Did you know the history of the Dacres Hotel, named in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places? In 1899, James Dacres purchased the property on Fourth and Main Streets, Walla Walla, Washington, and erected a first-class hotel, and an era of fine hostelry began in the city. The Stine House, built in 1873, was the first hotel in Walla Walla County, but it was destroyed by fire in 1892. The Dacres Hotel was constructed on the original site and was vaunted as one of the most up-to-date and finest hotels in the country. In November, 1907, the Bennes, Hendricks and Tobbey Company, a firm of architects from Portland, Oregon, began extensive improvements to the Dacres at a cost of $30,000. A new story was added, an elevator installed, every room in the entire building was refurnished, the offices and rotunda were enlarged, and a ladies and gentlemans grill and cafe were installed. The man investing the additional money was Mr. James Dacres, owner of the hotel property. In February, 1909, the enlarging and remodeling were completed. When a guest entered the refurbished hotel in its early days, he would walk on thick red carpet through the lobby filled with overstuffed furniture, potted plants and palms, polished brass spittoons and a large grand piano. He would be escorted to a room furnished in blonde oak and light colored rugs. From the lobby, he might have entered the barber shop or the lounge with its huge ornate mahogany bar backed with large French crystal mirrors. In the dining room there was red carpet beneath glittering chandeliers that cast a soft light on white table linen and the silver service. There were bathing facilities on each floor of the hotel and a Turkish bath was available at additional expense. A block south of the Dacres was the Keylor Opera House which saw all the guests of the stage and concert world from that historic period. Broadway blazed with famous names, almost as well known in Kalamazoo and Walla Walla. The Dacres Hotel was the natural place for these performers and groups to stay while they were in the city. The old register boasted such signatures as Louisa M. Alcott, John Philip Sousa, Sir Harry Lauder, and Al Jolson. The dining room, known throughout the state for its fine food, provided soft dinner music with an orchestra each night between seven and ten oclock. As in many other cities, the central business district of Walla Walla gradually moved east and away from the original location, leaving it less desirable and in a deteriorating condition. Mr. A. E. Tausick, a wealthy entrepreneur in town, was foresighted enough to anticipate the plight of the Dacres. In 1911 he organized the Grand Hotel Company and in 1924, purchased the Dacres Hotel. The Dacres remained in business for 39 more years, although the clientele and services changed. The hotel became a lodging place for road and railroad crews, wheat harvest crews, and the wives of prisoners waiting for their husbands in the Washington State Penitentiary. It was not until May 25, 1963, that the hotel finally closed its doors. The Tausick Estate sold the property to O.D. Keen Construction Company for $16,049 on October 27, 1966. There was an open house at this time and most of the remaining furnishings were disposed of at public auction. Today it is the home of the Main Street Studios. Credits: U.S. National Register of Historic Places, Whitman College Archives, Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Joe Drazan Bygone Walla Walla
Posted on: Fri, 01 Aug 2014 17:00:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015