Hamm Building

History

Prior to the construction of the Hamm Building, the third Catholic cathedral of Saint Paul stood on the location until it was demolished in 1914.{{efn|The National Register of Historic Places application erroneously states that the building it replaced was the "second Cathedral removed in 1911". The second cathedral building had its entrance facing Wabasha Street, parallel to Sixth Street and was demolished around 1886. The third cathedral was on St. Peter Street and Sixth Street, and was documented to be demolished to make way for the Mannheimer department store at the time of demolition in 1914. The Mannheimer brothers began construction of a new department store designed by Toltz, King & Day shortly thereafter in 1915, but after the erection of the steel framework construction was delayed due to the outbreak of World War I.

With the Archdiocese of Saint Paul having only leased the property to the Mannheimers, Archbishop John Ireland called St. Paul Saints owner John Norton asking for assistance in completing construction. Norton initially tried and failed to convince John J. Raskob to have E. I. du Pont take over the project. Norton went on to ask the Hamm family if they would consider it. Norton marketed the idea as a "monument to William Hamm." The six-story building became an office for Hamm's Brewery.

The building underwent a renovation in the 1990s. Since 1997, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Architecture

The building was designed in the Commercial Style. The building is rectangular up to the fourth floor, with the top two floors being in a "u" shape. The building exterior features a terra cotta façade manufactured in Chicago, with a custom "pulsichrome" finish. The façade of the first floor consists of windows, prism glass transoms, and signage panels. The second floor façade consists of windows separated by columns holding up low relief garlands, above which since a cornice. The cornice serves as a base for the remaining four floors. The top four floors of the façade are decorated by cherubs and floral urns. Small gargoyles sit atop parapets at the top of the building. Terra cotta finials at one point topped the roof cornice, but were removed.

The lobby has a decorative terrazzo floor, glazed terra cotta walls with various classical motifs, and iron chandeliers. Although once thought to have vaults overlaid with gold leaf, later analysis determined the material to be bronze powder. A decorative clock is built into the terra cotta above the elevators. The theater was remodeled in 1965–66, diminishing seating capacity from 2,200 to 800.

Notes

References

References

1. {{NRISref. 2007a
2. Nord, Mary Ann. (2003). "The National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota". [[Minnesota Historical Society]].
3. (11 February 1911). "Cathedrals of St. Paul". [[The Catholic Bulletin]].
4. (September 5, 1914). "Religious Landmark Abandoned This Week". The Catholic Bulletin.
5. (August 18, 2011). "Building Blocks – Hamm Building". Finance & Commerce.
6. (March 27, 1955). "That's St. Paul's Building History". Pioneer Press.
7. (September 9, 2019). "100th anniversary of the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul to be celebrated Thursday". Pioneer Press.
8. "The Historic Hamm Building". Upland Real Estate Group.
9. (July 3, 2020). "Hamm Building in Saint Paul".