In late 1871, T.B. Purcell built a frame building at Seventh and Main and ran a grocery store there under the name Dowling and Purcell. After the grocery store moved elsewhere, Milton May rented the building for a hardware store, and North Bend's post office was there as well. In 1890, James Farnham bought the building and expanded it to a 44-foot width. It became known as the Farnham Building and housed Farnham's furniture and undertaking business. North Bend High School also used the building as a gym and held NBHS basketball games there between 1913 and 1919. In 1919, the building and business were sold to P.E. Carey, who tore the Farnham Building down in 1923 and replaced it with a new filling station operated by W.H. Snyder for many years.