Marsh and Loomis Livery Stable

About 1885, W. W. Ames and Frank R. Marsh purchased the Stephens & Sears livery at the corner of Robert Street and 1st Avenue North. By the 1887 Fargo city directory, Almon Loomis had taken over W. W. Ames portion of the business and it was called Marsh and Loomis. The Argus Fire Anniversary Edition June 7, 1894, describes the building as a “mammoth livery” that was 50 x 140 in size. It was two stories high with a large lean-to on the rear. The lower level was used to house carriages, some of the “handsomest and most fashionable equipages in the city”. The livery also had room for 65 horses, and an carriage elevator went to the second level for storage of carriages when out of season.

In about 1903, it appears that Almon Loomis, sold his share in the company to W. M. Ball, and in about 1906, Mr. Ball sold out to J. P. Coleman. Around 1908, the livery was torn down to make way for the Gardner Hotel. In the 1909 city directory, the livery is no longer listed, and Frank Marsh and J. P. Coleman were working for the T. J. Young & Sons livery.

Sources:
Fire Anniversary Edition. Fargo: Daily Argus, 7 June 1894): 17.
Fargo and Moorhead City Directory. Fargo, 1881-1927.
Fargo souvenir : July 4, 1871, Christmas, 1897.