Colonel Francis Peteler, a veteran of the Civil War,
built the "golden factory" to manufacture the innovative
railroad dumpcars inspired by his Bavarian ancestors.
Kilgore and Gray followed Peteler. The Kilgores made a variety
of machines for saw mills, construction and agriculture.
John Gray made an eccentric wide drum tractor invented by Walter Knapp.
The Harris family became owners of the buildings in the 1920s.
They sold both new machines and industrial salvage.
Visitors to Harris found a variety of machines and parts, most
relics of an industrial past that no longer exists.
The Harris buildings were for sale in 2007.
Potential buyers, thought only of demolition
and replacement with condos.
We have too many of those in Minneapolis.
There is only one Harris!
What will happen to these 19th century buildings so rich in
the history of the industries, lumber, railroads and agriculture
that made our city?
Thanks to Russell Olson author of The Electric Railways of Minnesota
and John Jesperson, attorney and historian.
If only the Harris buildings could become the Midwestern version of
this yet to open museum
National Industrial Museum of Industrial History
Behold what Google patents reveals of the wonders made at Harris:
Google Patents
US 142724 Francis Peteler Dumping Platform September 9,1873
US 193994 Francis Peteler Harvester Hand Binders August 8,1877
US 277337 Francis Peteler Power Loading May 8, 1883
US 348533
US 369733 Francis Peteler Axel Box September 13, 1887
US 389816 Frederick Kilgore Press Roll Saw Mills September 18,1888
US 420942Frederick Kilgore Steam Log Roller February 11, 1890
US 471125
US 517222 Frederick Kilgore Cushion for Log Carriers March 27, 1894
US 531746 Francis Peteler Dump Car January 1, 1895
US 545589 Frederick Kilgore Power Crane September 3, 1895
US 546118 Frederick Kilgore Cushion for Log Carriers September 10, 1895
US 588277 Frederick Kilgore Loading or Unloading Machine August 17, 1897
US 590990 Frederick Kilgore Excavator October 5, 1897
US 593492 Francis Peteler Heating Furnace November 9, 1897
US 679033 Francis Peteler Ore or Gravel Car July 23, 1901
US 713650 Frederick Kilgore Loading Stake November 15, 1902
US 829667
US 842008 Francis Peteler Dump Car January 22, 1907
US 866512 Charles Peteler Dumping Cab September 17, 1907
US 889619 Frederick Kilgore Cushioning Device March 18, 1907
US 923858 Frederick Kilgore Cushioning Device July 8, 1909
US 1164361 Charles Kilgore Boat Propelling Kit January 14, 1915
US 1169165
US 1188358 Graham Gray Bearing June 20, 1916
US 1338510 Charles Kilgore Tractor April 27,1920
US 1552633
US 1703309 Charles Kilgore Grain Shocking Machine February 26, 1929
US 1923442 Charle Kilgore Decoy August 22, 1933