Hamm Building

File:Hamm Building construction.jpg

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.{{cite news |title=Cathedrals of St. Paul |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-catholic-bulletin-cathedrals-of-st/159862670/ |access-date=27 November 2024 |work=The Catholic Bulletin |date=11 February 1911 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}} 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.}}{{cite news |title=Religious Landmark Abandoned This Week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-catholic-bulletin-religious-landmark/159862703/ |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=The Catholic Bulletin |date=September 5, 1914 |page=8 |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204022221/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-catholic-bulletin-religious-landmark/159862703/ |url-status=live |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Jossi |first1=Frank |title=Building Blocks – Hamm Building |url=https://finance-commerce.com/2011/08/building-blocks-hamm-building/ |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=Finance & Commerce |date=August 18, 2011 |archive-date=November 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130041510/https://finance-commerce.com/2011/08/building-blocks-hamm-building/ |url-status=live }} 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. The building became known as the "Great Open Air Building of St. Paul".{{cite news |last1=Hiebert |first1=Gareth |title=That's St. Paul's Building History |work=Pioneer Press |date=March 27, 1955 |pages=1, 8, 10}}

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 Hamm family agreed and took over construction in 1919, with the project being finished in 1920.{{cite news |last1=Griffith |first1=Michelle |title=100th anniversary of the Hamm Building in downtown St. Paul to be celebrated Thursday |url=https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/09/100th-anniversary-of-the-hamm-building-in-downtown-st-paul-to-be-celebrated-thursday/ |access-date=November 27, 2024 |work=Pioneer Press |date=September 9, 2019 |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203034158/https://www.twincities.com/2019/09/09/100th-anniversary-of-the-hamm-building-in-downtown-st-paul-to-be-celebrated-thursday/ |url-status=live }} The six-story building became an office for Hamm's Brewery.{{cite book |title=The Historic Hamm Building |publisher=Upland Real Estate Group |url=https://api.commercialexchange.com/api/images/data/og/media/user_uploads/5d2ca6f7da62ee0001d2d9bc_Hamm%20Building%20Marketing%20Brochure.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2024}}

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

File:Hamm Building in Saint Paul.jpg

The building was designed in the Commercial Style. Its ornamentation, which is considered to be exceptional, has only received minor alterations since the building's construction.{{cite book |last=Kunz |first=Virginia Brainard |title=Saint Paul - The First 150 Years |publisher=The Saint Paul Foundation |year=1991 |isbn=0-9630690-0-4}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Hatler |first1=C. |title=Hamm Building in Saint Paul |url=https://www.forgottenminnesota.com/2020/07/03/2020-7-hamm-building-in-st-paul/ |website=Forgotten Minnesota |access-date=November 27, 2024 |date=July 3, 2020 |archive-date=November 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130001910/https://www.forgottenminnesota.com/2020/07/03/2020-7-hamm-building-in-st-paul/ |url-status=live }} 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. Being in the heart of Saint Paul's theatre district, the Capitol Theatre was built into the Hamm building in 1920. It was the largest, most costly, and most elaborate movie palace in the Upper Midwest, and the first movie palace in Saint Paul. It was designed by Rapp and Rapp. The theater exterior and lobby were designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.{{cite report |author=Gabrielle Bourgerie |date=May 30, 1997 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Hamm Building |url= https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/e57f6eb7-01e2-44c9-a357-2f1bab7ad661/ |pages=5–21 |access-date = November 27, 2024}} The theater was remodeled in 1965–66, diminishing seating capacity from 2,200 to 800.

File:Prismatic glass transom.jpg detail]]

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota}}

Category:Commercial buildings completed in 1915

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Category:Commercial buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota