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Enders Building
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
Location 262 E. Main Street
Ashland, Oregon
Area 0.9 acres (0.36 ha)
Built 1910
Architect Frank Chamberlain Clark
Architectural style Chicago / Commercial
Part of Ashland Downtown Historic District
NRHP reference No. 86002902
Added to NRHP October 23, 1986

The Columbia Hotel is the oldest hotel in Ashland, Oregon. It has been open continuously since it was built in 1910. The hotel is located on the second floor of the Enders Building. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

The Historic Enders Building

The Enders Building was designed by a famous architect named Frank Chamberlain Clark. It was the first commercial building in Ashland made from concrete. In 1910, a local newspaper called The Ashland Tidings said it was the "largest structure of its kind in Southern Oregon."

A Special Design

The building shows features of the Chicago style of architecture. It was also one of the first department stores in the area. A department store is a large shop that sells many different kinds of goods.

Why Was a Hotel Needed?

The Columbia Hotel was built on the second floor of the Enders Building. This was very helpful for shoppers. People from Northern California and towns like Grants Pass in Oregon would travel to Ashland. They came by wagon, train, or car to shop. The hotel allowed them to stay overnight and then go home the next day.

A Landmark in Ashland's History

For many years, the Enders Building was a very important business center. It was run by a local businessman named H.G. Enders. It was the biggest store between Sacramento, California, and Portland, Oregon.

The Columbia Hotel Today

The Columbia Hotel is the only hotel from that time period in Ashland that is still open. It continues to be successful today. The hotel still looks much like it did when it was first built. Many of its original items, furniture, and wooden details are still there.

An Old Telephone Booth

Inside the hotel, there is an old telephone booth. It is made of wood and lined with tin. People believe it is the oldest telephone booth in Oregon that is still used today!

A Downtown Boom

The Enders Building and its shops, restaurant, and hotel opened in 1910. At the same time, other important buildings went up nearby. The Citizens Banking and Trust Co. Building opened next door. It had a bank, a grocery store, and offices. A four-story Elks Lodge was built right across the street.

Shifting the Town Center

These new buildings were part of a big construction boom from 1909 to 1913. This boom changed where people went for shopping and business in Ashland. It moved the main focus away from the traditional town center, called the Plaza.

Still Standing Strong

Today, all three of these buildings still have shops and businesses. But only the Columbia Hotel and the Elks Lodge still have their original names and purposes. In 2010, Ashland celebrated the 100th birthday of these buildings. Main Street was temporarily closed for a special ceremony to honor them.

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