James R. Crane was the proprietor of the hotel and restaurant that bore his name. The hotel was located on Front Street in the 500 block and west end [the section with the sign "Hotel and Cafe"] and later became Halbert's European Hotel.

"Jim" Crane was the son of Colonel Orin J, Crane, one of the youngest regimental commanders in the Civil War. Jim was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1860. He came to Fargo in 1891 and opened his restaurant. Although Crane's building was located a few doors from where the great fire of 1893 started, it was spared from the fire. Crane's was the only restaurant of any size left standing in Fargo after the fire and he showed his appreciation of the firemen's work by providing free food for 2-3 days. He continued to provide free food to Fargo firemen after any fire of consequence in Fargo.

The illustration above is taken from the June 7, 1894 edition of the Argus; scan courtesy of the North Dakota Institute for Regional Studies.