Pipestone County Museum/ Old City Hall
Pipestone's City Hall building was designed by South Dakota architect Wallace Dow. It was constructed in 1896 of locally quarried Sioux quartzite. It took seven months and $7,822 to build and the keys were handed over to the City in December of that year. The original bell tower was removed in 1925 and the bell is now housed at the current fire department (118 3rd Ave. NE).Originally the building housed the local government and the fire department which used water from an on-site well. For a short time, it also housed the city jail, the public library, a gymnasium, a meeting hall, and a teen center. In 1959 the fire department moved to a new location and the city vacated in 1960. In 1966 the property was deeded to the Pipestone County Historical Society and the Pipestone County Museum opened in 1968.
Moore Block
The 25' x 85' Moore Block was built in 1896. The building is designed in a two-story Romanesque influenced style. It was constructed of Sioux quartzite. The 14 gargoyle-type sculptures, carved by local artist and businessman L.H. Moore, make this a one-of-a-kind building. Local legend has it that a nude statue of Eve stood in the niche on the front facade. However, no evidence has been found to substantiate this legend. In 1897 Moore placed what was to be the last sculpture on the building, the lion's head over the stairway under the niche.The building housed grocery and dry goods, a department store, and a bank. It was a shoe store from 1916 to 1991, with a small time in the 1960s as an ice cream store. In 1938 the storefront was modernized with black glass and aluminum trim. It suffered fire damage in 1966 when the building to the south burned. The second story originally held professional offices and was briefly configured into an apartment.In 1991, a local organization, "Friends of the Museum," purchased the building, renovated the interior, and replaced two oriel windows on the west facade, before gifting the building to the Pipestone County Historical Society in 2002.
Pipestone Performing Arts Center
This building has commonly been called the "L" due to the shape of its original construction around the Moore Block on the corner, originally there were storefronts on both Main Street and Hiawatha Avenue. It was built in 1896, a one-story vernacular building of light-colored Sioux quartzite. The portion fronting on Hiawatha Avenue was a much simpler design than the one on Main Street. The facade on East Main features a decorative top, recessed areas resembling windows, and a Duluth sandstone sculpture of an angel holding two infants. A polished name stone in the upper middle of the front has "Moore" carved into it. In 1916 the interior was divided and became two separate store areas that housed dry goods and groceries, bars and a pool hall, and a dry cleaner.The west store no longer exists due to a 1966 fire in the Riteway Cleaners which was occupying the space. The south and west portion of the "L" building was destroyed. In 1993 the north portion of the building was converted into the lobby for the Pipestone Performing Arts Center. To view the Masonic Hall, contact the Pipestone County Historical Society at 507-825-2563.
Ferris Grand Block
This imposing building was built in 1898 for A.D. Ferris on lots where three frame buildings were removed. It was to be 32' x 90', three stories high and constructed of Sioux quartzite. Its architectural style was influenced by Richardsonian Romanesque, with a geometric cornice. The original plan for the building's second floor was use as the Ferris Grand Opera Hall. It opened as such in 1899 with a seating capacity of 800. The local Masons purchased the building in 1916 and remodeled the second and partial third floor to their own use. At that time, the "Ferris Grand" tablet was removed and replaced with a tablet reading "AF and AM," (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons)The street level originally housed two storefronts. The S&L Department Store (which occupied the space for over 60 years) remodeled the front facade in 1958 with large maroon tiles.In 1993 the Pipestone Performing Arts Center opened in the street level space after extensive remodeling. In 2013 the local Masons gifted the building to the Pipestone County Historical Society. Space on the second floor is now exhibit space seen in a general Museum tour. The Masonic Hall has been preserved and is available to view by appointment.
Mackay Block
This 24-foot wide Sioux quartzite structure was built for Fraser Mackay in a Romanesque influenced style. The focal point of the two-story building is the second floor oriel window. There is also a small white namestone in the upper west corner that reads "F. Mackay 1898."Besides housing dry goods and grocery stores, the GEM Theater operated here from 1909 to 1929. In 1913 the first floor was remodeled with an additional 55 feet being added to the rear and the original iron balcony removed from the front facade. The S&L Department Store took over the building in 1929-1934. The building next housed a furniture store and then a bakery/cafe. The building facade was again remodeled in 1964 with the removal of the oriel window and colored tiles were placed over the front face. In 1977 the storefront was restored including the restoration of the oriel window, front door, and windows.
Calumet Inn
The Calumet Inn was built in 1887-1888 as a three-story Sioux quartzite structure, providing a corner space for a bank and accommodations for 50 guests. The stonework was in a style known as broken ashlar. The outstanding features of the building are the large red quartzite arch over the northwest door, the corner door in the northeast corner, and the north cornice. The original cost of construction was $30,000. The hotel opened on Thanksgiving Day 1888. The building was fire-proof, with hot and cold water running throughout and every room was connected to the office by a series of bells.It was enlarged in 1899 with a three-story addition to the rear in order to provide more guest rooms. The addition can be distinguished from the original building by the first floor window caps which are rounded on the addition instead of square. A second addition in 1913 added a fourth floor, making a total of 90 rooms. The original oriel window and exterior balcony were removed in 1912. The hotel was deemed unsafe in 1978 and closed. It was purchased in 1979 and after an extensive rehabilitation, which included replicating the oriel window, but not the balcony, it reopened in 1981.
Walker Block
This two-story Sioux quartzite building was built in 1896 for F.A.Walker. The metal cornice and polished name/date stone are two distinctive features of the building. The second-story oriel window is a replica of the original one, restored in the 1980s.The first tenant on the street level was a grocery store. The building also housed several saloons for over 70 years. A cigar factory and other business offices occupied the second floor over the years and twice the second floor was opened up to expand the Calumet Inn's capacity. In 1972 the building was annexed to the west and today still operates with the business in the Cook Drug building.
Cook Drug
A one-story brick building was built for J.W. Cook's drug store in 1914. The 25' x 90' building has a dark artistic brick facade. The outstanding features of this building are the decorative brick arrangements on the front facade and the leaded glass window with the name "J.W. Cook" inscribed in the center of the amber glass. This building housed a drug store from 1914 to 2000 and in the 1960s was expanded into the main floor of the Walker Building- which it still is today.
Keyes Buildings
Joseph Keyes had these two buildings built in 1916. The west building was one-story, 25' x 100', and was constructed with Twin Cities faded brick. The main features are the peaked brick cornice and the two diamond shapes in the front facade. The east building was two stories, 25' x 110' with a brick facade to match the other. It was built for the Gano Hotel & Cafe. The cafe could seat 100 patrons and the hotel had 18 rooms, each boasting a window.Wilson's Department Store opened in the east building in 1946 and expanded into the west building in 1968. At that time the front facade of both buildings were modernized, including a full aluminum screen siding which was removed in 1979.
Clymer Block
This 25' x 80' two-story Sioux quartzite structure was built in 1890. It features two short pyramidal quartzite capitals that sit on each side of the cornice with "18" on the east side and "90" on the west. The first floor's windows and door have been completely altered over the years. A 40' one-story addition was added to the rear to house the seed and feed department of a grocery store. In 1920 a second story was added to the rear addition to house an ice cream factory and bottling works.The post office was located here until 1898 and a candy store from 1914 to 1919. The Eagle Cafe was at this location for 70 years between 1919 and 1989. Three successive photography studios occupied the second floor from 1893 to 1955 with skylights added for more light. After 1955 the second floor was renovated into an apartment.
Masonic Temple
This three-story 54' x 90' Sioux quartzite structure was built in 1893. The outstanding features of the building are the pointed window arches on the third floor and the large stone spheres on the east and west ends of the roof. The first floor has been totally altered with smaller windows and doors in different locations.The first floor was originally divided into two stores. A hardware store originally occupied the east side and expanded into the west side in the 1960s. The third floor was built specifically for the local Masonic organization. The round spheres located on the top corners of the building represent the terrestrial and celestial globes of the universe- one of the many lessons of Masonry. The Masons moved out of the building in 1917 and by 1919 manufacturing occupied the third floor. The second floor housed many businesses as did the basement.
Austin Block
J.H. Austin's two-story Sioux quartzite building was built in 1902. Its outstanding features are three rows of checkerboard, alternating light and dark quartzite, around the top of the building. The main floor facade has been greatly altered, most notably around the large display windows and the main door area. Large rose-colored tiles and smaller windows have replaced the original large display windows and the front door has been moved farther east.J.H. Austin operated a candy store and ice cream parlor and sold school supplies and Indian curios. He went bankrupt in 1914 but didn't leave the building until 1919. In the 1920s Dr. Richardson operated a hospital on the main floor and was followed by a number of other businesses in this location. The second floor has been used for apartments and various other offices, as has the basement.
Brown Hospital
Built in 1912, Pipestone's first hospital was located in this story-and-a-half, 25' x 50' building. The first floor was constructed of Sioux quartzite. The gable wall has a recessed arch, fish scale shingles, and a fanlight window over a triple window. A porch extends across the entire front. In its early years, the basement housed a shoe store, followed by other small business concerns. The main floor contained offices for two doctors, a waiting room, a dispensary, and a surgery room. The elevator to the four-room hospital on the second floor was large enough for a patient's bed. Dr. Alexander Brown practiced medicine here until retiring in 1945. A few years later the practice was taken over by his grandson, Dr. Robert Keyes, who retired in 1993.In 1997 the building was purchased by Historic Pipestone Inc. which restored the exterior.
Syndicate Block
The Syndicate Block has the distinction of being the largest and oldest Sioux quartzite building in Pipestone's Commercial Historic District. It was built in 1884, a two-story building constructed at a cost of $25,000 for three separate owners. It has a pressed metal cornice running the length of both the south and east facade and supporting the pediment rising from the south facade. The pediment is embellished with a relief consisting of an Indian ceremonial pipe crossed with a bow and arrow.The building originally housed three separate storefronts. Geyerman's, a women's clothing store, opened in the center storefront in 1935 and expanded into the corner storefront in 1964. They are now filling all three storefronts and the building to the west. The second floor has been used for many different professional offices, apartments, and early on, very briefly- a hotel. At one time there was a bowling alley in the basement.The west and center storefronts both have one-story additions to the rear. The front facade has gone under several alterations, particularly on the first floor. An east entrance and display windows have also been bricked over. The pressed metal cornice was restored in 1979.
Cheverton/ I.O.O.F Block
This building was constructed in two sections. The original east section of this two-story Sioux quartzite building was constructed in 1889. The International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F) began renting the second floor in 1892 and purchased the entire building in 1896 for $6000. The I.O.O.F immediately removed the "Cheverton Block" namestone and replaced it with one that said "I.O.O.F." In 1910 the I.O.O.F purchased the lot to the west and constructed a nearly matching building The three, second-story windows of the west section have arches of Sioux quartzite, instead of the sandstone found on the original section of four windows. The second floor was connected to make one large hall and the I.O.O.F namestone was placed on the top of the double building.The first floor remained two separate storefronts. Ben Franklin variety store opened in the west half in 1923. In 1944 they expanded into the east half, making it one large space, which it remains today. The first major exterior remodeling was done to the facade in 1970, completely eliminating the original quartzite stone on the first floor. The wooden canopy was added at that time.
First National Bank (1)
Architect Wallace Dow also designed this two-story neo-classic Sioux quartzite building. Built in 1898 for First National Bank, the original facade had molded concrete pilasters and a dramatic, rounded Sioux quartzite arch with a light-colored quartzite keystone. The most distinctive features remaining today are the triangular pediment, with tooth-like dentils, the lunette date stone "1898" and the words "First National Bank" carved in relief.The building was described as one of the finest in this part of the state when completed. The bank operated at this location until 1916. Other businesses at this location included clothing stores and grocery stores. The second floor has had a variety of occupants, including a telephone exchange from 1899 to the 1950s. It has been renovated into apartments.After the building changed ownership in 1916, the arch and lower half of the pilasters were removed when the facade was remodeled. In the 1950s, the facade was again remodeled and modernized. The building was restored in 2002, but without the arch, which was structurally impossible to replicate.
Ober-Hubbard Block
In 1899, architect Wallace Dow designed this two-story Sioux quartzite building for owners Mr. Ober and Mr. Hubbard. Outstanding features include the Sioux quartzite dentils, rounded window arches with light-colored quartzite keystones, and the eyebrow effect of the date block. Two stores originally split the ground level, a jewelry store and a shoe store. Druggist Max Menzel bought the building in 1910 and combined the space to operate his Menzel Drug here from 1913 until 1944 when Ike Madsen took over. Madsen Drug was here until the early 1980s. It was at that time a modern front was added. The upper floor has been used for business offices over the years, and more recently as apartments.
The Colonial
Joseph Schwartz was the architect for this ivory terra cotta fronted building. It was built for H. Thompson & Gus Bussis in 1919 for their ice cream parlor. The facade of the building is a combination of Art Deco and Neo-Classic styles. It is built of white terra cotta as opposed to Sioux quartzite, making it a stand-out on Main Street. The main structure was 25' x 93' in a one-story building with a full basement. It also had a 24' x 15' one-story wing to the rear, which was built to house an ice cream factory. The word "Colonial," the flower motifs carved in relief on the upper facade, and the dentils under the cornice are the most distinguishing features of the building. The ice cream parlor operated here until 1938 and since then many businesses have been housed here. Sometime during the late 1940s or early 1950s, the glass block window across the front facade over the display window and doorway was filled in. From 1941-1951 Roe's Trading Post occupied the building. A fire on Christmas Day 1996 destroyed the rear wing.
First National Bank (2)
P.J. Lindhoff was the architect for this massive, neoclassical Greek Revival style building. Built for First National Bank, it was completed in 1916. The use of the buff-colored Bedford limestone in the construction and the name "First National Bank" carved just over the large stone columns make this a very impressive building.The original large east windows have been covered, and in 1963 the exterior stairway to the basement was enclosed. A&S Drugs purchased the building in 1973 after the bank vacated it for their current building. The second floor has generally been used for professional offices, including the municipal courtroom from the 1960s to the 1980s, and the basement held a barbershop until 1980.
