I was in Cloquet on Friday to give a presentation at one of the 2009 Local History Workshops about the Legacy Amendment funding. We are hopeful that this voter-approved funding stream will provide much-needed assistance to historic preservation and history projects throughout the state, but it is vital that we let our legislators know that History Matters! Click here to learn more and here to do your part.
My day in Cloquet ended with a tour of the world’s only gas station designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Lindholm Service Station was designed by FLW in the 1930s as part of his Broadacre City plan but not realized until 1958, when this station was built. Cloquet recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of this landmark (and Wright’s 1952 Lindholm House, which is not open to the public). The service station was spiffed up by its current owners last summer in preparation for a weekend symposium presented by the Carlton County Historical Society and other festivities. Preservation work included new paint, repairing the sagging ceiling in the elevated lounge, and removing decades of graffiti to the cypress woodwork in the restrooms. Check out my pictures, view historic photos here, read more about the service station online, and visit Cloquet to see for yourself!
The Lindholm Service Station in Cloquet.
The upper-level lounge and observation deck overlooks the gas pumps and three modes of transportation–the river, the railroad tracks, and the highway.
Stairs on the west side of the building lead to the lounge and restrooms. To the right of the stairs is a built-in planter, one of many that Wright located throughout the building to hold ferns. Alas, the ferns don’t withstand the harsh seasons of northern Minnesota and the exterior planters have been covered. Notice the National Register plaque—the building was listed in 1984.
The interior of the lounge/observation area .
Cypress woodwork in the lounge and restrooms was cleaned of graffiti during the recent rehabilitation. Anne Dugan, director of the Carlton County Historical Society, led our tour.
There are four service bays. (A single tune-up bay is on the west side of the building.) The station was considered enormous in its day. I get a kick out of the air hose coming out of the center pier. Not sure if that’s what FLW had in mind.
Wright and his associates designed the entire building–interior fixtures and all.
Frank Lloyd Wright wasn’t quite this arrogant–the sign used to say Phillips 66 until Phillips pulled out of northern MN and took their copyright with them.
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