Difference between revisions of "The Rusk Auto-House"

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The Rusk Auto-House is an example from a local manufacturer that contributed to early automotive history.   
 
The Rusk Auto-House is an example from a local manufacturer that contributed to early automotive history.   
  
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George Rusk, of [[Fargo Cornice and Ornament Company]], saw an opportunity for business despite the lagging ornamental-construction market.  Using the production equipment available to them, Fargo Cornice produced these small-prefab garages, advertised for "$139 and upwards"<ref>"Early Prefab Garages Made Locally", Don Lilleboe, [[:Image:1988-March-Howard-Binfords-Guide.jpg|March 1988 Howard Binford's Guide]]</ref>
  
  
[[Image:Rusk-auto-house-north-fargo-1.jpg|left|180px|thumb|A Rusk Auto House in north Fargo, ND]]
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[[Image:Rusk-Auto-House-702-704-Broadway.jpg|thumb|left|180px|702-704 Broadway]]
 
==Historical Value==
 
==Historical Value==
 
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One Rusk Auto-House, once located at 702-704 Broadway, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places<ref>[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ND/Cass/state.html National Register of Historic Places], Cass County, North Dakota.</ref>, Building #87002634, in 1987. Its architect was listed as "Fargo Cornice and Ornament Co., Hancock Brothers." According to the [[:Image:1988-March-Howard-Binfords-Guide.jpg|March 1988 Howard Binford's Guide]], the garage sat just off "Seventh avenue, across the street from the bishop's [[Image:Rusk-auto-house-north-fargo-1.jpg|right|180px|thumb|A Rusk Auto House in north Fargo, ND]]residence".  It belonged with a home built by Fargo hoteliers Peter Elliot and F. Urban Powers.  This area is now completely paved, as a parking lot for Mericare Hospital.
One Rusk Auto-House, once located at 702-704 Broadway, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places<ref>[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ND/Cass/state.html National Register of Historic Places], Cass County, North Dakota.</ref>, Building #87002634, in 1987.   I've both walked and driven past this location, but 702-704 Broadway appears to be a Meritcare parking lot today.  I will look more when I have more time to explore the alleys in this neighborhood.  As this building is not in the current National Register of Historic Places, I suspect it was destroyed or moved.  Its architect was listed as "Fargo Cornice and Ornament Co., Hancock Brothers."
 
  
 
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Revision as of 17:02, 26 January 2008

An example of the Rusk Auto-House, located in south Fargo, ND.

The "Rusk Auto-House" was a prefabricated steel garage for storing automobiles, in a time when there was no reason to automatically add a garage to a home.

Building's Label

One example I've run across has the following label:

The pressed-metal label.

THE
RUSK
AUTO-HOUSE

MANUFACTURED BY
THE FARGO CORNICE & ORNAMENT Co.
FARGO, N.D.


History

People today might not have thought of this, but before the automobile there was no reason for people to build an garage-sized accommodation for any automobile-sized objects. Barns and machine-sheds existed for farmers, horse owners had stables, but there weren't any custom buildings for automobiles as are so common today.

The Rusk Auto-House is an example from a local manufacturer that contributed to early automotive history.

George Rusk, of Fargo Cornice and Ornament Company, saw an opportunity for business despite the lagging ornamental-construction market. Using the production equipment available to them, Fargo Cornice produced these small-prefab garages, advertised for "$139 and upwards"[1]


702-704 Broadway

Historical Value

One Rusk Auto-House, once located at 702-704 Broadway, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places[2], Building #87002634, in 1987. Its architect was listed as "Fargo Cornice and Ornament Co., Hancock Brothers." According to the March 1988 Howard Binford's Guide, the garage sat just off "Seventh avenue, across the street from the bishop's

A Rusk Auto House in north Fargo, ND

residence". It belonged with a home built by Fargo hoteliers Peter Elliot and F. Urban Powers. This area is now completely paved, as a parking lot for Mericare Hospital.


The Enderlin, ND Rusk Auto-House

References

  1. "Early Prefab Garages Made Locally", Don Lilleboe, March 1988 Howard Binford's Guide
  2. National Register of Historic Places, Cass County, North Dakota.