South side—Hilmer Olson also built many of the buildings in this block. The inscription “1902 Olson Block” can still be seen on the façade at 904-908. The former Anderson Dry Goods at 922-924 is also an Olson building. Also on this block were insurance agencies, barbers, beauty salons, bars, tile & linoleum dealers, dry cleaners, tailors, liquor stores, jewelry stores and paint dealers. Hovander’s was at 910-912 and Smetana Drug, the hub of the town’s Bohemian settlement, was at 916.
North side—A strong retail block from the 1950s-1970s, the First National Bank was at 923, Larson’s men’s clothing at 921 and Nelson’s Shoes at 917. Hance Hardware, followed by Paulson’s Hardware, was at 913-915, and one of the nicest women’s clothing stores ever in Hopkins, Nygren’s, was at 911. The Masonic Lodge at 905-907, built in 1902, still functions as originally intended. Though once painted white, the brick façade has since been restored to its original color and replicas installed of the original stone wall and wrought iron fence.
