Wishful Fields Archive Target Field History

Theme:

Picture of the Day

BallparkMagic presents a little bit of Target Field each day. (Click to enlarge.)

Sign-up below to receive by email.

Baseball Soon, Parking Now, Lumber Then

Ballpark Site History

June 8, 2006 1:04 AM

COMMENT

New Downtown Minneapolis Public Library (Source: RP)

If you haven't been to the new downtown library, find a time and just stroll in. Not only is it a magnificent building, but so much information is now at your fingertips which was locked away in the past, and it's very easy to navigate. What's more, the staff is absolutely amazing to work with.

I went in looking for old maps of downtown Minneapolis, specifically the warehouse district. When I said I was researching the ballpark site, the librarian immediately assumed I was referring to Athletic Park (which in the late 1800s was located on the block which currently contains Butler Square)! I explained that, no, I was interested in the new Twins ballpark site just two blocks away. She laughed and said, "Yes, I suppose that's more interesting now."

I should say that I love delving into Minneapolis history. It's been a hobby for many years, and I never miss an opportunity to find out new tidbits. I won't go into all the details of researching something like this, despite the fact that it's pretty easy if you have the time and patience. On this particular day, I did.

Ultimately, I was eased into an online map database which contains detailed insurance maps from various points in the last 150 years. That's where I found the next image (stadium location shaded blue). It is of the ballpark neighborhood in 1885, and it shows that the most of the area was lumber yards and railroad tracks.

At first, I thought this was essentially uninteresting. Then I looked again at the various names and the one business building located on the actual site (about where left field will likely be one day). It is listed as the Camp & Walker Planing Mill (see detail).

After a little further research, I realized that this was owned by none other than T. B. Walker, one of the very big names in Minneapolis history. He made a fortune in lumber, and was friend to many other big names like railroad tycoon James J. Hill. Walker's family ultimately founded many institutions in the Twin Cities which still bear their name, including the Walker Art Center. Here is Walker's bio from the Minnesota Historical Society which even includes a reference to his partnership with George A. Camp.

It's notable that very nearby was another locally famous name on the Lowry Elevator. Other businesses in the area included the North Star Lumber Company and the Fraser & Shepherd Sash, Door, and Blind Manufacturers. There are also two ponds interrupting 6th Street.

Just to the south (left of the image above) is a large undeveloped area which was not even mapped in 1889. Despite this, it's clear that our new playground will be built in an area that was a hub of commerce in the late 19th century.

Comments

To utilized enhanced comment features, please enable cookies in your browser.

Hide Facebook box

BallparkMagic on Facebook

21 recent recognized visitors, including: antifire, Ben, Expectorate, F_T_K, Jfh, luke, Sandy, Steve, Winona Mike

This page was last modified on January 21, 2010.

"You talk about the magic, the aura, but what really makes a stadium is the fans. Concrete doesn't talk back to you. Chairs don't talk back to you. It's the people who are there, day in, day out, that makes the place magic."

– Bernie Williams

Explore the Site

Here are 50 images chosen randomly from the 3004 found on this site. Click the image to be taken to the original post. A new list is created every 10 minutes.

Final pieces arrive

The entrance from the service level corridor. (You have to pass the Twins clubhouse door to get there.)

They help create a psychological safe area along the plaza edge, and help you forget that cars are zipping by directly beneath you.

Outside the Metropolitan Club, photos of all the other major league ballparks

They can put a camera just about anywhere. (Photo by Jeff Ewer)

In the top of the 9th, the sun hit our backs and summer took one last long look.

Future home of the Met Stadium flag pole

Detail on the main gate, with Target Field sign

We'll be packed into the first five rows of section 136. Hey, Wilson! I'm bringing my glove!

The green is a composite of the topmost seating areas in the new ballpark. The gray is a scale diagram of the Metrodome.

Signature elements. (And they wonder why we think the real trees look so small...)

Typical standing room crowd which started early and lasted the entire game.

Ballpark elevation viewed from the promenade (HERC plant) side. (Click to enlarge.)

This view, through a B ramp window, won't last forever.

Photo by Jeff Ewer

From last week, you can see the piers taking shape. I believe that the front row, visible here as just forms and reinforcing rods, is the front edge of the plaza.

Believe it or not, the actual outfield wall will be about where this fence is now!

Viewed from a different angle, it seems fair to wonder is some of those seats will have slightly obscured views. Yet, if they're cheap, that's not a problem.

Fissure dude

Sure would be nice to cover that metal grid with more wooden louvers, eh?

Plaza overview from the A ramp

Photo by Tyler Wycoff

I don't think this will remain a knothole, but the view is pretty cool.

Night (about the 7th inning)

The action drew everybody to the top step. (Click to enlarge greatly.)

Click to enlarge

A seating bowl comes into focus. Note that the netting has been installed on the foul pole. (Field Box)

Friendly faces greet you right inside the door of the Legends Club.

An early concept for the pedestrial bridge. (Source: Ballpark Authority, RP)

Here is Seventh Street viewed from the west looking toward downtown. This will probably be the most pedestrian-friendly side (other than the plaza), but only if there is some psychological barrier between the people on foot and the people in their dangerously fast-moving automobiles.

Since pictures of the ballpark are forbidden, perhaps you'll enjoy this shot of the lovely apple tree in my front yard.

Integrating the administration building was really a great idea. Actually, there will be more things inside than just offices, but that will probably be some sweet space.