The Kopelman Building at 512 First Avenue North was built ca. 1906 by Mr. Jacob Kopelman and has served as an office building for a variety of small businesses.

Lena Kopelman, wife of the owner of the building, was widowed in November 1908. She was the mother of six children and pregnant. Fortunately, she had a business to support her family. She was a wig maker and maker of hair switches and other hair goods. Kopelman’s Beauty Shop was one of the very first beauty shops in Fargo. She died in 1947.

She also had a business agreement with the Fargo Hebrew Congregation to run the mikvah, which was located in the basement of her store. The mikvah is a religious obligation for women to purify themselves. For $1, Jewish women in Fargo could use the plunge bath. Kopelman furnished towels, water and soap.

A picture of the interior of the Lena Kopelman store is shown below.