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Foshay's check to Sousa bounced

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The Foshay Tower
In this May 23, 2005, file photo, the Foshay Tower is shown in Minneapolis. The 32-floor building, the city's tallest for four decades, was designed to imitate the Washington Monument, with sides sloping toward a pointed crest.
Jim Mone | AP 2005

Today's Morning Edition music is from John Philip Sousa's "Foshay Tower" march.

The Foshay Tower in Minneapolis was dedicated on this day in 1929. At the time, it was the tallest building between Chicago and the West Coast at 32 stories.

It was built by businessman Wilbur Foshay. He made his fortune off of utilities, and owned companies in 30 states, Canada and Central America. He built the Foshay Tower to be his headquarters, telling reporters at the time that the design was inspired by the Washington Monument.

He held a three-day celebration for the opening, hiring Sousa to write and perform this march. It turned out to be Foshay's final hurrah.

The stock market crashed soon after and took the businessman down with it. In fact, Foshay's check to Sousa bounced, and Sousa forbid anyone to play the piece until the finances were settled.