer quarry...”
-May 1, 1896;pg. 10; Issue 126; col C/ “George J. Grants Gets It”

 

Immigration History Research Center, Andersen Library, University of Minnesota

Letters and archives of ethnic organizations.

Materials on Capitol sculptor Carlo Brioschi in the John Vannelli collection.  Odone Papers have extensive clippings on the Italian community beginning in early 1900s

 

Le Sueur County Historical Society

     Photos of Charles Babcock, quarry owner

     Books and pamphlets on history of area stone industry

 

Minnesota State Capitol Historic Site Office files

Several folders of notes and references to MHS records on Capitol and contact information for several families whose ancestors worked on the Capitol

 

Northwest Architectural Library, Andersen Library, University of Minnesota

     Books on the Butler Brothers Co. and Minnesota stone

Records of Drake Marble Company and Flour City Iron Works

Two folders of Cass Gilbert-related items including articles from the Improvement Bulletin (See Appendix 7.)

 

New York Historical Society, Cass Gilbert Collection

Extensive collection of architectural plans, correspondence, other documents and photographs.  (See enclosed guide to these records.)

 

 

Ramsey County Historical Society

     No records on Capitol construction found

 

St. Paul Public Library – St. Paul Collection

     No records on Capitol construction found

 

Stearns County Historical Society

Extensive collection of photographs, maps, newspaper articles and books on the area granite industry

A Century of Enduring Beauty: Cold Spring Granite Company.

Cold Spring, MN: Cold Spring Granite Co., 2002.

 

St. Cloud Daily Times

-January 25, 1898,p.2 “May Remove to St. Cloud” Rockville Co.

-September 1, 1898, p. 3/ “Public Auction: Sale of Rockville Granite Company’s Property”

-September 30, 1898 “He Bought the Plant: Henry Alexander Buys the Rockville Granite Co. Outfit”

-February 17, 1913, p. 3/”Rockville Producer Dead” Henry Alexander

 

Wisconsin Historical Society John R Commons Labor Archive

Extensive collection of many international and local unions’ records, including convention and local minutes.  No references to Minnesota Capitol found in one day exploration.

 

OTHER SOURCES USED

 

Ancestry,

http://www.ancestry.com

 

Andreozzi, John, Personal note cards copied from 1920 Census for St. Paul listing information on all Italians involved in stone work and other construction trades

 

Calvary Cemetery Burial Records (John Geary)

 

Family Search: Free Family History, Family Tree, and

Genealogy Records and Resources from Around the World

http://www.familysearch.org/eng/default.asp

 

Georgia USGenWeb Archives Project,

http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/pickens/census.html

 

George Meany Memorial Archives,

     http://www.georgemeany.org

    

Marble Valley Historical Society,

http://www.marblevalley.org/

 

Minnesota Department of Health Barr Library,

Saint Paul, Minnesota http://www.health.state.mn.us/library/about.htm

 

“Nelson Georgia” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson,_Georgia

 

North Georgia Railroad,

http://www.northgeorgiarailroad.com/default.asp

 

Pickens County Library, Pickens County, Georgia,

http://www.sequoyahregionallibrary.org/

 

Scandinavian-American Genealogical Society and the Minnesota Genealogical Society

PO Box 16069

1650 Carroll Avenue

Saint Paul, MN  66116-0069

 

Stone Quarries and Beyond,

http://quarriesandbeyond.org/states/ga/ga-

photos_3b.html

 

Bowles, Oliver. The Structural and Ornamental Stones of Minnesota.  Bulletin 663. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1918.

 

O'Sullivan, Thomas. North Star Statehouse: An Armchair Guide to

the Minnesota State Capitol. St. Paul: Pogo Press, 1994.

 

Thompson, Neil, B. Minnesota’s State Capitol: The Art and

Politics of a Public Building. St. Paul: Minnesota

Historical Society Press, 2005.

 

 

Videotaped Interviews

 

Capitol Dome 2010 Restoration Construction Site

Jason Alferness, Laborers Local 563

Rickey Klande, Bricklayers Local 1

Sean Cotton, Structural Engineer, HGA Architecture

Ginny Lackovic, Architect, HGA Architecture

Harley Meyer, Dome Restoration Project Superintendent,

JE Dunn Construction Co.

Kevin Schenemann, Laborers Local 563

Paul Schwartz, Bricklayers Local 1

Steve Youngstrom, Bricklayers Local 1

 

Descendants of Capitol Construction Era Workers

Alvin Bous, grandson of stonecutter

Elaine Olson Ekstedt and Linda Olson, great granddaughters of Zebulon Olson Capitol crane operator

Howard Vetter, Chairman Vetter Stone, grandson of Capitol construction era quarry worker Bernard Vetter

Jim Vetter, Manager, Vetter Stone

 

 

ACKNOWLDEGMENTS/CONSULTANTS

 

Hyman Berman, History Professor Emeritus

University of Minnesota

 

Barbara Bezat, Asst. Archivist

Northwest Architectural Archives, Andersen Library

University of Minnesota

 

Michael J Bjornberg, AIA
HGA Architects and Engineers

 

Tom Blanck

Architect, Member of Cass Gilbert Society

Capitol Commission Photo Album, other photographs, research

 

Kathy Burns

Society Coordinator

Le Sueur County Historical Society

 

Elaine Challecombe, MLS, Curator

Lois Hendrickson, Assistant Curator

Wangensteen Library of Biology and Science

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

 

Brenda Carriere, Director

Georgianna E. Herman Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies Library, University of Minnesota

 

Fred Danner

Cleveland, Le Sueur County, MN

Private collector: photographs and documents on the history of Kasota, MN area

 

Julie Davis

Researcher, MN State Capitol Historic Site

 

John Decker, Asst. Dir. Of Archives

Stearns County Historical Society

 

Paul Elliott Dahl, Library Director


Barr Library
, Minnesota Department of Health

 

Darian Flansburg

Scandinavian-American Genealogical Society

Brainerd, Minnesota

 

Linda Gieger

Mimi Jo Butler

Marble Valley Historical Museum

Nelson, Georgia

 

Sharon Jenson, Community Relations Director

Cold Spring Granite Company

 

Ginny Lackovick

Architect

HGA Architects and Engineers

 

Harley Meyer

Capitol Dome Restoration Project Superintendent

JE Dunn Construction Company

 

Harry Melander, President

Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council

 

Marjorie Pearson, Historian

Cass Gilbert Society

 

Deborah Miller, Reference Specialist

Minnesota Historical Society

 

Brian Pease, Site Manager

Minnesota State Capitol Historic Site

 

Peter Rachleff, History Professor

Macalester College

 

Amy Spong
Historic Preservation Specialist
Department of Planning and Economic Development,

City of Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Commission

 

Howard Vetter,

Chairman, Vetter Stone, Mankato MN

 

James Vetter, Vetter Stone, Mankato MN

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Minnesota Historical Society/Museum Collections-Furniture

 

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 1990.53.1  

Minnesota State Capitol armchair.

1905 (Cleveland, Ohio : Marble and Shattuck Chair Co.).

Physical Details  

1 item : wood, leather ; 97 x 53 x 46 cm.

 

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 1988.250.9 1 

Title  

Chair from Minnesota State Capitol.

Publisher  

1905.

Physical Details  

1 item.

Local Note  

Classification no. FU02C

 

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 1988.250.17 7-9, 19 

Title  

Armchairs from Minnesota State Capitol.

Publisher  

1905.

Physical Details  

4 items.

Local Note  

Classification no. FU02C

 

Location/Available  

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 70.151 

Title  

Slant-front desk.

Publisher  

1905.

Physical Details  

1 item ; maple ; 88 (h) x 76 x 62 cm.

Summary  

Small maple desk used by the Minnesota state legislature has a leather writing surface, rear gallery, and post and ball decoration. Two drawers below the desk top. Base has four turned wood legs and a low shelf with railing.

Local Note  

Classification no. FU02F

 

 

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 1978.49 

Title  

Mahogany kneehole desk.

Publisher  

[1905]

Physical Details  

1 item ; mahogany, brass ; 80 (h) x 92 x 168 cm.

Summary  

Mahogany kneehole desk used by governor’s Executive Office Aide, W.F. "Billy" Williams in the Governor’s Reception Room, Minnesota State Capitol, 1905-1957. Symmetrical desk has a tier of four drawers on each pedestal with carved handles, and a sliding wood tray with a brass pull above each tier. Center drawer above kneehole has carved ornament and a brass keyhole rosette. Drawer interiors are notched for insert dividers. Desk has a plinth base and plain exterior sides.

Local Note  

Classification no. FU02F

 

 

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 1981.5.2 

Author  

Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934, designer.

Title  

Leather and mahogany desk chair.

Publisher  

1904.

Physical Details  

1 item : mahogany, leather ; 106 (h) x 66 x 52 cm.

Summary  

Brown leather and mahogany desk chair has a leather upholstered back and seat and eagle’s head arm ends. The swivel base is cross shaped with claw feet on casters. Chair is one of the original furnishing pieces of the Minnesota State Capitol, designed by Cass Gilbert. A small brass tag under the right arm is marked "#584".

Local Note  

Classification no. FU02C

 

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 1992.150.1 A-E 

Title  

Cabinet and bookcase from state office.

Publisher  

[ca. 1900]

Physical Details  

1 item with 5 units : oak, glass ; approx. 199 x 43 x 107 cm.

Summary  

Cabinet or bookcase of quarter-sawn oak consists of five stacking units: bottom three are hinged double door cabinets with handles at center with holders for labels, top two sections are glass-front barrister’s bookshelves. The latter have "STATE OF MINNESOTA" and "Shaw-Walker" labels, also "1569" in white ink inside one door. Unit has a "376519" state property tag. Used in the secretary of state’s office but not an original example of Cass Gilbert furniture.

Local Note  

Classification no. FU02J

 

 

Minnesota Historical Society Museum Object Call #: 1990.200.1 

Title  

Wooton desk from Governor’s Reception Room in Minnesota State Capitol.

Publisher  

[early 20th century] (Indianapolis, Ind. : Wooten Desk Co.).

Physical Details  

1 item : wood ; 79 x 142 x 85 cm.

Summary  

Double pedestal desk of unidentified wood made by the Wooton Desk Company, Indianapolis, Ind., early 20th century. Desk top is molded and now has an inset replacement; skirt sides are plain. Desk has a center drawer at front flanked by two smaller drawers, each drawer has two ornate brass drop handles. Desk was used in the Governor’s Reception Room, Minnesota State Capitol Building, Saint Paul, Minn.

Local Note  

Classification no. FU02F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 2

 

List of Contractors on the Capitol Construction, 1896-1905

From Minnesota State Capitol Commissioner’s Board/Minnesota Historical Society Library

 

In chronological order

 

Call # 113.C.1.8F

 

Date                      Category                       Note

 

	Architect	Contract with Cass Gilbert
August 1896	Excavation and Foundation	Contract with George Grant Co.
January 1897	Structural Iron and Steel for basement floor	Universal Construction Co.
August 1897	General Construction	Butler-Ryan Co./final statement of general construction
Aug-Oct 1897	Concreting: Sub basement	Lauer Brothers.
March 1900-Dec 1902	Dome construction	Butler-Ryan Co.
July 1901-Nov 1905	Steps and terraces	Butler-Ryan Co.

 

 

Call # 113.C.1.9B

 

Aug 8-10, 1901	Marble carving	Purdy & Hutchinson
Sept 1901-May 1904	Roofing and skylights	Butler Bros.
Oct 1901-Dec 1905	Mechanical equipment -elevators -boiler plant -power house and tunnel -plumbing -electrical generation plant -electrical wiring -call bell -telephone and conduit -heating and ventilation	WI Gray Co.
Nov 1901-Aug 1904	Timbrel arches	Guastavino Co.
Feb 1902-Dec 1903	Fireproofing, metal furring, lathing, and timbrel arches	Butler-Ryan Co.
Feb 1902-Sept 1905	Plastering	Butler-Ryan
March 1902-June 1906	Ornamental Iron Work	Flour City Ornamental Works
March 1902	Interior Woodwork	Butler Bros.
Oct 1902-Feb 1905	Interior stone and marble	Butler Bros.
April 1903-June 1905	Painting and glazing	Bazile & Partridge
May 1903-Sept 1905	Artist’s contracts and bills of sale	Blashfield French Garnsey LaFarge Millet Pyle Simmons Volk Zogbaum
May 1903-Nov 1904	Elevators	Otis Elevator
June 1903-Feb 1905	Fireproof vault doors	Diebold Safe and Lock Co.
Aug 1903-April 1907	Metal shelves and cases	Van Dorn Iron Works

 

 

Call # 113.C.2.1B

 

Dec 1903-Feb 1905	Furniture, cabinet works, furnishings, draperies, carpets	Field Schlick & Co. Mannheimer Bros. Schuneman & Evans Herter Bros.
July 1904-April 1905	Electrical light fixtures and registers	Sterling Bronze Co. Mitchell Vance Co. Winston Bros.
Oct 1904	Asphalt roads and walkways	Barber Asphalt Co.
May 1905-1906	Sidewalks, curbs, and paving	Barber Asphalt Co.
	Metallic fixtures in govenor’s vault	Art Metal Construction Co.
June 1906-June 1907	Approaches and sidewalks	Butler Bros.

 

 

 

 

REFERENCE INFORMATION ON SELECTED COMAPANIES

 

Flour City Ornamental Iron Works

Northwest Architectural Archives, Manuscripts Division

213 Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota, 222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455

 

 

Guastavino Company

See Wikipedia entry for Guastavino tile and Rafael Guastavino

The records and drawings of the Guastavino Fireproof Construction Company are held by the Department of Drawings & Archives in the Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library at Columbia University in New York City.

 

 

Bazile and Partridge

Bazille and Partridge, Incorporated -- Paints and Varnishes, 69-73 East Fifth, St. Paul.


Photographer: Charles P. Gibson


Photograph Collection 1920-1926


Location no. MR2.9 SP3.1B p46 


Negative no. 1167-B

 

 

Field Schlick

Papers at Minnesota Historical Society

Call # P2473

 

Mannheimer Brothers/Schuneman’s Inc., company records

Minnesota Historical Society

BC1.1/.S393

 

Herter Bros.

Papers at the The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

http://findingaid.winterthur.org/html/HTML_Finding_Aids/COL0093.htm

 

Mitchell, Vance Company

http://books.google.com/books?id=ZJi9P1eCf3MC&pg=PA96&lpg=PA96#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

Wooten Desk

Wooton Patent Desks: A Place for Everything & Everything in its Place  
J. Camille Showalter and Janice Driesbach, editors  Minnesota History Center Library

 

 

Appendix 3: Capitol Construction Accidental Deaths

Information File   Updated 2/5/2014

	Felix Arthur	John Beirsack	Albert Swanson	Alfred Magnuson	Florian Zauner	John Corrigan
Other Names	Phelix Arthur[i]	John Biessack John Prershek		L. Magnuson[ii] Alfred Magnuson[iii]	Florane Zauner[1]
Place of Birth	Nelson, GA[iv]	Barton, WI ? (Family lived there)	Sweden	Sweden, immigration year 1896[v]	Germany	Minnesota (adopted by Patrick M. McMahon family)
Birth Year	1873	c. 1861	c. 1870	April 1877	April 1860	c. 1885
Parents	Charles Arthur Julia Beaver[vi]	Joseph & Anna Biersack				Natural Parents: Edward and Mary Corrigan Adopted Parents: Patrick and Molly McMahon
Ethnicity	white	white	white	white	white	white
Occupation	Stone polisher[vii]	Laborer	Mold caster[viii]	Stone mason[ix]	Laborer[x]	Laborer[xi]
Address	Minnesota   Georgia: Pike County, GA	491 Wabasha Street, Saint Paul	3801 Fourth Street North, Minneapolis[xii]	607 Jackson St, Saint Paul, MN	686 West Water Street, St. Paul[xiii]	798 Park Avenue, St. Paul[xiv]
Source of Accident Details	St. Paul Globe[xv] Minneapolis Tribune[xvi]	Pioneer Press, 10/17/1898 Dispatch, 10/21/1898 St. Paul Globe, 10/22/1898 Warren Sheaf , 10/27/1898	St. Paul Globe[xvii]	St. Paul Globe[xviii]	St. Paul Globe[xix]	St. Paul Globe [xx]
Death Date	May 5, 1898	October 20, 1898	April 27, 1900	June 30, 1900	August 4, 1900.	June 26, 1903
Death Place	State Capitol Construction Site, St. Paul, Ramsey Co. Minnesota	State Capitol Construction Site, Saint Paul, Ramsey Co., MN	State Capitol Construction Site, St. Paul, Ramsey Co. Minnesota	State Capitol Construction Site, St. Paul, Ramsey Co. Minnesota	State Capitol Construction Site, St. Paul, Ramsey Co. Minnesota	State Capitol Construction Site, St. Paul, Ramsey Co. Minnesota
Cause of Death	Internal injuries-caught in fly wheel of stone polishing machine	Skull Fracture suffered from a fall	Fractured Cervical vertebra[xxi]	Fractured skull[xxii]	Severe injuries from a fall	Skull fracture, Cervical vertebra fracture[xxiii]
Death Certificate			Death Certificate Card	Death Certificate Card	Death Certificate card	Coroner’s Record Book
Grave location	Bethesda Baptist Church, Nelson, GA	Old Saint Mary’s  Cemetery, West Bend, Wisconsin	Minneapolis Pioneers and Memorial Cemetery Burial Date: 4/30/1900 Grave 4F-N 5R Lot 4 Block 3	unknown	unknown	St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Cherry Grove, Goodhue County, MN Section 59
Grave photo	Yes[xxiv]	No	Yes			No

 

---

^[xxiv] From Mimi Jo Butler, Marble Valley Historical Museum, Nelson, Georgia

 

NOTE: The Minnesota State Capitol Commission and Cass Gilbert papers both report the accidental deaths of six workers on the Capitol construction. 

Another serious accident was a fall by Vernon Cole (aka William), whose 70-foot drop was reported on May 20^, 1899.  The height of the fall and severity of skull and spinal injuries led a physician quoted in a newspaper article to say that William (Vernon) was unlikely to survive.  There was no follow-up article and some may have counted him among the job’s fatalities. However, he did live until 1950 at age 69 and was married. 

 

 

Another death which may have been related to the Minnesota statehouse construction occurred offsite, but nearby. Michael McNierney, a teamster who was hauling sand for an unnamed construction project within a few blocks of the Capitol, was crushed to death when his load overturned.  He died the same day as Cole’s accident.  The articles for both are " A Chapter of Accidents" and "His Life Crushed Out," Minneapolis Tribune, May 21, 1899, page 7.