Warren, Minnesota. “Warren was platted in 1879, and named for Charles H. Warren, a railroad official.[7] A post office has been in operation at Warren since 1880. Although several times larger than the next largest city in the county, Warren's prominence as the county seat has been threatened several times in its history.”

The town has 1,500 souls, which tells you how populous the county is.

The K. J. Taralseth Company Building. “Warren’s Great Department Store.”

History:

On October 12, 1911, the new two-story brick Taralseth building opened its doors. The establishment employed a sales team of about fifteen people and offered a variety of adult and children's clothing, groceries, and hardware. In an effort to attract customers and challenge the competition, store managers changed the display windows weekly. Furthermore, the Taralseths relied heavily on advertising through mailings and advertisements in newspapers. The local newspaper Warren Sheaf boasted that the store was the equal of any in the Twin Cities.
Ah, the small town life:

The Taralseths' store was not the only entity the building was known for. As one of the largest, most significant buildings of the town, it housed several other businesses and offices. Local officials and businessmen had offices in the building. The Warren Commercial Club and the local Masonic lodge held suites as well. The building hosted many social events. The Masonic lodge upstairs held dances for the young people of the area. The holiday season provided special events for children. The basement of the building was converted into a toy emporium during Christmas time. Store employees were known to dress as Santa Claus and distribute treats to the youngsters.

It’s on the national register. The store closed in 1959, housed small businesses, was abandoned, but has been rehabbed for retail and housing.

If a tree isn’t on the sidewalk, it can look like a bouncer.

That’s a damned odd building. I can’t tell what’s in the brick - W F ? The brick doesn’t look original, but it does.

A bit too busy for the width, but who cares?

That’s a damned odd building. I can’t tell what’s in the brick - W F T?

The brick doesn’t look original, but it does.

The doors look as if they were adjusted to deal with a population that had, on average, shrunk a foot or two.

Not a lot going on here. (Sorry about leaving that pane of glass on the sidewalk.) Again, there’s strange ruined things in the facade, as if names had been chiseled out by conquerors.

Suds Yer Duds. Is what the sign says.

Pressed tin for fake brick, painted over: scoff if you will, but it appears the paper’s still in business.

And in the same location, too.

Prairie Style on the cheap - in the Prairie, too.

Don’t you go getting any ideas, now. Those are Dale’s Foods.

Relentless, unstoppable Buckaroo Revival over an old facade. They didn’t care. The old small buildings have no friends.

“We feel as if the size of the door sets expectations the building’s interior cannot fulfill, and so we would like you to - what’s the technical term you architects use?”

“Ruin it?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Ensmallemnate?”

“Sounds right.”

I don’t know. Could be original, but I doubt it.

REMEMBER MY NAME

From the April 16th paper, 1903:

Wonder if it was the same store, and he added the name later.

Opera House, we get. But MWA?:

Modern Woodmen of America.

It had stained glass windows, once - no doubt showing manly scenes of Wooding.

Finally, the OUMB, or Obigatory Ugly Modern Bank:

Someone was proud of his Cubist phase.