Digital Division
407 Division St
Gress Building
est. 1893
The original proprietor of this building was C.W. Gress, who funded the Gothic-style construction of the Gress Building in 1893. It stands out from its neighbors by its pointed facade, which extends beyond its roof. Imagery from 1876, the year of the famed James-Younger Gang raid on the Northfield First National Bank, shows a different structure at the 407 Division Street lot in place of the Gress Building, one that lacks this notable feature. This building likely stood for several more years before Gress built his new building to house his and his son’s clothing and shoe store and to provide a living space upstairs for his family.
In recent history, this original purpose as a clothing store has been reinstated, as McAlpin’s in the 1950s, Mitchell’s in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, or Champion Sports from the 1990s onwards. Previously, 407 had also seen floral, art, gift, grocery, and other miscellaneous shops occupy its space.
