Advance Thresher–Emerson Newton Co. Building

Read about the history and designation of the Advance Thresher-Emerson Newton Co. Building historic landmark.

Overview

The Advance Thresher–Emerson Newton Co. Buildings were built for making farm machinery.

  • Location: 700-08 Third Street South
  • Neighborhood: Downtown East
1906 2006
1906 photo of Advance Thresher–Emerson Newton Co. Building
Photo of Advance Thresher–Emerson Newton Co. Building 2006

Architecture

  • Architectural Style: Chicago Commercial
  • Architects: Kees and Colburn

Use

  • Historic use: Manufacturing
  • Current use: Commercial

Construction

  • Construction date: 1900/1904
  • Contractor: H.N. Leighton Co.

Significance

  • Area(s) of Significance: Architecture, Master Architect
  • Period of significance: 1900–1904
  • Date of local designation: 1977
  • Designation: Exterior
  • Date of National Register designation: 1977

Historic profile

The Advance Thresher–Emerson Newton Co. Buildings were built for making farm machinery.  The one on the left, the Advance Thresher, was built in 1900. The one on the right, the Emerson-Newton Plow Co. building, was built in 1904.

Architects Kees and Colburn designed the buildings in the Chicago Commercial style. They have brick and terracotta walls and broad projecting cornices on the top. Prominent Chicago architect Louis Sullivan developed the style. It had a major influence on Minneapolis at the start of the 20th century. During that period, many commercial/industrial buildings started adopting the style.

The buildings are the same height but have a different number of stories. The Advance Thresher building has five stories, while the Emerson-Newton building has six. This difference is hard to detect because of their similar designs. The buildings are no longer used for manufacturing, but they still look like they did over 100 years ago.

Credits

Photo credits

  • 1906 photo: courtesy of The Minnesota Historical Society
  • 2006 photo: Minneapolis Community Planning & Economic Development

Work cited

  • "Heritage Preservation Designation Study: Litin Paper Company," c. 1977
  • Charles W. Nelson, "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Advance Thresher Building/Emerson-Newton Plow Company," November 1976

Contact us

Historic Preservation

Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED)

Phone

612-673-3000

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 320
Minneapolis, MN 55415