PIONEER BUILDER OF CITY IS DEAD
Bengt Aronson, Who Constructed Courthouse, Came to City in 1847
Bengt Aronson, pioneer contractor, builder of the courthouse, 76 years of age, died at his rooms, 36 Hennepin avenue E. Monday night, after an illness lasting several days.
After amassing a fortune in the contracting business he invested most of his wealth in 1893 in gold mining which resulted in the loss of his entire fortune. Resuming the contracting business and amassing a second fortune he again suffered losses through bad contracts which reduced him to a condition of poverty.
Mr. Aronson came to the city in 1847, as a child. In after years he engaged in the contracting business. Among the buildings which he erected were the Guaranty Loan, now known as the Metropolitan Life building, courthouse and other large structures.
For the last 15 years Aronson has lived with a brother, Louis, who worked with him in all his undertakings and occupied the same quarters.
The funeral will be in charge of Mathias Kunz of the Kunz Oil company, a life long friend of Mr. Aronson. Interment will be from the Larson Undertaking chapel, 2019 Central avenue N.E., Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock to Lakewood cemetery. Mr. Kunz requests as many of Mr. Aronson's friends as possible be in attendance at the funeral.
The Minneapolis Star
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tuesday, November 07, 1922 - Page 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Who Built City Hall Here Dies in Squalor
Bengt Aronson, Former Contractor, Spends Final Days in Shabby Room.
Glass Block, Temple Court and Other Loop Structures Put Up By Him.
By Lorena A. Hickok.
Bengt Aronson is dead.
Among Minneapolis businessmen of today there are only a few to whom this announcement will mean anything, and yet -- 30 years ago Bengt Aronson was one of the biggest building contractors in the Northwest. He built the courthouse, the first three floors of Guaranty Loan building, the Glass Block, Temple Court, and many other smaller buildings in the Loop. He was worth more than $100,000. Everybody knew Bengt Aronson then.
In a shabby, bare room over pool hall on Nicollet Island he died of pneumonia Sunday night -- a broken- down old man. And yesterday his brother and partner, Louis, sat huddled down in an old arm chair in front of the stove in that room, an unlighted pipe between his teeth gazing drearily at the fire.
Owners Let Them Stay.
In 1884 the Aronson brothers built two brick and stone business blocks at ?? and 31 East Hennepin avenue -- it was Central avenue then. Those blocks were among the finest in Minneapolis then. In one of them, they fitted themselves up a suite of rooms -- a bedroom, living room, and a little office. It was there that Bengt Aronson died. The property passed out of their hands many years ago, but the new owners owed them to stay.
Bengt and Louis Aronson came to Minnesota from Sweden in 1847. They grew up in the village of St. Anthony and learned the mason's trade. Eventually Bengt went into the contracting business and Louis became his partner. They worked hard and saved their money. As Minneapolis grew, they became wealthy. They were awarded the contracts for most of the big buildings those days.
Gold Rush Took All.
Then in 1893 came the panic, and building stopped. The Aronsons were wealthy. They had nothing to worry out. But with building at a standstill, they began to look around for something to do. They become interested in a gold mine in British Columbia, and invested thousands of dollars in it. They went out to British Columbia that year. Three years later they came Home -- penniless.
In the days of their prosperity they had acquired the friendship of a young night watchman – Mathias Kunz. Kunz and his wife had an apartment nest to their own in their building at 31 East Hennepin avenue. Kunz acted as sort of janitor for them in his spare time.
Later on Kunz's brother, Jacob Kunz, went into the brewing business. He was president of the Minneapolis Brewing company when the Aronson brothers came back from British Columbia, and he and his brother were both well off. Through their influence, the Aronsons were given the contract to build the North Star Malting company's building in northeast Minneapolis, a $300,000 job. The Aronsons straightened out their affairs and began to get back on their feet.
Fail, But Pay All.
In 1904 they were given by another contractor a subcontract to build a big grain elevator. The contractor failed and they lost thousands of dollars. From that time on, things went from bad to worse. In 1907 they failed, refused to go into bankruptcy, paid off every cent of their debts, and lost everything they had.
They were both past middle age then Bengt was 77 when he died and Louis 72. They tried to make a new start, but they had lost their courage. The Kunz brothers and some of their other friends again came to the rescue, and they have taken care of them ever since.
“Their best friend, I guess, is Philip Ridele of Los Angeles," Mathias Kunz said today, "Ridele used to own a brickyard here, back in the days when the Aronsons had money. For the last ? years, he has sent them $400 every year -- $200 at Christmas time and $200 on the Fourth of July."
Bengt Aronson's funeral will take place at 2 p. m. today in the O. E. Larson funeral parlors, 2301 Central avenue northeast. He will be buried in Lakewood cemetery.
Star Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wednesday, November 08, 1922 - Page 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brother: Louis Aronson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emigration Record
Post 595841
Aronsson, Bengt
Man
b. 12/3/1845 in Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
Emigrated 4/24/1867
from Stränge, Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
to Nordamerika
Source: Emibas migration file ID: Ör P 1867 006
Household 1850 - 1855
Source: Ör AI:13 (1850-1855) Image 217 / Page 210
First name Lars
Birth date 1850-10-23
Birth location Ö.
Birth parish (norm) Ör, Älvsborgs län
Relation/Title Barn
Parish Ör, Älvsborgs län
Place Svalungebyn
Same household
Aron Jansson 1816-04-02
Karolina Forsell 1812-07-06
Amalia 1843-10-02
Bengt 1845-12-03
Jan 1847-11-08
Lars 1850-10-23
Christina 1853-03-26
Bengt Aronson, Who Constructed Courthouse, Came to City in 1847
Bengt Aronson, pioneer contractor, builder of the courthouse, 76 years of age, died at his rooms, 36 Hennepin avenue E. Monday night, after an illness lasting several days.
After amassing a fortune in the contracting business he invested most of his wealth in 1893 in gold mining which resulted in the loss of his entire fortune. Resuming the contracting business and amassing a second fortune he again suffered losses through bad contracts which reduced him to a condition of poverty.
Mr. Aronson came to the city in 1847, as a child. In after years he engaged in the contracting business. Among the buildings which he erected were the Guaranty Loan, now known as the Metropolitan Life building, courthouse and other large structures.
For the last 15 years Aronson has lived with a brother, Louis, who worked with him in all his undertakings and occupied the same quarters.
The funeral will be in charge of Mathias Kunz of the Kunz Oil company, a life long friend of Mr. Aronson. Interment will be from the Larson Undertaking chapel, 2019 Central avenue N.E., Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock to Lakewood cemetery. Mr. Kunz requests as many of Mr. Aronson's friends as possible be in attendance at the funeral.
The Minneapolis Star
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tuesday, November 07, 1922 - Page 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Who Built City Hall Here Dies in Squalor
Bengt Aronson, Former Contractor, Spends Final Days in Shabby Room.
Glass Block, Temple Court and Other Loop Structures Put Up By Him.
By Lorena A. Hickok.
Bengt Aronson is dead.
Among Minneapolis businessmen of today there are only a few to whom this announcement will mean anything, and yet -- 30 years ago Bengt Aronson was one of the biggest building contractors in the Northwest. He built the courthouse, the first three floors of Guaranty Loan building, the Glass Block, Temple Court, and many other smaller buildings in the Loop. He was worth more than $100,000. Everybody knew Bengt Aronson then.
In a shabby, bare room over pool hall on Nicollet Island he died of pneumonia Sunday night -- a broken- down old man. And yesterday his brother and partner, Louis, sat huddled down in an old arm chair in front of the stove in that room, an unlighted pipe between his teeth gazing drearily at the fire.
Owners Let Them Stay.
In 1884 the Aronson brothers built two brick and stone business blocks at ?? and 31 East Hennepin avenue -- it was Central avenue then. Those blocks were among the finest in Minneapolis then. In one of them, they fitted themselves up a suite of rooms -- a bedroom, living room, and a little office. It was there that Bengt Aronson died. The property passed out of their hands many years ago, but the new owners owed them to stay.
Bengt and Louis Aronson came to Minnesota from Sweden in 1847. They grew up in the village of St. Anthony and learned the mason's trade. Eventually Bengt went into the contracting business and Louis became his partner. They worked hard and saved their money. As Minneapolis grew, they became wealthy. They were awarded the contracts for most of the big buildings those days.
Gold Rush Took All.
Then in 1893 came the panic, and building stopped. The Aronsons were wealthy. They had nothing to worry out. But with building at a standstill, they began to look around for something to do. They become interested in a gold mine in British Columbia, and invested thousands of dollars in it. They went out to British Columbia that year. Three years later they came Home -- penniless.
In the days of their prosperity they had acquired the friendship of a young night watchman – Mathias Kunz. Kunz and his wife had an apartment nest to their own in their building at 31 East Hennepin avenue. Kunz acted as sort of janitor for them in his spare time.
Later on Kunz's brother, Jacob Kunz, went into the brewing business. He was president of the Minneapolis Brewing company when the Aronson brothers came back from British Columbia, and he and his brother were both well off. Through their influence, the Aronsons were given the contract to build the North Star Malting company's building in northeast Minneapolis, a $300,000 job. The Aronsons straightened out their affairs and began to get back on their feet.
Fail, But Pay All.
In 1904 they were given by another contractor a subcontract to build a big grain elevator. The contractor failed and they lost thousands of dollars. From that time on, things went from bad to worse. In 1907 they failed, refused to go into bankruptcy, paid off every cent of their debts, and lost everything they had.
They were both past middle age then Bengt was 77 when he died and Louis 72. They tried to make a new start, but they had lost their courage. The Kunz brothers and some of their other friends again came to the rescue, and they have taken care of them ever since.
“Their best friend, I guess, is Philip Ridele of Los Angeles," Mathias Kunz said today, "Ridele used to own a brickyard here, back in the days when the Aronsons had money. For the last ? years, he has sent them $400 every year -- $200 at Christmas time and $200 on the Fourth of July."
Bengt Aronson's funeral will take place at 2 p. m. today in the O. E. Larson funeral parlors, 2301 Central avenue northeast. He will be buried in Lakewood cemetery.
Star Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wednesday, November 08, 1922 - Page 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brother: Louis Aronson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emigration Record
Post 595841
Aronsson, Bengt
Man
b. 12/3/1845 in Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
Emigrated 4/24/1867
from Stränge, Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
to Nordamerika
Source: Emibas migration file ID: Ör P 1867 006
Household 1850 - 1855
Source: Ör AI:13 (1850-1855) Image 217 / Page 210
First name Lars
Birth date 1850-10-23
Birth location Ö.
Birth parish (norm) Ör, Älvsborgs län
Relation/Title Barn
Parish Ör, Älvsborgs län
Place Svalungebyn
Same household
Aron Jansson 1816-04-02
Karolina Forsell 1812-07-06
Amalia 1843-10-02
Bengt 1845-12-03
Jan 1847-11-08
Lars 1850-10-23
Christina 1853-03-26
PIONEER BUILDER OF CITY IS DEAD
Bengt Aronson, Who Constructed Courthouse, Came to City in 1847
Bengt Aronson, pioneer contractor, builder of the courthouse, 76 years of age, died at his rooms, 36 Hennepin avenue E. Monday night, after an illness lasting several days.
After amassing a fortune in the contracting business he invested most of his wealth in 1893 in gold mining which resulted in the loss of his entire fortune. Resuming the contracting business and amassing a second fortune he again suffered losses through bad contracts which reduced him to a condition of poverty.
Mr. Aronson came to the city in 1847, as a child. In after years he engaged in the contracting business. Among the buildings which he erected were the Guaranty Loan, now known as the Metropolitan Life building, courthouse and other large structures.
For the last 15 years Aronson has lived with a brother, Louis, who worked with him in all his undertakings and occupied the same quarters.
The funeral will be in charge of Mathias Kunz of the Kunz Oil company, a life long friend of Mr. Aronson. Interment will be from the Larson Undertaking chapel, 2019 Central avenue N.E., Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock to Lakewood cemetery. Mr. Kunz requests as many of Mr. Aronson's friends as possible be in attendance at the funeral.
The Minneapolis Star
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tuesday, November 07, 1922 - Page 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Who Built City Hall Here Dies in Squalor
Bengt Aronson, Former Contractor, Spends Final Days in Shabby Room.
Glass Block, Temple Court and Other Loop Structures Put Up By Him.
By Lorena A. Hickok.
Bengt Aronson is dead.
Among Minneapolis businessmen of today there are only a few to whom this announcement will mean anything, and yet -- 30 years ago Bengt Aronson was one of the biggest building contractors in the Northwest. He built the courthouse, the first three floors of Guaranty Loan building, the Glass Block, Temple Court, and many other smaller buildings in the Loop. He was worth more than $100,000. Everybody knew Bengt Aronson then.
In a shabby, bare room over pool hall on Nicollet Island he died of pneumonia Sunday night -- a broken- down old man. And yesterday his brother and partner, Louis, sat huddled down in an old arm chair in front of the stove in that room, an unlighted pipe between his teeth gazing drearily at the fire.
Owners Let Them Stay.
In 1884 the Aronson brothers built two brick and stone business blocks at ?? and 31 East Hennepin avenue -- it was Central avenue then. Those blocks were among the finest in Minneapolis then. In one of them, they fitted themselves up a suite of rooms -- a bedroom, living room, and a little office. It was there that Bengt Aronson died. The property passed out of their hands many years ago, but the new owners owed them to stay.
Bengt and Louis Aronson came to Minnesota from Sweden in 1847. They grew up in the village of St. Anthony and learned the mason's trade. Eventually Bengt went into the contracting business and Louis became his partner. They worked hard and saved their money. As Minneapolis grew, they became wealthy. They were awarded the contracts for most of the big buildings those days.
Gold Rush Took All.
Then in 1893 came the panic, and building stopped. The Aronsons were wealthy. They had nothing to worry out. But with building at a standstill, they began to look around for something to do. They become interested in a gold mine in British Columbia, and invested thousands of dollars in it. They went out to British Columbia that year. Three years later they came Home -- penniless.
In the days of their prosperity they had acquired the friendship of a young night watchman – Mathias Kunz. Kunz and his wife had an apartment nest to their own in their building at 31 East Hennepin avenue. Kunz acted as sort of janitor for them in his spare time.
Later on Kunz's brother, Jacob Kunz, went into the brewing business. He was president of the Minneapolis Brewing company when the Aronson brothers came back from British Columbia, and he and his brother were both well off. Through their influence, the Aronsons were given the contract to build the North Star Malting company's building in northeast Minneapolis, a $300,000 job. The Aronsons straightened out their affairs and began to get back on their feet.
Fail, But Pay All.
In 1904 they were given by another contractor a subcontract to build a big grain elevator. The contractor failed and they lost thousands of dollars. From that time on, things went from bad to worse. In 1907 they failed, refused to go into bankruptcy, paid off every cent of their debts, and lost everything they had.
They were both past middle age then Bengt was 77 when he died and Louis 72. They tried to make a new start, but they had lost their courage. The Kunz brothers and some of their other friends again came to the rescue, and they have taken care of them ever since.
“Their best friend, I guess, is Philip Ridele of Los Angeles," Mathias Kunz said today, "Ridele used to own a brickyard here, back in the days when the Aronsons had money. For the last ? years, he has sent them $400 every year -- $200 at Christmas time and $200 on the Fourth of July."
Bengt Aronson's funeral will take place at 2 p. m. today in the O. E. Larson funeral parlors, 2301 Central avenue northeast. He will be buried in Lakewood cemetery.
Star Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wednesday, November 08, 1922 - Page 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brother: Louis Aronson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emigration Record
Post 595841
Aronsson, Bengt
Man
b. 12/3/1845 in Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
Emigrated 4/24/1867
from Stränge, Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
to Nordamerika
Source: Emibas migration file ID: Ör P 1867 006
Household 1850 - 1855
Source: Ör AI:13 (1850-1855) Image 217 / Page 210
First name Lars
Birth date 1850-10-23
Birth location Ö.
Birth parish (norm) Ör, Älvsborgs län
Relation/Title Barn
Parish Ör, Älvsborgs län
Place Svalungebyn
Same household
Aron Jansson 1816-04-02
Karolina Forsell 1812-07-06
Amalia 1843-10-02
Bengt 1845-12-03
Jan 1847-11-08
Lars 1850-10-23
Christina 1853-03-26
Bengt Aronson, Who Constructed Courthouse, Came to City in 1847
Bengt Aronson, pioneer contractor, builder of the courthouse, 76 years of age, died at his rooms, 36 Hennepin avenue E. Monday night, after an illness lasting several days.
After amassing a fortune in the contracting business he invested most of his wealth in 1893 in gold mining which resulted in the loss of his entire fortune. Resuming the contracting business and amassing a second fortune he again suffered losses through bad contracts which reduced him to a condition of poverty.
Mr. Aronson came to the city in 1847, as a child. In after years he engaged in the contracting business. Among the buildings which he erected were the Guaranty Loan, now known as the Metropolitan Life building, courthouse and other large structures.
For the last 15 years Aronson has lived with a brother, Louis, who worked with him in all his undertakings and occupied the same quarters.
The funeral will be in charge of Mathias Kunz of the Kunz Oil company, a life long friend of Mr. Aronson. Interment will be from the Larson Undertaking chapel, 2019 Central avenue N.E., Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock to Lakewood cemetery. Mr. Kunz requests as many of Mr. Aronson's friends as possible be in attendance at the funeral.
The Minneapolis Star
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tuesday, November 07, 1922 - Page 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Man Who Built City Hall Here Dies in Squalor
Bengt Aronson, Former Contractor, Spends Final Days in Shabby Room.
Glass Block, Temple Court and Other Loop Structures Put Up By Him.
By Lorena A. Hickok.
Bengt Aronson is dead.
Among Minneapolis businessmen of today there are only a few to whom this announcement will mean anything, and yet -- 30 years ago Bengt Aronson was one of the biggest building contractors in the Northwest. He built the courthouse, the first three floors of Guaranty Loan building, the Glass Block, Temple Court, and many other smaller buildings in the Loop. He was worth more than $100,000. Everybody knew Bengt Aronson then.
In a shabby, bare room over pool hall on Nicollet Island he died of pneumonia Sunday night -- a broken- down old man. And yesterday his brother and partner, Louis, sat huddled down in an old arm chair in front of the stove in that room, an unlighted pipe between his teeth gazing drearily at the fire.
Owners Let Them Stay.
In 1884 the Aronson brothers built two brick and stone business blocks at ?? and 31 East Hennepin avenue -- it was Central avenue then. Those blocks were among the finest in Minneapolis then. In one of them, they fitted themselves up a suite of rooms -- a bedroom, living room, and a little office. It was there that Bengt Aronson died. The property passed out of their hands many years ago, but the new owners owed them to stay.
Bengt and Louis Aronson came to Minnesota from Sweden in 1847. They grew up in the village of St. Anthony and learned the mason's trade. Eventually Bengt went into the contracting business and Louis became his partner. They worked hard and saved their money. As Minneapolis grew, they became wealthy. They were awarded the contracts for most of the big buildings those days.
Gold Rush Took All.
Then in 1893 came the panic, and building stopped. The Aronsons were wealthy. They had nothing to worry out. But with building at a standstill, they began to look around for something to do. They become interested in a gold mine in British Columbia, and invested thousands of dollars in it. They went out to British Columbia that year. Three years later they came Home -- penniless.
In the days of their prosperity they had acquired the friendship of a young night watchman – Mathias Kunz. Kunz and his wife had an apartment nest to their own in their building at 31 East Hennepin avenue. Kunz acted as sort of janitor for them in his spare time.
Later on Kunz's brother, Jacob Kunz, went into the brewing business. He was president of the Minneapolis Brewing company when the Aronson brothers came back from British Columbia, and he and his brother were both well off. Through their influence, the Aronsons were given the contract to build the North Star Malting company's building in northeast Minneapolis, a $300,000 job. The Aronsons straightened out their affairs and began to get back on their feet.
Fail, But Pay All.
In 1904 they were given by another contractor a subcontract to build a big grain elevator. The contractor failed and they lost thousands of dollars. From that time on, things went from bad to worse. In 1907 they failed, refused to go into bankruptcy, paid off every cent of their debts, and lost everything they had.
They were both past middle age then Bengt was 77 when he died and Louis 72. They tried to make a new start, but they had lost their courage. The Kunz brothers and some of their other friends again came to the rescue, and they have taken care of them ever since.
“Their best friend, I guess, is Philip Ridele of Los Angeles," Mathias Kunz said today, "Ridele used to own a brickyard here, back in the days when the Aronsons had money. For the last ? years, he has sent them $400 every year -- $200 at Christmas time and $200 on the Fourth of July."
Bengt Aronson's funeral will take place at 2 p. m. today in the O. E. Larson funeral parlors, 2301 Central avenue northeast. He will be buried in Lakewood cemetery.
Star Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Wednesday, November 08, 1922 - Page 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brother: Louis Aronson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Emigration Record
Post 595841
Aronsson, Bengt
Man
b. 12/3/1845 in Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
Emigrated 4/24/1867
from Stränge, Ör, Älvsborgs län (Dalsland)
to Nordamerika
Source: Emibas migration file ID: Ör P 1867 006
Household 1850 - 1855
Source: Ör AI:13 (1850-1855) Image 217 / Page 210
First name Lars
Birth date 1850-10-23
Birth location Ö.
Birth parish (norm) Ör, Älvsborgs län
Relation/Title Barn
Parish Ör, Älvsborgs län
Place Svalungebyn
Same household
Aron Jansson 1816-04-02
Karolina Forsell 1812-07-06
Amalia 1843-10-02
Bengt 1845-12-03
Jan 1847-11-08
Lars 1850-10-23
Christina 1853-03-26
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