Marker Logo
THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Watertown in Codington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
 

Maurice Hockman

 
 
Maurice Hockman Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 7, 2019
1. Maurice Hockman Marker
Inscription.

Maurice A. Hockman, a prominent South Dakota architect, designed a large part of uptown. At least ten buildings are attributed to him and nine or more have Hockmanesque features. Characteristics of his style are prominent courses of brick dentils, smooth stone molding near the top of buildings, and Kasota stone with a rough finish for lintels, sills, and courses.

Hockman was born in Indiana in 1878. He studied art prior to his education in architecture. He moved to Watertown in 1902 and established a solo practice before partnering with a man named Schweiger. Between 1904 and 1917, Hockman had over sixty commissions throughout South Dakota and Minnesota.

Involved in the military, Hockman served as Governor Elrod's military advisor from 1905 to 1907 and enrolled in active service with the US Army in 1917. He worked as an engineer and architect for the remainder of his career.

Current examples of Hockman's works includes:

- Carnegie Library (Codington County Heritage Museum)
- Mount Hope Mausoleum
- Public Opinion Building
- Saint Mary's Mausoleum
- Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
- Balsigeerr
Paid Advertisement
Click or scan to see
this page online
Bakery Building
- Coplan Brothers Billiards Building
- Alterations, IOOF Hall
- Lyon-Smith-Schuler Building
- McIntyre Building
- Citizens National Bank Building
- Tarbell Building


Top picture inset
The Smith, Schulner, & Lyon Block designed by Hockman and built in 1910.

Lower Left picture inset
The first Church of Christ Scientist constructed in 1910 and was demolished. It was located on the corner of South Maple and 1st Avenue SE.

Lower Right picture inset
Kemp Avenue looking east from City Hall in 1930. The Lincoln Hotel building is picture in the far upper left. Designed by Hockman, but torn down in 1972 at 22-24 North Maple Street. The Citizens National Bank building located on the corner of Broadway and Kemp is pictured in the center of the image on the left.
 
Erected by Sponsored by the Deadwood Historic Preservation Commission, a Preserve America Grant, and the South Dakota State Historical Society. Images courtesy of the South Dakota State Historical Society and the Codington County Historical Society.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture
Maurice Hockman Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, April 7, 2019
2. Maurice Hockman Marker
Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.
 
Location. 44° 54.025′ N, 97° 6.819′ W. Marker is in Watertown, South Dakota, in Codington County. It is on West Kemp Avenue 0.1 miles west of Broadway St. S, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14 1/2 Kemp Ave E, Watertown SD 57201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mercer Block (a few steps from this marker); Commercial Historic District (a few steps from this marker); Retail Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Kennedy and Gayman Restaurant or Bakery (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named
Paid Advertisement
Retail Building (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Retail Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Milk Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); Saloon (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watertown.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2019. It was originally submitted on April 10, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 398 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on April 10, 2019, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
m=131988

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisement
Aug. 10, 2026