The Dell Rapids Historic District [†] is located in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, specifically along East Fourth Street from 335 to 536 and includes one building on Orleans Street. The district is situated in Minnehaha County, in the 1st Congressional District. The area encompasses approximately 2 acres and consists of 39 buildings that represent the town's commercial center from the late 19th century.
Historical Significance
The period of significance spans from 1875 to 1934, marking the era when the contributing buildings in the district were constructed. The district is significant both for its architectural merit and its contribution to the development of Dell Rapids' commercial core.
The district experienced two major building booms. The first occurred from 1875 to the mid-1880s, coinciding with a population increase from 260 in the early 1870s to 900 by the mid-1880s. The second building boom took place from 1888 to 1901, triggered by a devastating fire that destroyed the entire south side of main street. During this period, the population grew to 1,500 people. This second boom resulted in the construction of the majority of the stone buildings that define the district's character today.
Architectural Character
The district presents a remarkably intact picture of a late 19th century town. Of the 39 original buildings, 26 were constructed prior to 1903, seven were built between 1908 and 1920, two date to 1934, and only four were erected after 1945. The structures are either one or two stories tall, with 24 being two-story buildings and 15 being single-story.
The most visually striking element of the historic district is the extensive use of Sioux Falls Quartzite, also known as Sioux jasper, as the primary facing material on 15 structures. This distinctive stone, with its pink and purplish hue, is native to the Big Sioux River Valley and was valued for its hardness and durability. Stone quarrying became one of Dell Rapids' most important industries, with the first quarry opening in the early 1880s. The local availability made quartzite an affordable building material, and it remained popular in Dell Rapids even after the Panic of 1893 dried up the quarrying industry elsewhere in the United States.
The quartzite appears on many of the district's larger and more prominent structures, including three banks, an opera house, and a continuous string of commercial buildings covering half a block. The remaining buildings feature mostly brick veneer, with some wood siding and modern materials such as tin.
Architectural Styles
The main architectural influences represented in the district include Commercial, Romanesque Revival, and Neo-Classical Revival styles. However, the unity created by the building materials, particularly the Sioux Quartzite and brick, is more significant than individual stylistic elements in defining the district's character.
Notable Buildings
Rimes Food Store (335 East Fourth, 1889)
This large two-story Sioux Quartzite faced building stands at the southwest corner of La Delle and East Fourth. Notable features include bull's eye and round headed windows on the second story. The building has housed various businesses over the years, from H.O. Rimes Food Store (1899-1922) to a creamery in the 1930s, and later Tim's Clover Farm Grocery.
Union Block (405 East Fourth, 1894)
A two-story, three-bay-wide structure utilizing quartzite facing. The building contains three separate store areas and reflects Victorian influence with a stamp metal cornice, a pseudo Palladian window, and segmental surrounds.
Dieson Block (407-409 East Fourth, 1901)
Another rock-faced building, two stories tall and three bays wide. Features include a denticulated store cornice, round arched windows on the second level, and a period storefront.
Augustine-Johnson Block (411-413 East Fourth, 1888)
A two-story stone structure with two period storefronts and a pseudo gable dormer at the roof's center. Window surrounds are segmental except for the central round arched window, and the building features a denticulated cornice.
J.E. Irwin Building (415 East Fourth, 1890s)
This building has brick facing and displays a Neo-Classical motif with swag decoration in the cornice.
Opera House
One of the outstanding buildings in the district, this quartzite-faced structure is two stories tall and three bays wide. It still contains a second-story theatre. The exterior exhibits a Romanesque Revival appearance with three round arched windows flanking a similar but larger opening at the center of the second story. The structure displays elaborate stonework and a stepped false front gable at the building's center.
Former First National Bank (Southeast corner of Orleans and East Fourth)
An imposing structure utilizing native stone, one bay wide but three bays long. A corner three-tiered tower features a round arched entry at the first level, a wrought iron balcony with double doors at the second level, and miniature crenulated towers on the third. First-level fenestrations have segmental surrounds while the second level uses round arches. The building incorporates dark granite to highlight certain sections and features an ornamental stone cornice.
Post Office
A two-story building, one bay wide, containing a good period storefront topped by three round headed windows with an elaborate bracketed stone cornice.
Dells Theatre (1934)
Despite being built in 1934, this building contributes significantly to the historic district as an excellent example of an Art Deco theatre for South Dakota. It utilizes tile covering and features a bright marquee with windows reflecting the Arts and Crafts movement.
Tribune Building (1901)
A large one-story structure with wood siding. Two large windows and scalloped shingles, combined with the well-maintained structure, give this building an excellent period appearance.
Dell Rapids Hotel
Located at the northeast corner of East Fourth and State Street, this two-story Sioux Quartzite faced structure has a symmetrical facade and lacks ornamentation. A wooden porch with square pillars appears on the front facade.
Cooley Building (1885)
Situated on the northwest corner of East Fourth and State Street, this building also utilizes purplish stone and stands two stories high. It reflects a combination of Victorian and Neo-Classical elements, the latter likely added in the 20th century. Outstanding features include two storefronts unmarred by modernization, polychromed stonework, window surrounds, and a decorative cornice.
Peoples State Bank (1885)
Features three round arched surrounds over all of its openings.
Cadd Block (1890s)
More Victorian in character, this building features an unaltered first floor and round headed arches with applique designs in the heads.
Doctor Sawyer's Building (1890s)
Reflects elements of Victorian Commercial buildings, using round arched surrounds, decorative cornice, and retaining a period storefront.
Collins Block (1901)
A large three-bay, two-story high structure containing three stores. This is probably the largest of the stone buildings in the historic district. It features an ornamental cornice along with segmental window surrounds on the second floor and period storefronts.
Smith Block (1888)
Located on the northeast corner of East Fourth and La Delle, this elaborate building reflects Victorian tastes more than other structures in the district. It utilizes polychrome quartzite facing along with dark brick around windows and other openings. The cornice features checkerboard-type stonework along with some vertical and diagonal stonework. Two round arched entryways and one window are found on the first floor, with remaining openings having segmental surrounds. The second floor combines segmental and round arched openings, and all fenestrations use lugsills. A corner polygonal tower is also apparent; it was once topped by a pyramidal termination.
Building Classification
In the original 1978 evaluation, sixteen buildings were designated as exceptional structures and thirteen as good period examples. These edifices had undergone only slight modernization and represented the strength of the district. Three structures were classified as blending into the district. The fourth and fifth groups were characterized by distracting or very distracting qualities, with three in the first category and four in the second. These buildings had a negative effect on the district but constituted only 9 percent of the historic area, while 91 percent consisted of either excellent or good period buildings or blending structures.
After the 2001 re-evaluation, the district contains 29 contributing buildings and 10 non-contributing buildings. Only three buildings changed status from the original listing, and the Chong Laundry (523 East Fourth) was demolished.
Physical Layout
East Fourth Street is a narrow street with high curbs and parallel parking. La Delle Street crosses East Fourth on the west while State Street does the same on the east, creating a compact and cohesive commercial district.
Condition and Integrity
While some modernization has influenced certain buildings, many structures have retained their original appearance on both first and second stories. From this standpoint, the historic district in Dell Rapids presents a better picture of what life was like in the late 19th century than most cities in South Dakota. The district maintains a remarkably intact character, with almost all buildings along the two-block district area remaining occupied, which is unusual for most small towns in South Dakota.
Current Status
Today Dell Rapids has a population of about 2,000 with a strong central business area. The district provides one of the state's best examples of what a commercial area looked like 80 years ago. Because of this quality and the architectural integrity of the area, the Dell Rapids Historic District was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the nomination filed in October 1977 and entered in February 1978.
Administrative Information
The nomination was prepared by Scott Gerloff, Survey Coordinator at the Historical Preservation Center in Vermillion, South Dakota. The property is classified as occupied with restricted public access. Ownership is multiple private ownership. The legal description is maintained at the Minnehaha County Courthouse on North Dakota Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Adapted from:, Scott Gerlott, Survey Coordinator, Dell Raoids Historic District, nomination documnet, 1978, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Street Names
4th Street East