Willys-Overland Motor Company of Toledo, OH, erected our building in 1915. Willys is best known for it’s 1940’s-era army-vehicle-design the “Jeep”!
During WW1, this building was used as an Aviation school, and by 1927, was officially known as a Willys- Overland Motors facility for automobile sales and service….
In the summer of 1928, the International Harvester Company out of Chicago, IL, purchased the building in what was described as a “million dollar deal”. The International Harvester Company changed our buildings name to the “International Harvester Building” and began producing Farmall tractors and eventually trucks. By the 1930’s, IH was Americas top producer of both medium and heavy-duty trucks. To the right is an example of a 1930 International Harvester heavy-duty truck!
Architecturally speaking, the Court International Building has some notable features. Designed by George Rhines, our building features his creation, the “flat slab” method of reinforced concrete construction. Limestone or cast stone was used as an accent throughout.
In addition, our massive central cooling tower, and University Avenue entrance doorway, are two examples of some of the charming gothic revival style detailing featured. Over its nearly 100 year history, this building has held up very well!
After being sold and re-modeled into an office building in the 1980’s, this 320,000 square foot building now features ramp parking, a full-service restaurant, a deli, a convenience store, and a wide variety of professional tenants.
Around 1981 I was living in the area of “Stadium Village” while I was a student at the University of MN. My father came to visit. We were passing this building on University Ave. and he pointed out, “That’s the International Harvester building. During WWII they changed to production for the War, and that’s where I worked.” I remember he test-fired I think a gun that was either in the wing of an aircraft, or an anti-aircraft gun. He had a shell and the large lead bullet point that he kept as a souvenir. The shell was brass and about 8 or 10 inches long, 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and of course empty. It made a hollow sound when you pulled the solid lead bullet, painted black, from the shell. I think the bullet was solid lead and about 3 inches long. I doubt he’d be allowed to have it if the point contained an explosive. He commuted every day from Robbinsdale where also my mother, two sisters, and brother lived. I think he must have driven there every day rather than take a street car as my parents, right after they married, bought a 1936 Ford coupe that I think my mother said cost $700 bran new. I think that car, remembering the photos, was a two-seater, so maybe not a coupe having at that time 3 children. Maybe he didn’t drive and took the street car as there was rationing for the War at that time. They even had a couple of partially used booklets of the original rationing stamps that also included food rationing. My father was “4F” status meaning I think because of having rheumatic fever that damaged his heart, he almost died, prevented him from being able to enter the military. Maybe working at the plant was some form of “alternate service” if there was such a thing during WWII. So many years passed I forgot the exact location of the bldg and would look and fail to find it when passing on the city bus. I assumed it was destroyed. I was mistaken and pleased to see it was so very well preserved! I love the old original building as so many were demolished, especially in downtown Minneapolis, in the 1950’s.
Mike,
Thank you for the great write up regarding your fathers memories of the Court International Building. We are very proud of the building and love preserving these to creative spaces today. We appreciate you taking the time to share this story with us.
Sincerely,
Christy Lewis
Vice President, Business Development
Hi, my dad also worked for International Harvester building trucks in your bldg in the 1950’s. He remembered inspecting rear axles and also driving trucks off the assembly line when new. Great memories.