Garfield Schwartz

Garfield Schwartz, circa 1920s. Image courtesy Ken Allsen.

Garfield Schwartz (1882-1956) was the founder and president of the Garfield Schwartz & Co. Builders (est. 1909), which became the largest construction firm in Minnesota in the first half of the 20th century. His construction firm was especially active in Rochester, Minnesota, where it constructed every Mayo Clinic building from 1914-1948, including the iconic Plummer Building. G. Schwartz & Co. constructed over 500 buildings with over $30,000,000 in total business in southeastern Minnesota. The firm was also known for having built the majority of homes in the Pill Hill Residential Historic District in Rochester, a neighborhood now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places for its significant architecture. Schwartz & Co. constructed works by prominent architects Harold Crawford and Ellerbe and Associates in Pill Hill and throughout Rochester. Garfield Schwarz worked closely with prominent figures in the history of Rochester, including William J. Mayo, Charles H. Mayo, and John Kahler. He died in 1956 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Notable works

References

  1. ↑ Allsen, Ken (2012). Old College Street: The Historic Heart of Rochester, Minnesota. The History Press. ISBN 978-1-60949-614-2.
  2. 1 2 "Garfield Schwartz, 38 Years Contractor Here, to Retire". Rochester Post Bulletin. March 18, 1948. p. 8.
  3. ↑ "Pill Hill Residential Historic District". National Park Service. 1990-11-29. Retrieved 2025-06-07.
  4. ↑ "National Register Digital Assets: Pill Hill Residential Historic District". United States National Park Service. November 29, 1990.
  5. ↑ Allsen, Ken (2009). A Century of Elegance: Ellerbe Residential Design in Rochester, Minnesota. The History Center of Olmsted County. ISBN 978-0-9676652-7-6.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Weber, Thomas (2026-05-07). "Who was Garfield Schwartz, and what did he mean to early Rochester?". Rochester Post Bulletin. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Garfield Schwartz, 73, Rochester Builder, Dies". Star Tribune. September 19, 1956. p. 15.