Dyer Building, 21-23 West 5th Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota, (Razed)
| Edit with form | |
|
Dyer Building | |
 | |
| Address: | 21 5th Street W |
| Neighborhood/s: | Downtown, Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| City/locality- State/province |
Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| County- State/province: |
Ramsey County, Minnesota |
| State/province: | Minnesota |
| Country: | United States |
| Historic Function: | Music Store; Photo Studio |
The Dyer Building housed W.J Dyer & Bro. Music Company on the first floor, but it was also one of the many spaces around the Twin Cities used by the Lee Brothers. The Lee Brothers were prominent Minnesota photographers from the 1880s until the 1940s. The two Lee brothers split their business between St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1919. Thorwald operated in Minneapolis, and Peder operated in St. Paul.
The Lee Brothers made a generous contribution to the Minnesota Historical Society in conjunction with the opening of a new Historical Society building in 1917. The Lee Brothers contacted many important Minnesotans, encouraging them to come to the Lee Bros. studio for a formal portait. The Lees then asked the subjects to write an autobiographical sketch to accompany the portrait. These portraits formed a core element of the Minnesota Historical Society's photography collection.
Memories and stories
Photo Gallery
Related Links
Here is a link to Lee Brothers Studio on Portland Ave., St. Paul
Here are some photos by the Lee Bros. from the MNHS Photo and Art Database
Here is some more information about the Lee Brothers
