Sep 13, 1977
314 Clifton Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Statement of Significance: The E.L. Carpenter House at 314 Clifton Avenue in Minneapolis is significant for its association with lumber-businessman Elbert Lawrence Carpenter who was the prominent organizer and benefactor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. In addition, it is an excellent example of the popular Georgian Revival style of architecture, designed and executed by prominent Minneapolis architect William Channing Whitney in 1906. Carpenter resided in the house for forty-one years. Elbert Carpenter, born in Illinois in 1862, was raised in Clinton, Iowa. The son of a lumberman, Elbert's inclination was to study music, but his father's illness caused him to move to Minneapolis in 1887 to manage a branch of the family lumber business. By 1915 Carpenter was president of his own company, the Shevlin, Carpenter, and Clarke Company, with timber and lumber mill holdings in several states and Canada. He held the position of president until his retirement in 1932 but remained as chairman of the board until 1937. Active even after retirement. Carpenter's activities in the field of social welfare and associations with commercial and banking concerns continued until his death. Carpenter in spite of his business responsibilities still maintained an interest in music. In the late 1890s, Carpenter met a young organist by the name of Emil Oberhoffer. Impressed by the man's power and personality as a musical director. Carpenter set out and raised enough capital to organize a group of sixty-five musicians into what was to become the Minneapolis S3unphony Orchestra under the direction of Oberhoffer. Carpenter became chairman of the board and in 1905 he became a lifelong chairman of the orchestra's management committee. Without a man of Carpenter's stature, business acumen, and determination the orchestra would not have weathered the financial difficulties that beset a new organization. Year after year he solicited pledges for the guarantee fund and repeatedly contributed his own funds if deficits appeared. Carpenter was present at every orchestra board meeting for forty years and because of his dedication, he received an honorary music degree from the University of Minnesota. Carpenter's dedicated management of the orchestra ensured its success after his death in 1945.
314 Clifton Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Statement of Significance: The E.L. Carpenter House at 314 Clifton Avenue in Minneapolis is significant for its association with lumber-businessman Elbert Lawrence Carpenter who was the prominent organizer and benefactor of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. In addition, it is an excellent example of the popular Georgian Revival style of architecture, designed and executed by prominent Minneapolis architect William Channing Whitney in 1906. Carpenter resided in the house for forty-one years. Elbert Carpenter, born in Illinois in 1862, was raised in Clinton, Iowa. The son of a lumberman, Elbert's inclination was to study music, but his father's illness caused him to move to Minneapolis in 1887 to manage a branch of the family lumber business. By 1915 Carpenter was president of his own company, the Shevlin, Carpenter, and Clarke Company, with timber and lumber mill holdings in several states and Canada. He held the position of president until his retirement in 1932 but remained as chairman of the board until 1937. Active even after retirement. Carpenter's activities in the field of social welfare and associations with commercial and banking concerns continued until his death. Carpenter in spite of his business responsibilities still maintained an interest in music. In the late 1890s, Carpenter met a young organist by the name of Emil Oberhoffer. Impressed by the man's power and personality as a musical director. Carpenter set out and raised enough capital to organize a group of sixty-five musicians into what was to become the Minneapolis S3unphony Orchestra under the direction of Oberhoffer. Carpenter became chairman of the board and in 1905 he became a lifelong chairman of the orchestra's management committee. Without a man of Carpenter's stature, business acumen, and determination the orchestra would not have weathered the financial difficulties that beset a new organization. Year after year he solicited pledges for the guarantee fund and repeatedly contributed his own funds if deficits appeared. Carpenter was present at every orchestra board meeting for forty years and because of his dedication, he received an honorary music degree from the University of Minnesota. Carpenter's dedicated management of the orchestra ensured its success after his death in 1945.
Sep 13, 1977
Posted Date
Feb 04, 2022
Historical Record Date
Sep 13, 1977
Source Name
United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service
