Palace Saloon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
M. H. Donnelly Building
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The Palace Saloon
Location	341-353 Main Street Ferndale, California
Built	1891
Part of	Ferndale Main Street Historic District (ID93001461)

The Palace Saloon, also known as the M.H. Donnelly Building, is a historic two-story building in Ferndale, California. It was built in 1902 at 341-353 Main Street. This building was first designed to be a gathering place with offices on the upper floor.

Its front has a special decorated "false-front" style. It also has two parts that stick out, topped with twin sloped roofs. The Donnelly Building is an important part of the Ferndale Main Street Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 10, 1994.

The Palace Saloon: A Historic Building

The Palace Saloon has a long and interesting past. It has seen many changes over the years in Ferndale.

Early Days of the Palace Saloon

M.H. Donnelly bought a gathering place called L. Canepa's saloon. This was in the Foster building. He renamed it the "Palace Saloon." Other family members came to help with the business.

However, by November, the Palace Saloon moved out. The Foster building was then updated for another business. M.H. Donnelly bought a new spot at 341-353 Main Street. This was right next to a building known as the "Brick Store."

Construction on the new 30x75 foot building began in late April. John Morris and his sons helped tear down an old store to make way for it. Geo Milnes oversaw the building work for Mr. Donnelly and his brother John. The new building included the main gathering area and offices upstairs. The grand opening was held on September 6, 1902.

Changes Over the Years

The Palace Saloon's late hours once helped prevent a fire. In October 1905, Mr. Donnelly was the first to report a fire in a nearby building. Because he called quickly, the building was saved.

In 1906, a big earthquake hit San Francisco. This earthquake also caused damage to the Palace. Its plaster and windows were broken, and many of its supplies fell and shattered.

In 1909, new gasoline lighting was put into the building. Later, in 1917, M.H. Donnelly sold the Palace to his business partner, Mike Matteri, and retired. The building was sold again in 1929. At that time, it was described as a "billiard parlor and soft-drink emporium" run by Bravo and Arnibaldi.

The upstairs offices were rented out to many different people over the years. Since 1902, dentists, clubs, lawyers, dressmakers, and doctors have used these spaces. Some were even used as homes.

In 1960, the building was used as both a gathering place and a shop selling drinks.

The building was damaged again by the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes. After this, some shorter, more modern windows were put in.

By 1992, the building was covered in asbestos shingles. These were removed after a fire in 2007. The building was then restored to look much like it did originally. The only main differences were the newer windows and a modern door.

In 2016, the owners of the Ivanhoe hotel bought the building. They didn't change anything inside. Today, you can still find two pool tables, a full-sized shuffleboard, and the original 40-foot counter inside.

There is a special sign on the building. It says that it is the "furthest western gathering place in the conterminous United States."

What the Building Looks Like

The first floor of the building has been changed over time. However, the second floor still looks much like it did originally.

Special Features of the Building

The second floor has twin square bay windows. The decorations around these windows were fixed in 2008 to look like they did when the building was new. These bay windows are topped with sloped roofs covered in shingles. These roofs have decorative edges with small blocks and brackets. There is also a low wall at the top. Behind the decorative front, the main roof is sloped and has skylights. Much of the original fancy wooden details are still there.

• National Register of Historic Places digitized photos, January 10, 1994
• National Register of Historic Places digitized text, January 10, 1994