Seiler Building

Circa 1904

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2024

1. Seiler Building Marker

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by James R. Schimmer, Historic Preservation Consultant, 9/25/1985:
In 1904, Oscar J. Seiler hired the Hancock Brothers of Fargo, North Dakota to design a small, but prestigious, building to house his law, real estate and insurance office. The Hancock Brothers in turn produced drawings for a restrained Beaux-Arts building. The building was located directly across from the Jamestown City Park and Northern Pacific Depot on what was then known as Main Street. The Seiler Building was one of many commercial buildings which were located facing this space.

Oscar Seiler made important contributions to the City of Jamestown due to a sincere interest in the growth of the community. From 1899 until his departure he was an active member of Jamestown's Commercial Club and actively helped to promote new settlement

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2024

2. Seiler Building Marker

The marker is mounted near the right/east edge of the front/north facade, facing 1st Street East.

in Jamestown and surrounding Stutsman County.

The building remains an excellent, minimally altered example of Beaux-Arts style of architecture and it is the work of two prominent North Dakota architects — George Hancock (1849-1924) and his brother, Walter B. Hancock (1865-1929).

Excerpt:  The Seiler Building on First St. E. in Jamestown, North Dakota was built in 1904. It was designed by George & Walter Hancock. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, due to its association with O. J. Seiler and architects George and Walter Hancock, its Beaux Arts architecture, and its "fine integrity of design, materials, workmanship, feeling and association."

Excerpt:  On July 20, 1932, an early morning raid was conducted on a farm north of Jamestown. Federal agents arrived at the Seiler Farm to find what was believed to be the largest still in the northwest. Oscar J. Seiler was a pillar of the Jamestown community at the time, having helped organize and run community events that would attract thousands.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2024

3. Seiler Building (northeast elevation)

From the National Register Nomination:  The building rests upon a rusticated, rough cut, granite foundation that forms a full basement level. This level is reached from the street by a sunken staircase. Large slabs of roughed faced limestone visually divide the basement and the raised first floor. The main entrance to the building is reached by a wide staircase constructed of smooth faced limestone slabs with iron railings. The entrance is made up of two flanking brick pilasters and smooth limestone capitols from which an arch springs. The arch contains a rough cut keystone and radiating brickwork.

The raid shocked the community and made national headlines in the waning years of Prohibition. In their search, agents found equipment worth $25,000 (almost $500,000 in today's money) and huge vats that could potentially store upwards of 100,000 gallons of mash and 1,000 gallons of alcohol. Today, the event is referred as "The Mammoth Jamestown Still."

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 28, 2024

4. Seiler Building (north/front elevation)

From the National Register Nomination:  The Seiler Building is a rectangular, one story, brick structure with a flat roof. The front facade is surmounted by a brick pediment which contains a centrally located limestone block with the name “Seiler” carved in it. The pediment is capped with gently curving limestone. The main window treatment in the front facade is equally elaborate. It has flanking brick pilasters with a limestone sill, pilaster bases, and capitols. The pilasters support a full wooden entablature complete with dentils that help form an elaborate window hood. Above this feature is another complete entablature.