Even before the Bushnell Building was constructed, Dwight Bushnell and his business partner W.E. Hibbard had been operating in the farm implement and livery industries at this lot for years. According to newspaper publications, he had been considering a tear down and rebuild for five to six years before finally doing so in 1897. As the senior member of his firm, Bushnell sold his interest just the following year, and retired from working at the livery out back two years after that. For the next several years, the Alberses would have control of the implement store, while Hibbard would go on to form a partnership of the livery with G.H. Schofield.

During the 20th century, the Bushnell Building served two main purposes: first as a printing location (Mohn Printing, the Northfield Independent, and College City Press Printers at different points in time), and second, of course, as Perman’s; the longstanding department store expanded into 310 in 1971. (More info on Perman’s can be found two doors down at 314!)