![]() Even the most modest of the bungalow plans-featuring just one bedroom and bathroom, a living room, and an eat-in kitchen-were stylish with subtle detailing and plenty of room for a family. ![]() Fifty-eight houses were built to house factory and office workers and their families. In 1918, local contractors went about building the homes in Pantown. All of the homes had maple flooring throughout with oak and pine used for interior millwork and trimming. Clausen to meet the needs of three categories of employees: executives, managers, and workers. Twenty-five house plans in the Craftsman and Western Stick styles were drawn up by architect Arthur C. Cloud, Pantown was built adjacent to the Pan Motor Company factory to make getting to and from work easy. Located in a six-block area in the northwest corner of St. With that in mind, Pan-Town-on-the-Mississippi was born. Instead, he envisioned neat rows of bungalows with open porches and lawns for families to enjoy. To his credit, Pandolfo knew he didn’t want Pantown to resemble an ordinary company town with cheaply-made homes that all looked alike stacked onto each block as tightly as possible. ![]() Once stockholders had contributed the capital needed and the factory was in place, Pandolfo began planning a company town to house the employees that would be necessary to keep up with the demand for his automobiles. Investors lined up to become part of the Pan Motor Company with Pandolfo as its ringleader and sales of the car began rolling in. To prove his cars were road-worthy, Pandolfo arranged an event in 1918 for the media and stockholders where three Pan Motor cars raced over rough roads to the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado. It was even possible for the seats to fold down and be used as a bed. They included innovations such as a canvas roof that could easily be retracted, a gas gauge, built-in clock, a built-in icebox to keep snacks fresh, and an electric starter that heralded the end of the hand-crank starter. The first Pan Motor cars were considered touring models with contemporary bells and whistles. After acquiring 47-acres of land, Pandolfo began construction on a factory for the manufacture of the Pan Motor Car and office buildings for the operation of the business. He believed this experience would put him in a unique position to manufacture cars that were comfortable, fun and efficient to drive, and outlast any vehicle currently on the market. He claimed to have worn out 37 cars in his time as a salesman in addition to suffering through numerous breakdowns and uncomfortable days behind the wheel. Pandolfo’s interest in automobiles began as he traveled around the southwestern part of the county selling insurance. Cloud’s elite purchased stock in the enterprise, and several local leaders became directors in the company. Cloud welcomed him and his enthusiasm for building an extensive industrial and residential complex for the manufacture of the Pan Motor Car. He also believed the farmers in the area would jump at the chance to get out of the fields and put their experience fixing and maintaining their farm equipment to good use by helping to design and manufacture automobiles. Cloud because two rail lines already ran through the town, making it possible to receive supplies and ship his cars to the Twin Cities and then on to Chicago and points east. Cloud in 1917, he dreamed of building an automobile empire that would rival Detroit.
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