Beck Building

Built 1912

The Beck Building at 136 Bridge Avenue E., built by John M. Beck in 1912 next to Delano’s original City Hall, has housed an unusually diverse collection of businesses during its more than century-long history. Beck, a music teacher and director of the Delano Band, originally used the building for his music and stationery business, while his daughter Clotildis “Claudia” Beck operated a photography studio there and created an important visual record of early Delano. Later occupants included the Delano Granite and Marble Works, several bakeries, the Red Owl grocery store, Ditty Plumbing and Heating, and the Delano Family Dental Clinic. Cutting Edge Construction moved into the historic building in 2005, and portions of the early construction added by monument maker Bert Gilmer can still be seen at the rear. In 2026, the storefront was occupied by Western Creations, continuing the Beck Building’s long tradition of adapting to the changing businesses of downtown Delano.

John M. Beck built the building next to the original city hall in 1912. Over the years it has held many businesses.

J. M. Beck was a music teacher, and served as the director of the Delano Band, as well as directing the choir of St, Peter’s church during the years the family lived in Delano. He built the store for his music and stationary business.

John M Beck, was the director of the Military Band, is in the center of the front row.

His daughter, Clotildis (Claudia) Beck, also had a photography studio in the building.

Clotildis B Beck, Woman Photographer in Early Delano

1919 - The building is now housing the Delano Granite and Marble Works.

Bert Gilmer opened a monument shop in Delano in 1917, and bought the building in 1919. He added a tower to the back of the building to handle the pieces of granite. When Clarence Dunn joined the firm in 1925, the Delano Granite offices were still in the building next to the city hall on Bridge Avenue. He reminisced about looking out the only window in the place - right into the jail next door.

In September of 1930, Mr. H. Swanberg of Chicago and Mr. Cox rented the Bert Gilmer building next to city hall and re-arranged the interior for the manufacture and sale of bakery products. It was promoted as a new business industry for Delano.

The building continued to be a bakery:

1932

1933

The Red Owl Agency was in the building next to the City Hall in 1940, operated by William Kirsch. When he died in April of that year, his wife, Ella, sold the business to Lawrence and Alice Karl.

Mr. and Mrs. Karl operated the Red Owl store for six years, and then sold it to Raymond C. Trueman. Mr.Trueman died in 1952.

Ditty Plumbing and Heating was located in the building the 60’s.

Ditty Plumbing and Heating was located in the building the 60’s.

Beginning in 1987, Tom Madden, opened his dentistry office in this building. In 1988 his brother Mark joined him. They remained at this address until 2004, when they built a new office on Elm Avenue by Delano Public Schools.

In 2005 Cutting Edge Construction, moved to Delano and into the Beck building. Michael Anastasia, who was joined in 1991 by his brother Pete, started the company in 1985 in Long Lake. The business has completed hundreds of commercial restaurant and bar projects and a variety of projects for retailers, service firms, and non-profit organizations, including a number of projects involving historical building and renovation in historical districts in the Minnesota area. Pete Anastasia is the current president of the company and owner of this historical building in Delano, where it is still possible to see some of the original construction added by Bert Gilmer in the back of the building.

Western Creations was in the building in March of 2026, and in September of the same year it transitioned to …….

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