Mottman Building facts for kids
The Mottman Building is a very old and important building in downtown Olympia, Washington. It was first built in 1888 and was called the Olympic Block. It was made for a big store owned by Toklas & Kaufman. Later, in 1911, a man named George Mottman, who was a well-known real estate agent and later became the mayor of Olympia, made the building bigger and changed how it looked. His own store, Mottman Mercantile, was in the building until 1967. The Mottman Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 because of its history.
Quick facts for kids |
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Mottman Building
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | 101 Capitol Way N, Olympia, Washington |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1888, 1911 |
| Architectural style | Italianate (Altered) |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003354 |
| Added to NRHP | June 16, 1983 |
Contents
What is the Mottman Building's Story?
The Mottman Building has a long and interesting history. It started as a busy department store and changed over time.
Who Were the First Owners?
The first store in the Mottman Building was called the New York Cash Store. It was owned by Gallewski Kaufman and Ferdinand Toklas. They sold many different things, like clothes and fabrics. Their store was one of the biggest in Olympia and even in Southwest Washington back in the late 1800s.
Ferdinand Toklas had strong connections to stores in New York. He also owned another big store in Seattle. Toklas and Kaufman later opened more stores in other cities like Spokane and Aberdeen.
Why Was the Building Constructed?
Toklas and Kaufman first had their store in a different spot in Olympia. But they needed more space because their business was growing so much. In 1888, Toklas's son, Nathan, suggested they build their own new store.
They worked with Samuel Williams, who owned a good piece of land. Williams's family home and hardware store used to be there. The old house was moved, and construction on the new building began in May 1888. It was mostly finished by November of that year.
What Did the Original Building Look Like?
The new building was named the Olympic Block. It had two stories and was designed in a style called Italianate. This style often includes fancy details. The building had cast-iron decorations and a special metal roof edge called a cornice.
A unique part of the original building was a separate two-story brick bathroom building. You could get to it from the second floor of the main building using a walkway in the air. Another small brick building was built next to it. Both buildings together cost about $18,000 back then.
How Did George Mottman Take Over?
In 1894, Ferdinand Toklas retired. He gave the Olympia and Aberdeen stores to Kaufman and his sons. A year later, in 1895, George A. Mottman opened his own dry goods store nearby. Mottman was from Germany and came to Olympia in 1884. He had worked for Toklas & Kaufman for several years before starting his own business.
Mottman's store quickly became the most popular department store in Olympia. When Kaufman retired in 1899, Mottman bought the Olympic Block building. He then moved his own store into it.
What Changes Did Mottman Make?
In 1911, George Mottman completely updated the building. He opened up the first-floor shop areas to make them more modern. He also added a third floor to the building. This renovation included putting in Olympia's very first elevator!
Many of the original fancy cast-iron parts were removed during this update. The building looked smoother and more modern. However, the original metal cornice from the roof was saved and put back on the new third floor. After these changes, the name "Olympic" was removed, and the building became known as the Mottman Building.
How Did the Building Survive the Earthquake?
The Mottman Building was damaged in the 1949 Olympia earthquake. This was a very strong earthquake. But even with the damage, the building kept all of its floors. Many other old buildings in Olympia from the 1800s lost parts of their structure in that earthquake. Mottman's store continued to operate in the building until it closed in 1967.
