Downtown in Fargo in Cass County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Machinery Row

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2023

1. Machinery Row Marker

Inscription. In the late 1800's, the Red River Valley was a boom in agricultural development. The introduction of the Bonanza Farms and the overall increase in farming of wheat created a preference for larger threshers and powerful engines grew.

Machinery Row, as it became known, was located on what is now NP Avenue, and ran from the river to about 5th Street North. It became the place to purchase the best and most efficient threshing equipment, tractors, and other farm equipment.

Almost every farm implement manufacturer of the time was represented along Machinery Row including: J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company, Buffalo Pitts Threshing Machine Company, Minneapolis Threshing Machine Company, Fargo Hart Parr Company, Huber Manufacturing Company, Emerson Brattingham Company, and the largest of these earliest such businesses, Machinery Hall, owned by J. R. McLaughlin. In all, approximately 12 of these companies lined Machinery Row. Agricultural success was recognized locally in the Red River Valley, and beyond. Many of the companies on Machinery Row became distributors to areas as far west as Montana and as far north as Canada.

Although the ghosts of Machinery Row still exist, many of the businesses closed during the early 1900's. Today, several of the national companies that were represented along Machinery Row have closed,

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or were purchased by other manufacturing companies.

www.fargo-history.com
www.nku.edu

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 46° 52.613′ N, 96° 47.249′ W. Marker is in Fargo, North Dakota, in Cass County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of 1st Avenue North and Broadway North, on the left when traveling west on 1st Avenue North. The marker is located along the sidewalk near the southeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 73 Broadway North, Fargo ND 58102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. City Hall & Library (a few steps from this marker); NDSU Agriculture (a few steps from this marker); Red River Valley Crops (within shouting distance of this marker); Plains Art Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Bonanza Farms (within shouting distance of this marker); Northern Pacific Railroad (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Osco Drug (about 400 feet away); Recreation on the Red River (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fargo.

Also see . . .
1. Machinery Hall. Excerpt:

J. R. McLaughlin
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2023

2. Machinery Row Marker
Looking north across 1st Avenue North.
came to Fargo in February 1878, and began business as a dealer in agricultural implements. His machinery business, known as "Machinery Hall," was located on the north side of Front Street, in the 400 block. According to The Leading Industries of Fargo, Dakota, 1881, Mr. McLaughlin was a dealer in buggies, wagons, sewing machines, harrows, Tiger hay racks, McCormick harvesting machinery, twine and wire binders, mowers, reapers, J. I. Case threshing machinery, straw burning engines, plows, and Van Brunt broad cast seeders.

(Submitted on January 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Case Threshing Company. Excerpt:

The J. I. Case Company opened it Fargo branch about 1882. The first location was at 421 Front Street (Main Avenue). This building was destroyed in the Fargo Fire of June 7, 1893 and a new building was constructed on the same site. In January 1902, the company announced that it was going to relocate to 117 N.P. Avenue, and construct what was then called by the Fargo Forum and Daily Republican the “Largest Machine Warehouse in the Northwest”. Construction on the three story brick facility was completed in 1903. This new building had a short life however, as it was destroyed by a fire in the early morning hours of November 18, 1907. The
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 4, 2023

3. Machinery Row Marker
Looking northwest. Broadway and 1st Avenue North intersection in the background.
J. I. Case Company constructed a replacement building on the same site. The company remained in the building until about 1970.

(Submitted on January 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Buffalo Pitts Threshing Machine Company. Excerpt:

The Pitts Agricultural Works was incorporated in Buffalo, New York in 1877. The Fargo branch was established in 1880 and was located at 420-424 N.P. Avenue, along "Machinery Row." The company sustained a loss of $50,000 in the great fire of 1893. Their new warehouse was built over the ruins of the old building. From 1880 to 1894, the company had sold 1800 threshers and 1300 engines. The company went through difficult times in the early 1910s and closed the Fargo branch around 1914. By 1915, the Emerson-Brantingham Implement Company was located in the Buffalo Pitts building.

(Submitted on January 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 29, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.