Biography of a Building: The Personalities of 2615 Park Avenue, By Mary Jo Thorsheim, Ph.D.




















































The story of a building and its occupants has seldom been told better than in this book. The author brings to life one of the most stately apartment buildings in Minneapolis in a series of entertaining and compelling portraits of the people who created and lovingly cared for it down through the years.

– Alan K. Lathrop, Professor and Curator, Northwest Architectural Archives, University of Minnesota Libraries

BOOK DETAILS
ISBN 978-0-615-23513-14
Format: soft cover, 126 pp.
Publisher: Park Press Minneapolis
Publication Date: August 2008
Price: $16.00

Download Flyer


Download Article

The Hennepin History Museum magazine winter issue 2009 includes an interesting article taken from the book "Biography of a Building". The Museum is a treasure in Hennepin County Minnesota, the largest county in the state and the home of Minneapolis' 2615 Park Avenue landmark.





In 1929 two Swedish-American immigrants undertook the imposing task of constructing an elegant apartment-hotel in Minneapolis. A year later, the United States was in the depths of the Great Depression. Yet these men continued to pursue their vision and 2615 Park Avenue had been completed by the end of 1930. At the time Park Avenue was lined with the massive mansions of Minnesota’s first families, and the residents at 2615 enjoyed the prestige of the Park Avenue location. Apartment hotels were already a popular residential arrangement, but few could compete with 2615 Park for style and service.

Over the course of time, many such apartment-hotels have been torn down or converted to other uses. But 2615 remains a thriving enterprise, now as a co-operative. Here is the story of its construction, its neighborhood, its famous residents, and its continuing legacy of gracious urban living.


ORDERING INFORMATION:
$16.00 + $1.34 MN/Mpls sales tax in Minnesota
VISA/MasterCard or check or money order payable to Park Press

Order by phone, email, fax or mail to:
Park Press Minneapolis
Attn: M. Thorsheim
1455 West Lake Street, B-20
Minneapolis MN 55408-2648
USA

Telephone: 612.339.7829 or 612.871.2236
FAX: 612.871.2236
E-mail: mjtmn@aol.com