N.K. Hubbard recalled in The Sunday Argus on July 5, 1896 that the first building built in Fargo was of board and batten, one story, door in the center, with "a nice pair of elk horns over the door." The building was erected by E. Sweet, Jr., one of the bridge builders, for the Northern Pacific Railroad. That building is shown in the upper right photograph.

Fargo, North Dakota

First Buildings

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Harry Moore, a native of Wisconsin, came to what is now the site of Fargo, in 1869 to homestead. He built a log house (with the aid of carpenter George Mann) near what was the slough west of present-day 15th Street. The house was later moved to higher ground and was named the "Elm Tree House and its sign hung for many years on a large elm tree in the front yard. The building was later purchased by Henry Hector and was still later moved to Bonanzaville where it was preserved as Fargo's oldest existing wooden building.

The first two story building in Fargo was built by Mr. Pinkham at what was known as No. 27 Front Street [Main Avenue]. Pinkham's Hall was located at the corner of Front and Fifth Streets and was used for a wide variety of purposes, including school church services, and theater.