The Holman Building 

🧱 Holman Building


Address:  509 North River Street, Hot Springs, SD


 Built:  1901


 First Occupant:  Eureka Saloon (opened April 1, 1904)


 Current Occupant:  Morning Sunshine Café


 Architect:  S. Holman


 Contractor:  S. Holman


 Sandstone Quarry:  Burke Quarry


 Architectural Style:  The last known Richardsonian Romanesque–influenced building erected in Hot Springs, featuring round-arched windows, a well-preserved storefront, and rare cast iron columns.


📜 Historical Overview

Construction of the Holman Building began in August 1900, using Burke Quarry sandstone for its prominent front façade. Work progressed through 1901, with the stonework completed by mid-summer. The building’s round-arched windows and cast-iron columns reflected the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which had largely fallen out of favor elsewhere by the turn of the century.


In April 1904, S. Holman sold the property to John Stetter for $5,000. Stetter opened the Eureka Saloon, which later changed ownership several times before relocating in 1920. Over the next decades, the building hosted a variety of businesses, including the Hot Springs Studio under H.B. Stevens, a sporting goods store, and other retail ventures.


From 1967 to 2003, the building housed Donnell’s Mini-Mall and Arts Store, run by Beulah and Art Donnell — key figures in local arts promotion and founders of the original Save Our Sandstone group in the 1990s. After their passing, the building was renovated by their son Andy and his wife Cindy.

Between 2007 and 2015, it operated as The Blue Bison, with an ice cream parlor and café on the main floor and an apartment upstairs. In 2015, it was sold to Sunshine Hyatt, who established Morning Sunshine Café. In 2020, the property was purchased by Good Karma Couture LLC, which continues to operate the café today.


📍 Modern Era

The Holman Building remains a well-preserved example of Richardsonian Romanesque commercial architecture in Hot Springs and continues to serve the community as a popular local café.


🔍 Research Notes & Requests

Save Our Sandstone is still seeking:

  • Historic photographs of the building’s earliest storefront arrangement
  • Records of the building’s use between 1920 and 1946
  • Documentation of the Blue Bison era interior


QR Code Info:  Built in 1901 by S. Holman, the Holman Building is a rare example of Richardsonian Romanesque commercial architecture in Hot Springs. Featuring round-arched windows and cast-iron columns, it housed the Eureka Saloon in 1904 and later hosted a variety of businesses, including photography studios, sporting goods, and a mini-mall and arts store. The building remains a key architectural and community landmark.

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