Washburn-Crosby Utility Building
Due to the need for upkeep of mills, milling companies needed a place to fix their machines, and this is where the Washburn Crosby Company fulfilled those needs. Built in 1915, this tall building will soon be turned into high-priced housing. Probably the neatest feature of this building is the statues at the top of the building.
Primitive Miller Grinding grain in a Quern
Recent Miller with Mortar and Pestle
Modern Miller at Milling Console
Note that Modern Miller is missing his arm. This is ironic in that the milling district was not a very safe place to work. Because of the dangerous conditions at early sawmills, the exposed belts and pulleys of the water and steam powered mills and the primitive state of medicine, many workers lost limbs and this made Minneapolis the nation's leader in prosthetics.
As you can see by the big pictures on this page, the powers that be have big plans for the buildings here on the Westside.
The back of the Washburn-Crosby Utility Building. Summer, 2000.
The Utility Building is being turned into condominiums. I suspect these will be some of the most highest-sought-after condos in the whole City of Minneapolis. The view these units will have will be astounding.
