Page 17 - Microsoft Word - Fort Pierre Historic Homes Bldgs (December 2020)

Early photos show this building replaced a previous building. In Warne Clothing Building
1903, Millett, along with Gaylord E. Sumner and James (Scotty) H. 30 E. Main Avenue
Philip, constructed the current Stockgrower’s Bank building and a
chain of associated banks throughout South Dakota in Midland,
Philip, Kadoka, Cottonwood, and Milesville. The bank was the
bank was liquidated in 1923.

Among the first officers of the bank were Anton and Frank Fischer,
originators of what was the oldest general store under continuous
management in central South Dakota. Other officers included the
owner of the first lumber yard in Fort Pierre, Gaylord Sumner,
Reverend Thomas L. Riggs, and rancher James (Scotty) Philip.

The Stockgrowers Bank was the most important commercial
th
building erected in Fort Pierre during the 20 Century and quickly
became the most prestigious office and commercial building in the
city. In addition to the bank itself, other tenants included the Lynch
Barber Shop; Phillip, Young & McPherson Land Office; the first
telephone exchange in Fort Pierre; Binder & Borst Hardware The original building was built before 1900 and added onto in
Store; Hargesheimer Drug Store; the Webb-Lambert Attorney’s 1907. Local historian and lawyer Chuck Poches owned the
Office; and the offices of Doctors Lavery, Walsh, and Morrissey. building in 2000 and had a copy of the original building permit
showing two French owners. A photo from 1900 shows a “General
The building was restored in the 1980s by William Fischer and Pat Merchandise” sign on the building. George Mathieson and his
Durkin. wife, Margaret, operated the Exchange Market (meat market) in
this building for a short time prior to 1907.

This building is on the National Register of Historic Places. This building has a sand basement with boulders for a foundation
and it was the original home of MainStreet Dance Studio for 10
years until the Missouri River Flood of 2011 forced the studio to
relocate eventually to 119 N Deadwood and change its name to
Hosanna Dance Studio.

The Matthieson family were involved in freighting in the 1870s to
the Black Hills and besides the meat market in Fort Pierre, they
operated a general merchandise store and ranched West River
from 1890 into the 1900s.

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