ADVENTURE INTO BRAINERD'S PAST
Ad agency finds new home in early-day landmarks
At the turn of the century, nurses in long white dresses and white caps walked the halls where a Brainerd advertising firm now makes its home.
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The nurses' home stood next to the turret-topped Northern Pacific Hospital. The buildings sat atop the river bluff between Washington and Laurel streets at the railroad bridge crossing. The front doors faced the river and a road once ran between the river and the buildings. The good sized trees that grow in the roadway attest to the time that has passed since it was well traveled.
The hospital is long gone. But the nurses quarters remained along with a nearby house designed as a sleep-over stop for train engineers.
Scott Mitchell and John Linn, principals at Adventure advertising firm in Brainerd, paused on the main level of their new office space. The building once housed nurses who worked with the Northern Pacific Hospital that formerly stood next door.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
The nurses' home, which more recently served as the PORT Girls' Home, was purchased and renovated for office space for Adventure advertising. After four-and-a-half months of renovation efforts, Adventure moved into the building in December.
The Brainerd advertising firm previously leased office space at the Northern Pacific Center. The move included a rebranding of the firm as the name was shortened from Adventure Creative and a new logo created.
Scott Mitchell, principal, said the changes were part of an overall facelift for the firm, which has been doing well even in the down economy. Mitchell said this is the first year the firm hasn't doubled its billings, but will still see a 60-70 percent increase for the year.
Companies driven to reach their audience and still tighten belts have sought out smaller talented agencies that provide results with less of an overhead, Mitchell said. He added that has opened the doors to larger accounts looking for smaller but aggressive companies.
Adventure advertising agency spent more than four months renovating the former PORT Girls Home and turn-of-the-century Northern Pacific Railroad nurses' quarters into office space. The building is access off Third Street Northwest, behind Riverside Elementary School.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson
"The economy has been a strength for us," Mitchell said.
John Linn, principal and photographer, said after door-knocking for years and after developing the experience in the industry, it's nice to have people calling them.
"The economy is such you have to work harder and smarter," Linn said. "As a new company four years ago, we were already doing that."
Adventure points to its work on water and its "photo boat" for opening doors as well. The modified boat's structure gives a photographer the ability to take overhead photos of other boats without getting a second wake in the shot or blade wash from a more expensive helicopter option.
Photo shoots have taken place on Gull Lake, in Alabama and Texas, among other locales. Clients include Crestliner and MasterCraft and Polaris Industries.
"It makes us unique," Linn said.
Scott MitchThe Northern Pacific Hospital and nurses training school were landmarks in the early days of Brainerd.
The photo boat and traveling studio may be transported anywhere in the country. Adventure takes digital photo equipment to client locations so expensive prototypes don't have to be transported to them.
The firm will have been in business five years this May. Adventure, which started with three men, has added employees and now has about nine with an intern starting with the new year.
Mitchell said they strive to be involved with a client so they are a resource that is more than an outside company. A client hired Adventure to write a proposal and work with Proctor and Gamble as packaging, marketing and public relations were developed, including meetings with the Environmental Protection Agency for approval and a presentation to Walmart. The firm also does pro bono work, such as Bridges of Hope's Common Goods store. Linn also takes photographs for magazines and recently had one of his images used by Best Buy in its circulars across the nation.
For their new quarters, Adventure worked to renovate the building while retaining its personality. The road approach is now from what was the building's rear more than 100 years ago. A porch was added to convert the rear to the main entrance where access comes from Third Street Northwest behind Riverside School.
The Northern Pacific Hospital and nurses training school were landmarks in the early days of Brainerd.
The building is believed to have been constructed in 1901 or 1902. A 1902 photo shows the nurses on the front porch that looks out over the river. The engineers' building arrived later, maybe 1935. Adventure may use the second building for future expansion for a campus like setting.
Wainscoting and wood in the front hallway of the nurses' home were combined to keep the building's personality. A former dining area and kitchen is now home to Adventure's photo studio. Ninety-five percent of their photography work is on location.
Two main floor offices were converted to a conference room. The overall effect with glass and the building's vintage French doors and transoms, is open and airy. Porch decks provide a view of the city, trains and river that rivals a metropolitan setting, Mitchell said.
The stairway's handrail leading the way to second floor offices was retained. Second-floor bedrooms are now offices. Both the basement and third-floor attic show signs the building survived previous fires. When Adventure moved in they found an American flag with 48 stars in the field.
A basement recreation area with its field-stone foundation is now used for storage and computer equipment. The move allowed the firm to gain a fiber connection, which has been a benefit for Web galleries and transferring files. Adventure also has a small office on St. Germain Street in St. Cloud.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.