Baldwin Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Baldwin Hotel
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 Location in Oregon
Location in the United States
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| Location | 31 Main Street Klamath Falls, Oregon |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1905 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001576 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1973 |
The Baldwin Hotel is a special old building in Klamath Falls, Oregon. It was built way back in 1905. This historic hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1973. This means it's an important place that is protected because of its history.
The hotel was first planned to be a hardware store by a man named George Baldwin. But then he saw a chance to make money from the railroad coming to town. So, in 1911, he changed his plans and turned the building into a hotel. George thought the railroad would come right across the street from his building. But it ended up being built at the other end of Main Street. Even so, the hotel was built and had some very cool features!
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History of the Baldwin Hotel
Building the Hotel
The Baldwin Hotel was built on a rocky hillside. Workers had to carve away the hard rock to make a super strong foundation. This made the building very sturdy.
Another unique thing about the hotel was how the rooms were set up. Almost all the rooms were connected. This meant people could rent just one room or a whole group of rooms, like a suite. George thought people would like to have an office and an apartment all connected. It was also the first building in the area to have plumbing in every room. This was a big deal, even though running water didn't arrive until 1908!
The Baldwin Family and Early Years
The Baldwin family included George and Josephine Baldwin, and their children. Their daughter, Maud Baldwin, born in 1878, grew up to be a successful businesswoman and photographer. Her brothers, Charles, William, and Floyd, also became business owners. George Baldwin himself became a state senator from 1917 until he passed away in 1920.
After George's passing, Maud took care of her mother and the hotel. It was a lot of work. In 1923, Maud sold the hotel to a couple named Andrew and Cordelia Moore. Maud passed away in 1926.
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New Owners and Long-Term Guests
Andrew and Cordelia Moore ran the hotel until 1951. Then they retired and gave the hotel to their daughter, Vera Moore Jones, and her husband, Mart Jones. In its later years, the hotel became a place where many older gentlemen lived.
One famous resident was Herbert Ballard. He was an Englishman who worked as an accountant for lumber companies. Mr. Ballard lived in the same room at the Baldwin Hotel for 51 years! He was the only person to live there under all three sets of owners. The Jones family even treated him like family, and he spent holidays with them.
The Jones family closed the hotel in 1971. The building was getting old and needed many repairs. It also needed expensive updates to meet fire safety rules.
Saving the Hotel and Becoming a Museum
The Baldwin Hotel was almost torn down! But a group of people in Klamath Falls cared deeply about the building. They worked together to save it. Because of their efforts, Klamath County bought the hotel and everything inside it. This included original brass beds, dressers, and old-fashioned bathtubs.
Today, the Baldwin Hotel is a museum run by Klamath County Museums. It's open from late May through early September. You can also visit during the Halloween season for special tours. You can take one- or two-hour tours to see all four floors. It's a great way to learn about the history of the building and Klamath Falls.
The museum uses its huge collection of donated items to show what life was like in the past. You can see exhibits about outdoor sports, childcare, fashion, cooking, music, and even old movie theater items!
See also
