Digital Division
508 Division St
Second Onstad Building
ca. 1907
Neighboring its sister building to the north, the Second Onstad Building was built at or before 1907. The building’s history is a bit complex and varied, especially in comparison to the consistency seen one door down throughout the 1900s. After the Onstad brothers’ grocery store moved out, 508 Division Street was home to an upholsterer, a general store, a funeral home, a food market, a furniture store, and even a rodeo supply shop of all things for a brief five-month span in 1937. The Onstad name returned to the front of the building in 1947 when Onstad Electric moved in, at that time in the partnership of Onstad & Nelson. Another longtime owner came along in 1973 with Irwin’s Flowers and Gifts, which lasted beyond the turn of the century.
Much attention is given to the building’s historic character.
The Second Onstad Building’s antique red brick face, arched windows, and limestone accents on the second floor are all features of its original construction. The signage and big bay windows on the ground floor show that the building has been modernized over the years, but attention is given to the building’s historic character with brick framing remaining around these elements. Paying homage to the historic purpose of the First Onstad Building, the Second Onstad Building now houses Tolle Fine Art, an art gallery that is a relatively new addition to the Northfield downtown.
508 under the occupancy of Buzz Salon in 2008