The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-02-02
REMOVING A FIRE WRECK.
Old Spokane Hotel Ruin Being ut Last
Dismantled After Three Years.

MOuudy iSopOANAAo
mandate OF the courts George Devon
dismantiing the old wreck
Of the Spokane hotel, that has stood |
in its dilapidated condition refiec-
ton upon the town at the southwest
corner of Main street and Railroad
avenue for nearly three years, and
work will continue until every vestige
of the building is removed and a va
cant lot mark the site OF what was at
one time one of the largest frame
buildings in town.
In 1910, about the time of the advent
Of the railroad, George Devon put up
this building, occupying the main por-
tion as a hotel and conducting store
in one Of the rooms on the ground
floor. The building was practically
three stories, with frontage OF some
so feet on Main street and running
back about so feet. About five years
ago the building narrowly escaped de-
struction by fire, the greater portion
Of the roof and upper story being de-
stroyed. The building was repaired
and the hotel rented to Williams q
Green.
On Friday, April 2, 1920, during a
high wind, the hotel for second time
took fire in the third story, the cause
never being satisfactorily ascertained.
The best work the local fire depart
lment ever performed was exhibited that
day Notwithstanding the building was
as dry as powder, the wind blowing a
gale and the fire having good start
before discovery. the flames were con,
fined to the second and third -story
land another frame building within
ia foot of the one partially consumed
Twas not even scorched.
The lower story of the hotel wa!
left almost intact, covered with a net
work of partially burned beams AM
rafters and that is the condition il
which the building has remained u
to the present time. a period OF wv
years and ten months. And out or TIA
fire grew one of the most hOtly con
tested and protracted legal battle
=, that has had its inception in Orovill'
And this vast the reason for the e>
. pensive and long drawn out contrt
versy. Subsequent to the fire the tow
8 council passed an ordinance def1n1n
, fire limits within which no fran
:" building could be constructed. Mr. d.
Won insisted on repairing the old III
;, wreck, making it into a one stol
:, building. The town authorities pr
=, tested and refused permit Mr.. ID
Won carried the question as to t,
. lpower of the council to pass such
=" ordinance. into court. In the fir
trial the case was decided In favor
the town. 1t was appealed to the 8
!. lpreme court, and that body ordered
:. lnew trial. A decision in favor OF t
' town was again handed down only
, short time ago, and Mr.. Devon W
:. given 60 days in which to remove
~ wreck. That is what he is now doll
-. lcarefully saving all of the mater
' removed, most of which is in an
cellent state Of preservation.
The site of the old hotel Is G
of the most desirable corners In
Ill business section of Oroville, and II
RS town ever grows, which 1t Is as c
gh tain to do as the changes OF the Sc
n ons, that corner will become very v
We liable property. Just at the pres
70 time Mr.. Devon is not in a state
'th mind to invest any money in perm
led ent improvements in Oroville,
di- considering the long strain and
the pense that he has gone through
ips attitude is only to be expected. III
es- ever, Mr.. Devon has In the past pI
hip ed himself to be man OF consit
ons able business ability. He will aot
the any chances slip by II 1t looks goo'
no him. hence it is safe to predict
will when business conditions impr
nm which is going to happen Ia the
nal future, Mr. Devon will decorate
hat vacant corner with brick block
di- will be a credit to his public spirit
the an orniment to the town.
, in