International State Bank Building

The International State Bank received a state charter in 1908 and operated in temporary quarters until 1910 when their building was completed on this lot. Architect J.W. Ross of Grand Forks drew the plans for the State Bank building and the John Berg Store. The lot was purchased for $6,000 and the two-story brick business block was erected at a cost of $15,000. The offices upstairs were rented by professional people, mostly lawyers and physicians. One notable doctor who practiced here was Dr. Mary Ghostley, who often left her office and traversed dangerous roads and lakes to reach her patients without ever asking for payment. The basement was occupied by a barber shop and bath house run by F.J. Dudley, then Charles Bender who stayed for 20 years before selling to Harold Bellows who operated the shop until the bank remodeled the basement for their bookkeeping department. In 1910, the store space on the avenue side of the building was occupied by the Hi-Art Clothing Store, owned by E.B. Freeman of St. Paul. The Post Office, the Public Library, the Daily Reminder, and Mason's Men's Clothing were also housed in the building throughout the years. It is now a baby and kids' clothing store.