Hotel Bovill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Bovill
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Hotel Bovill in 2015
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| Location | 602 Park Street Bovill, Idaho, U.S. |
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| Built | 1903 |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000629 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1994 |
The Hotel Bovill was a historic hotel located in Bovill, Idaho. It was built in 1903 by Hugh Bovill. Hugh was an English settler. His father, Sir William Bovill, was a very important judge in England.
Hugh and his wife, Charlotte, ran the hotel from 1903 to 1911. It was a place for tourists and loggers to stay. The hotel also had a store. It became a busy center for business in the community.
The Bovill family left the area around 1911. They were upset about the growing timber industry. They felt it was destroying the local forests. They tried to reopen the hotel in the 1930s but were not successful. The building continued to offer lodging for timber workers for most of the 20th century.
The Hotel Bovill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. At that time, the building was empty. It was also starting to fall apart.
History of Hotel Bovill
A log cabin was first built in Bovill, Idaho in 1891. It was made by Francis Warren. Hugh Bovill, an English settler, bought this cabin in 1899. He moved it to the spot where the Hotel Bovill now stands.
Hugh was the son of Sir William Bovill. Sir William was a famous English lawyer and judge. In 1884, Hugh married Charlotte Robinson. Her father was an important church leader and educator. Hugh and Charlotte moved into the cabin.
Within four years, a two-story building was added. It had fancy woodwork and pointed roofs. The porch had decorative railings and columns. By 1903, this building was known as "Headquarters."
Between 1903 and 1911, a store was built next to the main house. The main house was also made bigger. Later, a shed was added that served as the city's post office. In 1911, the store and main house were joined into one large building. The front porch was extended to cover the whole front. This is when the building started to be called Hotel Bovill.
The hotel was the only place in the Bovill area for supplies and lodging. It served both tourists and people looking for timber. The Bovill family lived in the hotel and ran it. Charlotte Bovill became famous for her "wilderness cuisine." She served huckleberry pie, roasted bear, and homemade drinks.
Around 1911, the Bovill family was sad about the forests. They felt the logging industry was "ravaging" the area. This made them move to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They left behind a lot of property. In the early 1930s, the Bovills came back. They hoped to reopen the hotel, but it didn't work out. They then left the property for good. Hugh Bovill passed away in 1935. Charlotte passed away in 1946.
In the 1950s, the old wooden foundation was replaced. New concrete blocks were used. A new roof was also added to help protect the building. For most of the late 20th century, the Hotel Bovill kept working as a hotel. It mostly housed loggers and other timber workers.
Hotel Bovill Today
In 1994, the Hotel Bovill was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places in the United States. The application noted that the hotel was very important to the local community. It showed the vision of Hugh and Charlotte Bovill. They helped both tourism and the logging industry.
When it was listed in 1994, the hotel was empty. It was also in poor condition. A newspaper article from 2007 said the hotel "stood in ruins on the hillside."
