The Western Union Building, formerly known as the Hagerty Block and currently as the Dacotah Prairie Museum, is a historic bank building in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing property to the Aberdeen Commercial Historic District.
Western Union Building | |
 Building in 2007 | |
   | |
| Location | 21-23 South Main Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota[1] |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°27′51″N 98°29′16″W / 45.4643°N 98.4877°W |
| Built | 1888–1889 |
| Part of | Aberdeen Commercial Historic District (ID88000586) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001721 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1976 |
| Designated CP | May 23, 1988 |
History
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The Northwestern National Bank formed in Aberdeen in 1888 with Henry Marple as president.[2][3][4] In August 1888, the bank purchased the property and general store at 21–23 South Main Street to build a new bank building.[5] Construction took place from 1888 through 1889[6][a] with the bank opening in the new location in February 1889.[8] In May 1891, a fire damaged the building and gutted the Kearney and Boyer grocery store.[9] In March 1903, another fire damaged the building, originating in the basement banana room of the Gamble & Robinson grocery store.[10]
The building was purchased by Jay Hagerty in 1907, becoming known as the Hagerty Block.[11][b] In 1920, existing tenant Western Union took over the most prominent space in the building, which then became known as the Western Union Building.[13] Over the years, aside from the bank, the building housed grocery stores and several offices.[6][14] In 1970, the building was donated to Brown County for a museum, which opened as the Dacotah Prairie Museum that October.[15] By 1980 the museum was the sole occupant of the building.[6]
The building was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places as the only remaining 19th century bank building in Aberdeen;[12] it was listed on December 12, 1976.[1] The building is also listed on the National Register as a key contributing property of the Aberdeen Commercial Historic District;[16] the district was listed on May 23, 1988.[17]
Architecture
editThe Western Union Building is an example of Romanesque Revival architecture.[16][18] The structure is a three-story building made of red brick laid in running bond. There are three main entrances, each framed by a large arch[7] and set a few steps above street level.[8] Pilasters extend the full height of the building, separating windows on the first floor and window pairs on the second and third floors.[7][18] The interior has undergone renovations, but the exterior has changed little over the building's history.[7]
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b French 1976, p. 1.
- ^ Artz 1991, p. 15.
- ^ "Nubs of News: Territorial". Bismarck Weekly Tribune. November 2, 1888.
The Northwestern National bank has commenced business at Aberdeen. Capital $100,000.
- ^ "New National Banks". The Evening Star. Washington, D.C. October 23, 1888.
- ^ Artz 1991, pp. 14–15.
- ^ a b c "Dacotah Prairie Museum: About The Building". Dacotah Prairie Museum. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ a b c d French 1976, p. 2.
- ^ a b Artz 1991, p. 17.
- ^ "Fire at Aberdeen: The Northwestern National Bank Block Badly Damaged". Bismarck Weekly Tribune. June 5, 1891. p. 2.
- ^ "Aberdeen Scorched: Fire in the Northwestern Bank Building". Lead Daily Call. March 3, 1903. Archived from the original on March 25, 2018.
- ^ Artz 1991, pp. 17–18.
- ^ a b French 1976, p. 3.
- ^ Artz 1991, p. 18.
- ^ French 1976, pp. 2–3.
- ^ "Dacotah Prairie Museum: About". Dacotah Prairie Museum. Archived from the original on June 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
- ^ a b Long 1988, p. 11.
- ^ Long 1988, p. 1.
- ^ a b Artz 1991, p. 16.
Bibliography
edit- French, Edith (December 12, 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Western Union Building" (PDF). National Park Service.
- "Accompanying 4 photos, from 1976" (PDF). National Park Service.
- Long, Barbara Beving (May 23, 1988). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Aberdeen Commercial Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service.
- "Accompanying 12 photos, from 1987" (PDF). National Park Service.
- Artz, Don (1991). The Town in the Frog Pond: Stories of Builders, Buildings and Business in Aberdeen's Commercial Historic District (PDF). Memories.[self-published source?]
External links
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