This image is the cover for the book Fading Ads of the Twin Cities, Fading Ads

Fading Ads of the Twin Cities, Fading Ads

On brick buildings throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul, overlooked, fleeting symbols chronicle the cities' past.


Champion, John Deere, and International Harvester still tout their agricultural equipment, and Gold Medal and Pillsbury Flour remind everyone where these now global companies began. Weathered proclamations from Grain Belt, Jacob Schmidt, and Gluek's Beer offer a glimpse into early local brewing. Ads from Schmitt Music and Dahl Violin Shop recall a thriving art scene. Local hardware stores like Welna Ace Hardware and grocery stores like J.H. Allen & Co Grocers and Schoen's Home Grocery hawk long-gone wares through elegant painted announcements.


Join photographer and author Jay Grammond for a fascinating journey through Twin Cities history.

Jay Grammond

Jay Grammond was born in North Dakota and raised in Grey Eagle, Minnesota. From an early age, his parents taught him about family and local history. As an adult, he is a self-proclaimed history nerd and a metal detectorist as a hobby. Jay is a self-employed photographer and is excited to share the images and histories in his first published book with you.

The History Press