In 1897, Leon Moore, who also constructed the Moore
Block at 102 E. Main St., built a Sioux quartzite building at
104 E. Main St. and 107 S. Hiawatha Ave. in the shape of an "L"
around Moore's corner store. It featured a double facade of Sioux
quartzite with two main entrances. Unfortunately, the S. Hiawatha
portion of the building no longer exists. The front facade featured
relief sculptures on the two pilasters adorning its entry. A dry
cleaning establishment occupied the store from 1930 to 1966 when
a fire burned through the west store on S. Hiawatha, leaving a vacant
lot.
The 104 E. Main St. building features two recessed areas on the
upper north facade. A polished stone to the west has the word "MOORE"
carved into it. The main feature of the north facade is the polychromatic
effect created by the use of light and dark shades of Sioux quartzite.
The facade is embellished with stone finials and a sandstone relief
sculpture of an angel holding two infants. The sculpture has deteriorated
over the years, partly due to the softness of the stone and partly
to a mistake made by its creator. Moore, a self-taught sculptor,
carved the stone on the wrong grain, causing it to gradually erode.
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Two historic images of The "L"--one
view of the Main St. facade, c.1911, and a view of both entrances
visible on on either side of the Moore Block
Courtesy of Pipestone County Museum |
A grocery store and a bar later occupied the north store on E.
Main St. until 1958, when it was annexed to the S&L store to the
east. At this time, the north facade was modernized with large maroon
tiles. The 1966 fire that completely destroyed the west building
heavily damaged the north store, but the damage was repaired. In
1993 the building was converted into the lobby for the new Pipestone
Performing Arts Center, which occupies this building and the
one to the east. At that time, the front facade underwent a complete
rehabilitation.
The "L" is located at 104 E. Main St., Pipestone and is open
to the public during performances at the Performing
Arts Center and by appointment. The box office number is 507-825-2020.
Bus groups and tours can call 507-825-5537.
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