On the corner of Washington and Second Street stands one of Redwood Falls’ most enduring landmarks, the Granite Block Building. Completed in 1902 at a cost of just $15,000, it was considered the city’s first shopping mall. Built from North Redwood granite after a devastating downtown fire, the building was ahead of its time with modern features like gas lighting and hot and cold running water. Its location on one of the highest points downtown, the site of the original Redwood Falls stockade, made it both a practical and symbolic anchor for the community.

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Over the years, the Granite Block has housed everything from banks and law offices to barbershops, insurance agents, and even the first KLGR radio studio. In the basement, townspeople could pay a dollar for the rare luxury of a hot bath, while upstairs a lawyer once left behind a bullet hole in the floor that still exists beneath the carpet today. The Inglis family also made their mark here, opening a dental practice in 1904 that carried on through three generations.

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Perhaps the most enduring chapter of the building’s story has been its long connection to pharmacy. Redwood Falls’ first drug store operated here before evolving into Sward-Kemp Drug, later carried forward by Gus Nelson and the Nelson family. Known for prescriptions, gifts, and even ice cream treats at the counter, the pharmacy became more than a business — it was a gathering place and trusted part of daily life for nearly a century.

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Today, the Granite Block remains a centerpiece of downtown Redwood Falls. Its walls hold stories of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community spirit, reflecting the people and businesses that have shaped the city for well over a century.