Mitch Rautio loves downtown Bemidji, and he鈥檚 on a mission to preserve the character of some of the older buildings that he owns.
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One can only wonder what Charley Miles would think of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation building these days 鈥� one of the oldest buildings in town.
Located on the northwest corner of Minnesota Avenue and Third Street stands a tall, brick building many know as Troppman Block.
Some visitors to the Bemidji Senior Center have possibly been around long enough to know the history of what has taken place within its walls.
Just like so many of the items you can find inside, the building that houses the First City Antique Mall on the southeast corner of Second Street and Minnesota Avenue has an intriguing history of its own.
From 1907 to 1909, the brick building at 423 Beltrami Ave. housed Turkish baths. Today, it houses an elegantly peaceful business called the Siam Wellness and Massage Spa.
When John 鈥淛ack鈥� E. Quistgard, a young pharmacist from Warren, Minn., wanted to buy Bemidji鈥檚 Glass Block Drugstore in 1950, none of the local banks would give him a loan.
Near the edge of Bemidji鈥檚 downtown area there is a building that housed a few of the town鈥檚 most recognizable businesses.
By Davey Mills鈥� reckoning, the 209 Minnesota Ave. NW address was a saloon as early as 1898.
Over the past 100 years, the current location of Ally鈥檚 Corner at Fourth Street and Minnesota Avenue has undergone significant change quite a few times over.
John A. Dalton had established the original Dalton Hotel in the building in 1906, so he already had a history on that corner. Despite bad luck with several fires, he was persistent about owning a hotel on the site.
Before becoming the bustling Books N More in downtown Bemidji, Gill Brothers Clothing established its presence within the city and in people鈥檚 closets.
When a downtown area has as rich of a history as Bemidji鈥檚 does, certain historical aspects are often preserved for decades. Such is the case for 218 Clothing + Gift, a shop housed in a small building with a rich history that has stood the test of time.
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