675 - Franklin on Fourth
This historic photo shows the Franklin on Fourth building in downtown Grand Forks, ND, when it operated as Valley Motor Company. Several Dodge Brothers cars and Graham Brothers trucks are lined up in front of the brick building, highlighting its role as an early automobile dealership and service center.
The new 7-story” Franklin on 4th” is located one of Grand Forks oldest commercial blocks once occupied by four of the City’s oldest buildings. The façade of the new building echoes the architecture of the former streetscape where the old Lyon’s Auto was set back from the street in the middle of the block. The name, Franklin on 4th draws on the 1933 Franklin Olympic automobile, once housed in Lyons. It has been sensitively restored and rehomed into the new building as an artifact of the site’s history. Lyon’s was one of Grand Forks longest operating businesses that started as a bicycle repair shop on DeMers before relocating here when automobiles were introduced to the City.
On the corner of University Avenue stood Jack’s Roller Rink, an entertainment venue which was an important part of early 20th century social life. The venue hosted music performances as well as some sporting events. St Michael’s Church held services in the Roller Rink for two years after a fire destroyed the church in 1907. Local automobile owners used the basement to store their cars during the winter. It was designated a fallout shelter during World War 2 owing to its substantial construction.
Between the Roller Rink and Lyon’s Garage stood another commercial and residential building with upstairs apartments and the Grand Forks Marble Works on the street level which made marble memorials and headstones for cemeteries.
Franklin on 4th continues the mixed use operations with both apartments and retail bringing a new vibrancy to downtown. The sophisticated interior with retail and restaurants makes Franklin on Fourth a new hotspot in an already energetic downtown.