101-103 E main
1895 J.R. Brummer Block
Romanesque Style
This is Cherokee's most substantial and best preserved three-story commercial block with a double storefront. The
exterior is fully faced with Sioux Falls "Blue Jasper" stone. The building exterior exhibits stylistic characteristics
commonly found on Sioux Falls pink "granite" buildings of this era. It also offers a hint of Romanesque with its
castellated entryway, particularly in the combination of classical flanking polished columns and fairly heavy stone
archway. The stonework employs two coursing techniques, a random ashlar which lacks defined courses, which is
used between the floor levels, and an alternating layering of long thin stone courses with shorter broader ones, which
is used on the main floor west sidewall (this latter coursing technique is also found on 109 East Main). Bold stone
belt courses underscore each of the upper floor levels and incorporate the sills of triple window sets which center on
each level over each storefront. A separate stone bel t course caps the third floor and a broad stone parapet wall
continues nearly half a story higher. A centered carved stone panel reads "J. H. Brummer." An elaborate stone
cornice and parapet cap the building. The storefronts retain their cast iron beams with decorative rosettes.
The storefront areas retain their historic proportions and may well have preserved transoms behind the signage
areas. The storefront materials are new but both retain the original storefront lines.
When it opened in 1897 the "Regulator Store," owned by A. M. Wilson (dry goods), occupied the larger corner
store, while housed "The Regulator" store, owned by A. M. Wilson, while Mr. Aldron's furniture and embalming
business filled the east storefront. The new building housed professional offices on its second floor, and the
Masonic Lodge on the third. A basement storefront was occupied by a barber shop. A major "mercantile event" in
the city's history was the opening of Wolff & Wolff, a major regional firm that was lured to the city in 1925. It
opened "on the corner," a reflection of the importance of this corner location. The post office also occupied 101
East Main from pre-1909 until post-1924. The building is now used for storage for the American Theater, located
due east.
Romanesque Style
This is Cherokee's most substantial and best preserved three-story commercial block with a double storefront. The
exterior is fully faced with Sioux Falls "Blue Jasper" stone. The building exterior exhibits stylistic characteristics
commonly found on Sioux Falls pink "granite" buildings of this era. It also offers a hint of Romanesque with its
castellated entryway, particularly in the combination of classical flanking polished columns and fairly heavy stone
archway. The stonework employs two coursing techniques, a random ashlar which lacks defined courses, which is
used between the floor levels, and an alternating layering of long thin stone courses with shorter broader ones, which
is used on the main floor west sidewall (this latter coursing technique is also found on 109 East Main). Bold stone
belt courses underscore each of the upper floor levels and incorporate the sills of triple window sets which center on
each level over each storefront. A separate stone bel t course caps the third floor and a broad stone parapet wall
continues nearly half a story higher. A centered carved stone panel reads "J. H. Brummer." An elaborate stone
cornice and parapet cap the building. The storefronts retain their cast iron beams with decorative rosettes.
The storefront areas retain their historic proportions and may well have preserved transoms behind the signage
areas. The storefront materials are new but both retain the original storefront lines.
When it opened in 1897 the "Regulator Store," owned by A. M. Wilson (dry goods), occupied the larger corner
store, while housed "The Regulator" store, owned by A. M. Wilson, while Mr. Aldron's furniture and embalming
business filled the east storefront. The new building housed professional offices on its second floor, and the
Masonic Lodge on the third. A basement storefront was occupied by a barber shop. A major "mercantile event" in
the city's history was the opening of Wolff & Wolff, a major regional firm that was lured to the city in 1925. It
opened "on the corner," a reflection of the importance of this corner location. The post office also occupied 101
East Main from pre-1909 until post-1924. The building is now used for storage for the American Theater, located
due east.