National Register Listing

Knerr Block, Floyd Block, McHench Building and Webster and Cole Building

13, 15, 17-19, and 21-23 8th St., S., Fargo, ND

These four adjacent buildings constitute a solid front of excellent early turn-of-the-century commercial structures, displaying a continuity of fenestration and decorative brickwork. Because they are on a one-block commercial street south of downtown they have survived and are the best example in Fargo of the former appearance of streetscapes all over town at the turn of the century. They represent very well the feel and associations of early commercial Fargo and demonstrate the compatibility of different patterns of brick detailing in buildings of the same scale and massing.

Because they lie south of Main Avenue, the early commercial street in downtown Fargo, these brick commercial blocks have survived recent efforts of the city to upgrade the downtown area. They represent the appearance of once-unbroken streetscapes in the downtown area and the elaborate brick detailing, rich in texture, which once typified downtown commercial buildings. These particular blocks were originally built as a response to the 1898 erection of the Cass Gilbert-designed Northern Pacific depot (National Register, 1975) on Main Avenue at the head of 7th St. S. The new station spurred a general upgrading of business construction in the immediate area of the station, including the unit block of 8th St. S.

The McHench Building is one of two buildings associated with Andrew J. McHench, an early Fargo speculator, who erected the commercial Gothic-style Masonic Block in 1884. The Masonic Block is located immediately to the north across the alley from the Knerr Block at 11 8th St. S. McHench was the second actual settler of the Fargo townsite and he served as the first Superintendent of Schools in Fargo. The McHench Building represents an excellent example of early Hancock Brothers designs. The Hancocks were an early architectural firm in Fargo that practiced there from 1882 to 1929. They favored classical designs, including the arched arcade motif represented on the McHench Building. The Masonic Block was placed on the National Register in 1979 and is compatible with the present four buildings to the south which are the subject of this nomination.

The Knerr Block is associated with the Frank 0. Kerr creamery. It was the second location of the Knerr creamery, which simultaneously operated another building on Northern Pacific Avenue (razed) in 1911. The creamery grew rapidly after 1900. It represented a successful attempt to diversify production in the predominantly agricultural Red River Valley, which drew much of its wealth from the cash crops raised in the rich alluvial soil. The Knerr Block was quickly outgrown. In 1920, the Knerr creamery moved to a larger building, designed by William Gillespie, Fargo architect, at 822-24 Main Avenue nearby.

For the past 60 years, these 4 buildings have survived because they housed a succession of small businesses which serviced the largely residential area to the south of First Avenue South.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.