Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Some of you know this story right away ... 😉 If you are in Minnesota or the surrounding area - Bob Peterson is a household name when it comes to Model A’s and Model T’s. About 2.5 years ago - Bob bought a building from his home town - the City of Kenyon, Minnesota - in a sealed bid auction. Built in 1916 as a Ford Dealership - it served to house the Fire & Police Departments - an AA chapter - Smoker Club ... For 100 years it served Kenyon. Jim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 When I heard about this a couple years ago - I called & talked with Bob. He bought the building to save it from corporate development that would have probably razed part of Downtown Kenyon for a chain gas station ⛽️. The first Model A sold in Kenyon in 1927 ... 🧐 Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Absolutely wonderful to see the building preserved and not torn down and demolished in the name of "progress". In addition to my decades interest in old cars, I also started the local historical society here in our village and am the appointed village historian. 25+ years ago I started the Architectural review board as well so some great 20th century buildings and homes would not be altered without some consideration to the appearance and integrity of the original design. That board is now well received and accepted but at the time many people who had to come before it for approval of changes they wanted to make were not happy at all with me and the rest of the board because we rejected their "cheap way out" to make the structure meet their needs but look terrible. The argue we usually got was " well I own the property so should be able to do with it what I want" and my reply was " yes, and if you do so in 5 or 10 years when you decide to move the whole neighborhood will have to live with the monstrosity you felt you needed to have with no consideration for anyone who lived near it. That made me real popular 😯 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plymouthcranbrook Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 I enjoy older building designs as well. One of the few things The Donald and I agree on in this area is his decision to keep government structures in the classic mode. Of course some things once considered drastic are now loved. Frank Lloyd Wright comes to mind. One of the effects of some small towns keeping their original designs is the lack of businesses since farming has become more corporate and less dependent on local suppliers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 The original layout has largely been maintained throughout the last century. The first floor was dealer sales and service - the second floor was living quarters. ” Smokers “ were popular in small Minnesota towns - the men would drink & shoot pool while smoking. A second floor bedroom was converted into a billiard room furnished with a table - ball & cue racks - score keeper. Jim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 The quality of the woodwork is that of a Journeyman Finish Carpenter of the period ... Jim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 The Dealership in the1930’s The Kenyon Jeweler’s Clock 🕰 Jim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walt G Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Jim, thank you for the additional photographs. One can just smell the dust and the decades of cigar smoke and it all adds to the "era" atmosphere. Even imagine to hear some faint music from many decades ago - Paul Whiteman, Annette Hanshaw and Roy Eldridge where are you when we need you.............. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin1221 Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Great pictures Jim. Thanks for posting. Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 Thanks for the comments🙏 Bob meets with a group of guys for coffee & donuts once a week at the building.. Coincidentally ( or not ) his family operates the local Ford Dealership. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Great to save an old building. Being of solid masonry, it should be around for 500 years or more if cared for. If his budget allows, he could restore the front facade for a relatively modest cost. As an afficianado of old architecture, I could immediately tell that the front had been modified--as a car fan could tell that a 1955 Chevy, for instance, was not original. Thanks for posting the old picture. The original second-story windows, with their muntin pattern, really add character. The first story clearly has brick infill now, and a modern garage door. Restoring them to original appearance will add to the value of the building and bring back character to that part of town! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 The City Of Kenyon replaced some architectural features and modified some doorways and windows during their ownership. The work they did was to preserve the structural integrity - so it is understandable in a way. But they didn’t save anything .... A few weeks before Bob bought the building - an early portable jail cell that had been removed and was being stored by a local farmer was sold to a local scrap metal dealer ... I encourage anyone near Rochester or Minneapolis to pay a visit when the madness ends ... 🙄 Bob is so very nice and down to earth ... 😉 Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Trulyvintage said: The City Of Kenyon replaced some architectural features and modified some doorways and windows during their ownership. The work they did was to preserve the structural integrity - so it is understandable in a way... As a structural engineer involved in building design and construction, I assure you that those changes alone didn't improve the structure. Maybe there was an under-designed long lintel that was strengthened during the process. Or did an engineer determine that the facade required a greater length of shear walls? But done properly, the building could be restored to the correct appearance. There's a lot of interest in historic architecture these days. Several good window companies could supply correct windows. Edited March 28, 2020 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 This is a small rural town of 2000 folks in a farming economy. There is no tourism. Windows and doors were replaced as a practical matter - without much regard to historical design. As were interior improvements to the electrical - plumbing - water - heating systems that are visible. To spend limited resources to change them back doesn’t make sense. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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