Exchange Building 1900

Grain and Lumber Exchange Building 1900

The first stone of the Grain and Lumber Exchange building was laid in April 1900 and was opened to tenets only months later on October 1900. The plans were commissioned by architects Frederick kees and Serenus Colburn of Minneapolis, MN. The Grain and Lumber Exchange is a fine example of Renaissance revival design, which was popular from the late nineteenth century up until World War I. The Grain and Lumber Exchange is a testament to Winona’s dedication to public buildings, with an estimated cost of $35,000.

The building’s exterior is faced with bush-hammered Bedford Stone on the first floor and patterned to represent strap-work. The second and third floors are of Carlinville brick. The fourth floor embodies the Renaissance revival design most prominently with hooded, round-arched windows. Though the building was fitted with electricity, the design utilized natural lighting to the fullest extent by implementing sizeable windows throughout the building. The original interior of the first floor had marble tiling in the main walkways, along with iron and slate treads of the staircase. The remainder of the flooring throughout consisted of hard maple and birch. The building was considered fire-proof, as masonite was used between the floors and partitions.

The Grain and Lumber Exchange Building was also one of the first properties in Winona to offer tailored customization for its tenants, as offices were leased prior to the completion of the building. The basement housed a barbershop, washrooms, and three state-of-the-art Brunswick Bowling alleys which hosted many local tournaments and teams. At the time of construction, bowling alleys alone would have cost $800 each. The formal grand opening was in January 1901