24 Feb historically important edward townsend mix-designed architectural ornament from “the met” building joins bldg. 51 museum collection
two largely intact ornamental black painted cast iron building atrium grilles and custom-designed yale and towne company interior commerical office door ornamental cast iron hinges and doorknobs retaining original bower-barff “rust-proof” finish from edward townsend mix’s northwestern guaranty loan company building (1890) were added to the ever-growing bldg. 51 museum buildng artifact collection over the weekend.
the 12-story richardsonian romanesque metropolitan building or “the met,” was built by real estate speculator louis f. menage as the northwestern guaranty building with roofline observation towers at each of the corners. the exterior facade consisted of carved and rusticated new hampshire granite and lake superior sandstone. the building’s interior was comprised of oak millwork, interlocking glass floor tiles, and ornamental cast iron executed by minneapolis-based crown iron works company.
minneapolis’s first skyscraper was demolished in 1961 during the city’s gateway urban renewal program, where nearly forty percent of the downtown commerical district was destroyed to make way for new construction. like the garrick theater (1892-1961) and chicago stock exchange (1893-1972) in chicago, and pennsylvania station (1963-1910) in new yorky city, the metropolitan building served as a catalyst for the formation of local and state preservation movments.
