I don't know why the architecture in Nome is so bizarre. I am sure it has something to do with all the snowfall.
Update from Ni (thanks, Ni!): "Nome's main street looks like those old west towns where they all had false store fronts. The idea is the bigger your front the more buisness you would get. Nome seems to have tried to keep its wild gold rush feel, thus they still use that style of building.
I do know it does not help with snow. Flat roofs and large flat fronts can cause bad drifting and roof failures."