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O. J. deLandrecie
O. J. deLandrecie Onesine Joassin deLandrecie, whose name spelt “deLendrecie’s” still shines on the 600 block of Fargo’s Main Avenue. When the name change occurred is unclear, but in later documents Onesine Joassin’s last name changed the spelling to an “e” rather than an “a.” O.J. deLendrecie was the original owner of the deLendrecie’s department store, which was once a cornerstone of Fargo. He was born in Quebec, C
Read MoreThe Fargo Theater
Sources: Fargo Historic Preservation Commission. A Look Around Downtown: Fargo Heritage Discovery Walk. Second. Fargo, North Dakota: Fargo-Moorhead Heritage Society, 2006. “Fargo Theatre | Fargo History.” Accessed November 28, 2016. https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/fargo-theatre. “Fargo Theatre, Fargo, N.D. :: Photo Gallery – Images from the NDSU Institute for Regional Studies (NDSU).” Accessed
Read MoreGardner Hotel
The Gardner Hotel, which opened in 1909, was once considered Fargo’s premiere hotel. The hotel was completely planned, built and financed by Fargoans. It was designed by Fargo Architects the Hancock Brothers and cost $150,000 to build. The hotel included featured 150 rooms, steam heat, a public dining room, a barber’s shop and a billiard room. The hotel mostly catered to travelling salesmen but for time to time hoste
Read MoreAlexander Stern and the Fargo Fire
While the building that housed the clothing store was destroyed by the 1893 fire, the most important aspect of this location to focus on is the prior owner: Alexander Stern. He was born in Giessen, Germany to Aaron and Emily Stern. Alexander Stern originated from humble beginnings, as his father was a farmer and stock raiser. He was raised and educated in Germany until he was a teenager when he then immigrated to th
Read MoreThe Fargo Forum Building
The Fargo Forum serves as the primary newspaper for the region. The current building was constructed in 1926 at the corner of Fifth Street and First Avenue North. The design of the building is Art Deco composed of steel and concrete and was built by the Meineke-Johnson Company at a reported cost of $300,000 (Roughly $4.1 Million in today’s dollars). The third and fourth floors were not added until 1935. Parts o
Read MoreWimmer’s Diamonds
Wimmer’s Diamonds: “Walk a Flight to Buy Right” During the Fargo fire of 1893 the location was home to a bank as well as a barber shop which was located in the basement with the bank offices on the second level. By some stroke of luck this particular block remained untouched by the fire and remains one of the oldest structures in Fargo. The location did not remain the residence of a bank and barber for long, followin
Read MoreAndrew D. Ginakes
Andrew D. Ginakes was a greek immigrant who opened the Empire Cafe in 1932. Records show that in 1936, Ginakes applied for one of the first liquor licenses in Fargo for the Empire Cafe to sell alcohol in store. Archival records state that in 1943, Ginakes transitioned the property into the Empire Liquor Store. Ginakes sold The Empire in 1947, and the Empire Tavern is still open in it’s current location to this
Read MoreW.H. Merritt: Moorhead General Contractor and National Register of Historic Places Architect
William Henry Merritt was born in September of 1854 in Hustings, Michigan to Alexander “Alex” D. Merritt and Betsey Merritt (Davis). It appears that W.H. Merritt spent his adolescent years in Goodhue, Minnesota after moving to the area in about 1857 with his family. There is little information available regarding Merritt’s adolescent years in Minnesota. Later, however, the record indicates that in 1882 William marrie
Read MoreSlim Jim Shumway and Shang Stanton
When Moorhead was just a small tent town and before then had any law and order, there was a lot of chaos. In 1872, There was a big shootout between Slim Jim Shumway and Shang Stanton in what is now known as the home goods section in Herbergers in Moorhead. According to the Saint Cloud Journal, a “couple of desperadoes” on Thursday night had a gun fight with revolvers in Moorhead.[1] The shooting happened due t
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