July 2008 Archives

Melissa

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With all of the interest surrounding the 25th anniversary of the Northwestern National Bank fire, there were a lot of questions about the beginnings of the blaze. When asked about it, most people say it started in the old Donaldson's  building. Now, I am not a native Minneapolitan, nor was I alive prior to 1982, so this reference does not exactly paint a picture for me. So in an attempt to make the events in downtown Minneapolis on Thanksgiving Day in 1982 a bit clearer, I did a little research…

Donaldson's  was founded in the 1883 by Scottish immigrants. It was located between 6th St. and 7th St. on Nicollet Mall  — the company owned the entire block. Donaldson's sold everything from clothing, bedding, footwear and furniture, to jewelry, beauty products and housewares. It was "a peculiar jumble of stores, all connected with a warren of hallways and showrooms," writes lileks.com . At the start of the 20th century, especially, Donaldson's brought, "Continental flavor to the cramped dim retailing style of the time. At night, the store sang with light; in the day, the dome on the corner of Nicollet and 6th made the Midwestern shopper think she might have wandered into the Bon Marche of Paris."

The "dome" was part of the Glass Block Building , originally constructed in 1884. The company that worked on the building (and many of its subsequent renovations) was the local Pike and Cook Company, now the George F. Cook Construction Company. The dome, visible in many of the lileks.com pictures, was dismantled during World War II for scrap metal.

After the war, Donaldson's was remodeled beyond "historical recognition." There were several modern designs  for a new store, all sleek and ready for the consumers of the 50s. The final incarnation of the department store, in its original location, looked like this , before it was destroyed in the 1982 fire. It is this façade that is immortalized in pop culture history by Mary Tyler Moore . In the opening credits of the first season of the show, Mary triumphantly tosses her hat directly in front of Donaldson's.

Across the street from Donaldson's was their rival, Dayton's . The two stores battled it out for the greater part of the 20th century — Dayton's always staying just a step ahead. In 1982, Donaldson's left their historic beginnings before the fire occurred, to relocate in the newly built City Center. (It was the empty original building that burned.) In 1987 Donaldson's was bought by Carson Pirie Scott & Co.  and renamed Carson's. These stores were unsuccessful and the entire business was sold to Dayton Hudson Corp, ironically, who re-opened the stores as part of its Mervyn's  chain.

Mervyn's is now focused in southwestern and West Coast markets. It's merchandise, however — clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics, and housewares — remains the same as it's long-gone ancestor, Donaldson's.

Charles

Two things come to mind as I work toward the first deadline for the Someday Stories^SM contest. First, this is one of the latest chapters in Wells Fargo's history of supporting good causes. Every year, Wells Fargo team members contribute millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours to communities and agencies who provide assistance to people in need. Your Someday Stories are just another way to help out.

The contest works like this: You tell Wells Fargo your dream and if you a weekly winner, are a semi-finalist or win the big mo', you get $1000, 10,000 or $100,000 bucks. Visitors to the site vote for the most deserving person and also help out three organizations that stand to get $50K to $250 grand. This prize money goes to people who demonstrate a need and a desire — it's not about luck. No "10th caller"   in this one!

(Two things, people! Keep the submission  to 250 words or less, and enter by 11:59PM, Friday, July 25th. Those are the rules !)

The other thing that interested me is how the Someday Stories contest is a way for the Company to speak to the community apart from the business voice. It gives the big financial institution an opportunity to communicate in a way that's different from the usual marketing tone. You know, "Ask us about 6-month CDs." (Which you can certainly do — we are still open for business!)

In 1875, Henry Wells himself wrote:

Our lives are not measured by the number of years and days we exist, but by what we accomplish while we live, and the good we may render our fellow men.

Wells was a risk-taker and made a fortune. He also had a great vision of public service , and he backed up his vision with lots of money. The union of innovation and duty has been part of Wells Fargo since the very beginning. It's part of the name, you might say.

And it's going strong 156 years later.

Ileana

A few months back we began selling a new book in our museums, What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking. Published in 1881, this happens to be the first known African American cookbook and a very rare work.

Cooking 125 years ago? Without the Food Network , the guidance of celebrity chefs  or Alton Brown ?

It was certainly a different world then, one in which cooking required more time and labor than it does today, as well as that all-important cook's touch. Those people really had to know what they were doing.

Mrs. Fisher certainly did.

Abby Fisher was an ex-slave from South Carolina who moved to San Francisco in the 1870s. She and her husband began a pickle and preserves manufacturing business. Mrs. Fisher was so well-known for her skill in the art of cooking (she was awarded medals and diplomas in many fairs in California) that she was asked by her "lady friends and patrons" to write a cookbook sharing her knowledge. Unable to read or write herself, she dictated the information (which explains her "Circuit Hash" [succotash] and "Carolas" [crullers] recipes).

Her cookbook was published by the Women's Cooperative Printing Union  — a union that came into existence with the support of Wells Fargo Bank superintendent James Latham, 50 years before women won the right to vote. Way to go, Mrs. Fisher and way to go, WCPU!

What Southern dishes does Mrs. Fisher share with us? Recipes for sauces, pickles and preserves abound, as these were her specialties and her line of business. The rest are recipes for various meats, breads, cakes, pies and other dishes — from turtle soup to ice cream.

And just to clarify, "Beef a la Mode"  is not served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Let's get cookin'!

Charles

Wells Fargo launched the Someday Stories^SM contest recently — it's a chance to win $1,000, $10,000…even $100,000!

It's easy: Tell your story in a paragraph or two. A Someday Stories entry is a 250-words or less expression of your true financial dreams that Wells Fargo can help you achieve. Make sure you submit your dream  before July 25th.

From June 9th to August 25th, Wells Fargo is awarding $1,000 for the "Story of the Week." In July and August, five finalists will each receive $10,000 toward fulfilling their "Someday" goal. The prizes will be announced on September 17th, and a team of Wells Fargo financial professionals will help winners develop the plan to achieve their goals.

The prize delivery, financial consultation and winners telling their individual "Story" will be filmed and a two-minute clip posted online. Everyone is welcome to visit the site and vote for their favorite of the Someday Stories entries. The top vote-getter becomes the grand prize winner, and gets $100,000 on November 17th.

But wait — there's more!

When people go online to cast votes for their favorite video, they can also vote for one of three great causes: Junior Achievement , Boys & Girls Clubs of America  and Habitat for Humanity . The charity that receives the most votes gets $250,000! The second- and third-most vote-getters receive $150,000 and $50,000, respectively.

It's a pretty generous contest. So many can win money they need and deserve: organizations that help people, and individual people who dream of a brighter tomorrow — all great causes. Enter! 

Bob

A couple months ago, Charles wrote about the Ada Hancock explosion, the truth of which has been skewed by legend. While he gave the corrected side of the story, there's a more practical piece of history that resulted from that incident — it's legal and meant something to lawyers at the time, which is probably why people changed the story and focused on treasure instead!

On the evening of April 27, 1863, the shallow draft  steam tug left the Los Angeles harbor wharf and headed to the coastal steamer Senator. Aboard were Phineas Banning , the mercantile and transportation entrepreneur who owned the town of Wilmington  and who also represented Wells Fargo; his brother-in-law William T.B. Sanford, company accountant and assistant Wells Fargo agent; and Wells Fargo messenger William C. Ritchie, in charge of an iron treasure box containing $10,755 in gold dust and bullion from the Colorado River mines. There were 50 other passengers and the crew.

A sudden squall struck the Ada Hancock, heeling her over. Cold water contacted hot iron and the boilers exploded, killing 26 people outright. Among the dead were Sanford and Ritchie, while the force blew an injured Banning clear of the boat. Only seven persons aboard escaped injury from an accident the Coroner's Jury declared to be "entirely attributable to the overpowering force of the elements."

A Fort Yuma  merchant named George F. Hooper  lost his gold and sued Wells Fargo, though the Company denied culpability. In fact, California Supreme Court Justice Lorenzo Sawyer  affirmed: "There was evidence tending to prove, that the explosion was caused by the carelessness of the engineer, and other officers."

But in March, 1865, the Court upheld Hooper's claim. (Hooper v. Wells Fargo, 27 Cal. 11-49.) Thereafter, Wells Fargo's receipts added a disclaimer: The Company, "not owning or being interested in the means or vehicles of transportation," would not be liable for accidents caused by "the negligence or misconduct" of carriers.

Within 18 months, that would change when Wells Fargo established its Great Overland Mail Stagecoach line across the country.

Steve

For the past few years, the Oregon Historical Society  has collaborated with the Wells Fargo History Museum in Oregon to promote our education programs. The Historical Society will host a teacher workshop in November, where teachers can receive professional development units.

More recently, the Oregon Historical Society's research library  has developed finding aids to assist research. Within the finding aids, I found a short, type-written biography of Cornelius Beekman, Wells Fargo's express agent in Jacksonville, Oregon  .

Cornelius Beekman  grew up in New York, and moved to California in 1850 at the age of 22. He found work as a carpenter in San Francisco, but was lured to the gold mines – first at Scott's Bar  and then at Sawyer's Bar .

Within a few years, Beekman was in the express business in Jacksonville, as agent for Cram, Rogers & Co. Express. By 1856, however. that company had failed, and Beekman started his own express messenger service.  For seven years, he made semi-weekly runs between Yreka and Jacksonville, and to Crescent City along California's northwest coast. A sole proprietor, Beekman was also the only rider. He charged one dollar for letters and newspapers, and five percent for the transportation of gold.

Alone, he delivered more than fifteen million dollars in gold!

In 1863, Wells Fargo appointed Beekman as agent in Jacksonville. From that office, he shipped millions of dollars in gold to San Francisco for minting. He dealt in foreign exchanges and sold tickets for the California Stage Company . He established a bank in Jacksonville that charged depositors one percent monthly for the safe-keeping of gold and five percent monthly for loans. Beekman Bank  survived the financial panics of 1873, 1893, and 1907.

He retired in 1912, but his customers refused to withdraw their balances! Beekman's estate paid off all the bank's depositors when he died three years later.

Cornelius Beekman served Wells Fargo as agent for forty-two years, a record of loyalty that we remember and celebrate. But as gold rush argonaut, lone rider, Wells Fargo agent and solid financial man, Beekman's life epitomizes American entrepreneurship in the 19th century.

Casey

A couple weeks ago, the Olaf Wieghorst  Western Heritage Day's Festival took place in El Cajon, California. It's always great to be able to get out and interact with the public in that type of environment. After 6 years, I'm still amazed at the reaction people have when they see the stagecoach, whether it's the memories it conjures, the curiosity it piques or the awe it inspires. Men and women, young and old — so many people are drawn to it.

And because I love to educate and tell stories, it was a great time.

After spending the weekend dressed in an 1870s costume, complete with waist coat and pocket watch, answering questions and telling stories about stagecoaches and Wells Fargo history in the hot El Cajon Valley sun, I decided to take a day off.

So, here I sit with my road atlas, a well-warn copy of The Butterfield Overland Mail  by Waterman L. Ormsby, Post-it Notes  in three colors, and of course, my laptop with internet at the ready. What could I possibly be doing?

Well, if all goes as planned, I will have the unique opportunity to travel the old Butterfield mail route  from St. Louis to San Francisco. What's the occasion you ask? As many of you may know, this year is the 150th anniversary of the first overland mail trip  via the Butterfield Route .

As part of our celebration of this anniversary — which will include new interactive exhibits in our museums! — I'm hoping to recreate the trip in the same amount of time as the historic journey .

Launching from St. Louis on September 16 and arriving in San Francisco on October 10 (to what I imagine will be a ticker tape parade!), I'll spend 26 days on the road. I plan to blog, video, photograph and interview interesting people and places I see along the way.

As you can imagine, this is no small undertaking: which brings me back to the atlas, book, post it notes, etc.

Right now, I'm in the process of working out the logistics, budget, research and all else that goes into planning a trip of this kind. I can only imagine what planning, anxiety and excitement must have gone into the pioneers' and 49ers' preparations. It's been a lot of work so far, but I think it will be incredibly rewarding in the end.

I can't wait to share this experience with you! So keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted....

Charles

We got good video at the Stagecoach Appearance at our Hayward, California store this past June 14th. We’ve shown you Part I here and Part II here.

And now, the leftover video. The bad video. You're welcome!

Bill Taylor

I recently met a new Wells Fargo customer who relayed to me one of those legendary customer service stories that I as a team member like to hear about.

The day before she was to close on her new home, she learned that a money transfer from her bank in New York had failed and, in addition, the bank would not be able to process the transaction in time for her closing. Taking a friend's advice she stopped by a Wells Fargo branch and, after a few hours and some hard work from the bankers there, was able to secure her funds for the closing the next day.

Her story left me reflecting on Wells Fargo's long standing values of customer service, integrity and ethics.

There are examples of Wells Fargo's exceptional customer service in the stories from our past. During the California Gold Rush, Wells Fargo agents were known for their honesty when weighing gold for miners at a time when other bank agents were tipping the scales in their own favor. Agents also traveled to the gold fields to provide onsite service. Miners were able to handle their banking and express needs without leaving their claim unprotected or risking robbery  on the way to town. Wells Fargo and Co. was able to reliably deliver the mail  in a timely manner, something the US Post Office was unable to accomplish at the time, and customers were willing to pay extra for the excellent service.

Wells Fargo was going the extra mile for its customers from the very beginning, at a time when that extra mile was most likely on foot!

The same could not be said for other companies. One staging company — the Overland Stage Company  owned by Ben Holladay  — operated under a much different customer service philosophy. (I'd sum it up with the legend, "What ever the customer wants…too bad!") Holladay had no compunction about mistreating customers in order to make a profit. He left passengers and freight from the feeder line stranded at Fort Kearney   in order to pressure the feeder line company to sell out to him. Once he obtained a new stage line, Holladay often raised rates, lowered quality, and provided less service.

Holladay would compete with a small stage line by providing luxury coaches and extremely low fares. Then, when the competing company went out of business, he raised the fares to nearly double the original price and replaced the luxury coaches with wagons with wooden benches.

One customer of Holladay's Overland Stage Line stated, "If the earnestness and deep sincerity with which my maledictations are uttered could ensure there taking effect, I would not stand in Ben Holladay's shoes for two mail contacts." Holladay inspired such distaste  (it's a long article, so scroll down a little to the section titled "Ben Holliday") in customers and competitors alike that the competing companies, Wells Fargo, American Express, and United States Express, all cooperated in financing a stage line intended to put Holladay out of business. When a company is unable to provide customer service — like the bank that couldn't process the transfer, or is unwilling to meet the customers' needs like Holladay — it forces the consumer to seek alternatives.

And in the end, poor choices by other entities will work to the advantage of Wells Fargo team members, who take inspiration from our Company's history!