Alexander Stern's Clothing Store

While the building housing the clothing store was destroyed by the 1893 fire, the most important aspect of this location to focus on is the prior owner. Alexander Stern, originally from Germany, moved to Fargo in 1881. He was instrumental in the initial building and development of Fargo as well as the rebuilding and repairing of the destroyed downtown following the Fargo fire. Stern owned at least three buildings before the fire in 1893, he started rebuilding a mere two days after the fire destroyed these buildings.The Edwards building, Stern building, and the Donaldson Hotel (the Hodo) are just some of the buildings he constructed. He later became mayor of Fargo

Sources:

1. Fargo Forum (Fargo, ND), August 12, 2007.
2. “Stern, pioneer civic builder, dead, end comes for Fargo banker and merchant at age of 76” Fargo Forum and Daily Republican (4 Jun 1934): 1.
3. Compenium History and Bigraphy of North Dakota. Chicago, G.A.Ogle. 1900. pg 302-303. http://digitalhorizonsonline.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/ndsl-books/id/51433/rv/compoundobject/cpd/52554/rec/8.

Photo courtesy of: "Fargo, Cass County, ND 1892". Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for North Dakota, Institute for Regional Studies, North Dakota State University, Fargo.