A. L. Moody's

In June of 1881, Alfred L. Moody and C. D. Whitehouse opened a dry goods store in the 100 block of Broadway. The business went under the name Whitehouse & Moody. In 1884, A. L. Moody bought out his partner and moved to one of the busiest corners in Fargo, Front Street and Broadway. The company would remain at this location (522 Front Street/Main Avenue) for nearly 82 years. As reported in A. L. Moody’s obituary, published in the Fargo Forum & Daily Republican, “At the time he had only sufficient merchandise to occupy a section fronting 25 feet on Front St., to a depth of only 60 feet. Eventually, his business expanded to cover three floors and the basement”. The 1928 Fargo city directory listed the company as selling dry goods, ready-to-wear, millinery and shoes. An advertisement in the same directory states “If you wish something really good, go to Moody’s”. In 1940, A. L. Moody retired, and sold the business to Julius Sgutt. A. L. Moody died December 24, 1943. Julius ran the business with his brother, Paul, and later his wife Sybol, under the name Moody’s department store. In 1958, the name was changed to Sgutt-Moody’s Inc. In 1966, the building on Main Avenue was bought by the city for urban renewal, and the business moved to a new location at 65 Broadway. With this move the name was changed to Sgutt’s. With the smaller space, the business narrowed to ladies fine fashion. In 1980, the company moved again to 608 Main Avenue. Julius Sgutt, died in 1985, and his widow, Sybol Sgutt continued to operate the store until she retired in 1992.

Sources:
“A.L. Moody, Pioneer of Fargo, Dies” Fargo Forum and Daily Republican (27 Dec. 1943): 1.
“Sybol E. Sgutt” The Forum (14 Nov. 1995): A-10
Polk’s Fargo and Moorhead City Directories. St. Paul, MN: R.L. Polk and Company