Balch Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Balch Hotel
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The building's exterior in 2008
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| Location | Dufur, Oregon, U.S. |
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| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | F. M. Andrews |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 87001469 |
| Added to NRHP | 1987 |
The Balch Hotel is a really old and special hotel in a small town called Dufur, Oregon, in the United States. It was built a long time ago in 1907 by a local person named Charles Balch. Even though it's been around for over a hundred years, it's still a hotel today, welcoming visitors to the Dufur area. Because it's such an important part of local history, the Balch Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a historic landmark.
The Balch Hotel's Story
The town of Dufur started growing in the late 1800s. As more people visited or passed through, there was a need for a place for them to stay. That's where the Balch Hotel came in!
A local rancher and pharmacist named Charles P. Balch decided to build the hotel. It was designed by F. M. Andrews and opened its doors on January 17, 1908. When it first opened, a room cost between 50 cents and $1.25 per night. That's super cheap compared to today!
The hotel was quite modern for its time. It had hot water in every room, electric lights, and even steam heat. Back then, only two places in the whole Dufur Valley had electricity: the Balch Hotel and the local sawmill. They even shared the power! The sawmill got electricity during the day, and the hotel got it at night.
In its early days, the Balch Hotel was a busy place. Salesmen traveling by the Great Southern Railroad would often stay there. They would set up their products in the hotel's parlor, making the hotel a lively center for the community.
In 1914, Charles Balch sold the hotel to Frank and Ethel Ingels. The hotel stayed in their family until the 1940s. After that, it was changed into apartments and later became a private home.
In 1988, Howard and Patricia Green bought the building. They worked hard to fix it up and make it a hotel again. Then, in 2006, Jeff and Samantha Irwin took over and continued the restoration work. Since June 2015, Claire Sierra and Josiah Dean have been running the hotel. Today, it's a small but very nice hotel for tourists.
The Balch Hotel is important because it played a big part in the growth of Dufur and the surrounding area. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 8, 1987.
What the Hotel Looks Like
The Balch Hotel is a three-story building made of brick. It's built in a style called Italianate, which was popular a long time ago. The bricks used to build the hotel were actually made right on Charles Balch's ranch, close to where the hotel stands!
The hotel's brick walls are super thick, about 18 inches! This helps keep the inside of the hotel cool during the hot summer months.
Even though the hotel has been updated, it still feels like it's from the early 1900s. For example, you won't find telephones or televisions in the rooms. But don't worry, there's wireless Internet so you can still connect! You can also see cool old details like original fire hoses in the hallway.
The hotel has 19 guest rooms and a special suite on the third floor. This suite has a great view of Mount Hood and its own whirlpool tub. Each room is decorated in its own unique style with old-fashioned furniture. Some rooms have their own bathrooms, while others on the north side of the building share common bathrooms that have original claw-foot tubs.
