The Binnard Block, Colfax, Washington, 1892-1994
In July 1892, Colfax's newspaper, The Commoner, reported:
Ben Binnard, proprietor of the Elite Saloon, laid the corner stone Monday forenoon of what he proposes shall be the finest business block in point of beauty, and architecture that the city can boast of.
Under the cornerstone were laid copies of the Daily, and Weekly Commoner, and the weekly Palouse Gazette, photographs of Harry Corwell, Leon Kuhn Jr., on his dog cart, and the proprietor of the house. A copy of the family record of Mr. Binnard, and other interesting relics. A large number of citizens crowded around to witness the ceremony. The block is to be of solid granite front of tastefully carved stone. It is the intention to make it the best constructed building in the city. One room will be occupied by the Elite Saloon.[1] |
The building opened in October 1892:
The photograph above, taken about 1901, shows the Binnard Block with Bennett standing on the right side of the arched entrance. At that time a drug store, jewelry store, and a saloon were tenants of the main floor. The upper story housed a hotel. A portrait of recently-assassinated President McKinley hangs in the window.[3] The building had five levels including a basement, first floor, mezzanine, and split second floor.[4] The decorative granite blocks had been shipped up the Snake River and hauled to the site.[5]
Below are a few advertisements from the Colfax Gazette for some of the early tenants. |
Moore's furniture store occupied the building in 1946.[6] In 1975 the building was purchased by Old National Bank, which intended to replace it with a parking lot. At that time the tenants were the Chamber of Commerce, a dance studio, and the offices of the Farm Bureau.[7] Ten years later, in 1985, the bank sold it to investors from Seattle.[8] The new owners announced plans to go ahead with the demoliton, prompting a move to save it and other old buildings by declaring a National Historic District in downtown Colfax, but the plan fell through.[9] Attempts were made to rehabilitate the interior and find new tenants,[10] and by 1988 an insurance company, a thrift shop, and a museum had agreed to move in.[11] Time passed without any renovation, and in 1993 inspectors discovered water damage and mold.[12] In 1994 the city ordered demolition of the building.[13] After being notified by Mildred Starr, Bennett's great-granddaughter, that a time capsule existed, workers found a packet of coins and old water-damaged papers. They were turned over to the U.S. Bank, which had contracted for the demolition.[14] Most of the granite blocks were hauled to a salvage yard in Spokane to be sold for decorative use in new buildings.[15]
|
_________________________________________________
[1] "Binnard Building Began as a Saloon," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 8 August 1985, p. 1.
[2] Ibid.
[3] "Binnard Building Said Study Treasure," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Washington), 22 March 1984.
[4] "Binnard Battlers Remove Over 24 Tons of Debris," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 21 May 1987.
[5] "Binnard Building: City Inspector Orders Demoliton," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 30 June 1994.
[6] Colfax Gazette Commoner, 17 May 1946.
[7] "Colfax Rallies to Save Historic Binnard Block," Idahonian (Moscow, Idaho), 19 December 1988, p. 4.
[8] "Seattle Duos Buy ONB, Binnard Bldgs," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 25 July 1985, p. [1]
[9] "Vintage Colfax Building Teetering on Brink of Destruction," Lewiston Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho), 21 July 1986, p. 8A.
[10] "Langum Reports: Binnard Building Back on Track," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 18 December 1986, p. 2.
[11] "Colfax Rallies to Save Historic Binnard Block," Idahonian (Moscow, Idaho), 19 December 1988, p. 4.
[12] "Binnard Building May Soon Depart," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 20 May 1993.
[13] "Binnard Building: City Inspector Orders Demoliton," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 30 June 1994.
[14] "Binnard Papers Recovered in Demo After 102 Years," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 15 February 1995.
[15] "Foundation Gets Binnard Job Focus," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 19 January 1995.
[1] "Binnard Building Began as a Saloon," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 8 August 1985, p. 1.
[2] Ibid.
[3] "Binnard Building Said Study Treasure," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Washington), 22 March 1984.
[4] "Binnard Battlers Remove Over 24 Tons of Debris," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 21 May 1987.
[5] "Binnard Building: City Inspector Orders Demoliton," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 30 June 1994.
[6] Colfax Gazette Commoner, 17 May 1946.
[7] "Colfax Rallies to Save Historic Binnard Block," Idahonian (Moscow, Idaho), 19 December 1988, p. 4.
[8] "Seattle Duos Buy ONB, Binnard Bldgs," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 25 July 1985, p. [1]
[9] "Vintage Colfax Building Teetering on Brink of Destruction," Lewiston Tribune (Lewiston, Idaho), 21 July 1986, p. 8A.
[10] "Langum Reports: Binnard Building Back on Track," Colfax Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 18 December 1986, p. 2.
[11] "Colfax Rallies to Save Historic Binnard Block," Idahonian (Moscow, Idaho), 19 December 1988, p. 4.
[12] "Binnard Building May Soon Depart," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 20 May 1993.
[13] "Binnard Building: City Inspector Orders Demoliton," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 30 June 1994.
[14] "Binnard Papers Recovered in Demo After 102 Years," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 15 February 1995.
[15] "Foundation Gets Binnard Job Focus," Whitman County Gazette (Colfax, Wash.), 19 January 1995.