Presthus-Horstman
Description
Negatives and prints from the Presthus and later Horstman Studios. The collection dates from the early 1920s to 1982.
Just after the turn of the century (1900), “Wild West Post Card Company” was located in the Horstman building, which was at 33-35 1st Ave. West. The facilities on the second floor had been built as a photo studio, with a large north skylight to provide the natural light used (along with flash powder) before the advent of modern electric equipment.
The company was later purchased by partners Doubleday and Meyers (1915-1920?). Ralph R. Doubleday was a well-known rodeo photographer. They sold the studio in the early 1920s to Ingemar Presthus. Presthus was previously a photographer located in Belfield under the firm Presthus & Johnson (per an ad in the 1914-1915 Directory, p. 61) He operated it as Presthus Studios, until he moved back to Norway and sold it to one of his employees Olga Hanson. Mrs. Hanson’s two daughters Olive and Harriet learned the photography business from her and also attended photography school. The business kept the name Presthus Studio at that time.
In 1940 Harriet married Norman Horstmann, a photographer from St. Louis and they purchased the studio from her mother and operated it as Horstman Studio. The Horstmanns purchased the building in 1953 and moved their studio to the main floor where it operated until they retired in 1982. Over the years the main floor was previously occupied by the first J.C. Penney store in town, then by City Grocery, next as Bob Gilliam’s Meat Market, and Dakota Public Service. Summarized from Centennial Roundup, p. 89. 1982.
Just after the turn of the century (1900), “Wild West Post Card Company” was located in the Horstman building, which was at 33-35 1st Ave. West. The facilities on the second floor had been built as a photo studio, with a large north skylight to provide the natural light used (along with flash powder) before the advent of modern electric equipment.
The company was later purchased by partners Doubleday and Meyers (1915-1920?). Ralph R. Doubleday was a well-known rodeo photographer. They sold the studio in the early 1920s to Ingemar Presthus. Presthus was previously a photographer located in Belfield under the firm Presthus & Johnson (per an ad in the 1914-1915 Directory, p. 61) He operated it as Presthus Studios, until he moved back to Norway and sold it to one of his employees Olga Hanson. Mrs. Hanson’s two daughters Olive and Harriet learned the photography business from her and also attended photography school. The business kept the name Presthus Studio at that time.
In 1940 Harriet married Norman Horstmann, a photographer from St. Louis and they purchased the studio from her mother and operated it as Horstman Studio. The Horstmanns purchased the building in 1953 and moved their studio to the main floor where it operated until they retired in 1982. Over the years the main floor was previously occupied by the first J.C. Penney store in town, then by City Grocery, next as Bob Gilliam’s Meat Market, and Dakota Public Service. Summarized from Centennial Roundup, p. 89. 1982.
Contributor(s)
- Ingemar Presthus
- Olga Hanson
- Harriet Horstmann
- Norman Horstmann
Collection Items
Splichal, Mrs. Steve
Portrait of a nine month old baby boy, sitting on a carpet. Identified by last name.
Boespflug, Matt
Portrait of a girl's First Communion. She is wearing a dress with veil, and holding a prayer book and rosary. Identified by last name.
Service Drug Store - man and woman with silverware
Interior photo of a man and woman with a silverware display. Identified.
Comments