Digital Division
418
Division
ca. 1890
The neighboring Lawler Building to the north and Morris Building to the south have stood since 1868 and 1879 respectively. Needless to say, they left quite a small space for the 418 lot. This one-story building’s facade has gone through many iterations, but its base frame has stood since about 1890. One business that was here referenced its humble stature: Iroll Skaar’s Squeeze-Inn Cafe, which was established after Laura’s Coffee Shop vacated the space in 1948. Next, Sanford Severson’s Snack Shop squeezed into the space (a superb store). It was followed by Pederson Jewelers, Schultzie’s Bike & Ski, Remember When Antiques, and Stonyhill, before the building’s present occupant: Makeshift Accessories.
Historic facade linked to the neighboring building
The historic facade of the building had a roof line that linked with the first-floor styling on the Lawler Building. 418 Division is a great example for looking at how commercial styling has changed over the decades since Northfield was first established in 1855. In 1977, there was an updated version of the building’s front, still creating that illusion of unity with the Lawler and Morris buildings’ fronts. However, seen here are the architectural characteristics of the 1960s and 70s—more metal in place of brick, flatter and less textured, more blocky. The building’s look remains similar today.
In 1977, the facade is updated but still conjoined with the neighboring building