Rapid development was bringing prosperity to Minneapolis, but it was also starting to tax the city's infrastructure.

19 was built in a simple utilitarian style (unique to Minneapolis), yet it contained some touches of ornamentation.

The fire station was one of the last to house horse-drawn equipment, as late as 1922, it also had a hardwood floor apparatus bay.

There was some concern in the mid-2000s decade that the University of Minnesota would have the structure demolished to make way for rearranged roads leading to and from the then-unbuilt TCF Bank Stadium.

[6] However, the roads were eventually routed around the building, making it the only structure on a small island across from the stadium.