Corner of Main St. and Water St. looking East (circa 1908)

The business on the corner of Main and Water streets was aptly named The Corner Shoe Store, owned and operated by Charles Severson. It's located in the Erickson Building (built in 1904). The second floor was the offices of Fred Huber, Justice of the Peace, real estate, insurance and loans. The third floor was the Masonic Hall, a meeting place for the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, as well as the Order Eastern Star. Downstairs, Gilbert Olson ran a business offering Turkish baths and electric massages.

To the right of The Corner Shoe Store was Eggum's Bakery, selling bread, cakes, pies, confectionery, cigars, tobacco and canned goods and a grocery store run by John B. Haven. The upstairs was a residential apartment. Today, that building is the home of Studio 184.

Next door, in the building currently occupied by the Nordic Nook, was Halverson's Furniture store (furniture, pianos and undertaking). At that time, it was not uncommon for furniture makers (who built and sold coffins) to also be in the undertaking business.

One building up from that, in the building currently occupied by Spry Whimsy, was the Rasmussen & Howe grocery store. The second floor of this building was Woodman Hall, a meeting place for various groups including the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors (a women's group), and the I.S.W.A. (Independent Society of Workingmen of America). 

Next door, in the building currently occupied by Chorus Public House, was Hale's Dry Goods store, owned and operated by P.I. Hale. This building featured a large skylight that brought sunlight all the way down to the first floor. It was famous for it's elaborate window displays that were the work of F. C. Kroken.

The two buildings at the end of the block were The Big Daylight Store (owned and operated by the Melaas-Johnson Company) and the First National Bank. Both of these buildings were irreparably damaged by a fire in 1966. They were razed and replaced by a relatively modern building that housed Schulz Brothers department store. After Schulz Brothers went out of business, the building was converted to a 4-plex movie theater. It is currently the home of Merson's Cidery.  After the 1966 fire, a new First National Bank building was built on Forrest Street. That building is currently the home of Stoughton's city hall. 

The building to the right of the First National Bank building in this photo was Scheldrup & Son's drug store. Built in 1897, this building has been a local pharmacy for it's entire existence. It's currently the location of McGlynn's Pharmacy.