Pacific-Pak Ice building...

One of the smartest things our city fathers did was adopt a building code that required all new buildings downtown be made of brick.  This, of course was after the city was gutted by the great fire in 1889.  Because of that code we have a good inventory of brick structures in our downtown that continue to function much as they did when first built.  First Ave. has a perfect example of such a structure in the Morris and Company building near 1st and Jefferson.

Currently owned by the Pacific-Pak Ice Company, the building fronting on Jefferson looks to be the original administration office.  What Morris and Company did we have no clue, but fortunately for us their building has survived relatively intact.  If you happen by it, take some time to look at the detail in the brickwork and stone.  If you're fortunate on a hot day, you might also stumble across some remnants of the ice operations lying in the street.  Nothing like a snowball fight in mid-summer.  Mirrored glass and a cinderblock addition aside, the current owners have been good stewards of the property.  We like the fact that an operation like this can still plug away day-after-day in our downtown.  It makes for more dimension somehow.

Comments

[PreserveThis!]

Actually, Morris & Co. were meat packers out of Chicago. They had this building built as its local distributor in 1911, and occupied it until 1916. Built prior to the Northern Pacific grade separation in 1915, the architect presumably anticipated the change in the 2-story design. Michael & Jones Packing Co. wholesale meats, later known as M & J Packing Co. whole sale meats, occupied the building from 1922 to 1939. Beginning in 1934, M & J shared the space with Pacific Packing Co. wholesale meats, predecessor of the current occupant, Pacific Pak Ice wholesale.