Walking Tour Brochure CGHS – Corrections May 2022

Respectfully submitted by, Debra Monsive

No. 1 – 811 Main Street – Cooper Building started in 1911, completed in 1912, the first tenant was Rees-Wallace Company, as per the July 11th Cottage Grove Sentinel, stating that they were, “The Reese-Wallace Co. is now comfortably settled in its new quarters, which comprise the West half of the lower story of the new Cooper building. [The upper floors weren’t completed at this time]

In May of 1915 the building was still being called the Cooper Hotel Building as the upper floors were nearly complete and William “Billy” Cooper, he had several applicants who wished to lease the building, but it wasn’t completed until 1920. Cory Bartell was running the Hotel Oregon and leased the Cooper Hotel Building and opened under the name of Bartell Hotel in mid-August of 1920. At some point the hotel was rebranded as Hotel Bartell as per hotel stationery and city directories.

No. 2 – 733-737 Stewart & Hinds Building, excavation started in 1907, but the building wasn’t built until 1908. The building is a twin to the Stewart-Porter building as per David Voss’ research.

No. 6 – 615 Main – Phillips Building, this building was started shortly after the Bank Building was completed, the June 10, 1904 Lane County Leader reported, “The rock is being placed on the ground for the foundation for another fine new brick building to be built for Jones & Phillips adjoining their bank [building] on the east. It is to be a modern building and will contain two large store rooms on the ground floor.” Then in July of 1908, the July 3rd Cottage Grove Leader reported that work commenced on the Phillips 2 story brick, adjoining the Bank Building. Later, the Cottage Grove Leader ran articles in October of 1908 stating a Dr. Van Winkle moving his office upstairs in the Phillips Building, as well as a Mr. Camp, Civil Engineer.

No. 6 – 635 Main – The Wiser Building, on the east side of the Phillips Building was started in 1909. The Cottage Grove Leader reported in October, “The removal of the old buildings to make room for Venske’s fine new two-story brick on Main street adjoining the Phillips Building commenced Monday, Walker & Kinter, furniture dealers (address at that time was 625 Main) will occupy the new brick, which will be 50 x 95 feet.”
I have yet to see why this building is named the Wiser Building as it was built by Mr. Venske. A Mr. Venske was a contractor and received several bids for grading and graveling streets in 1909, but I think there may have been 2 men with that last name. More research needed.

No. 7 – 603-607 Main – The Bank Building, this was built by J.I. Jones and Phillips, it was called the Jones – Phillips Building when it was completed by June 1, 1904. The First National Bank of Cottage Grove, secured the front west corner of the building. They were previously located on the Westside, they opened in their new location on June 1, 1904, Herbert Eakin and T.C. Wheeler, cashier [Darwin Bristow sold out and moved to Eugene]. Later in 1911 the First National Bank of Cottage Grove, moved across 6th Street to their new building at 537 Main. Then in December of 1911 the Bank of Cottage Grove, moved from the other “Bank Building” that they built in 1906 aka Stacy’s Covered Bridge building, to the west corner, previously occupied by the First National Bank of Cottage Grove. [These two banks get confused all the time]

Not in the brochure – 521 Main – An interesting fact about the Bader Building, the construction of this building is similar to the Cooper Building aka Hotel Bartell, it has been modified, but you can still see the distinct brick features. As per the 1993 Historic Survey.

No. 11 – 501 Main – Hemenway Building, built in 1907, the top story was destroyed by fire in May of 1973. [Wayne Cannon owned the building at the time of the fire and was under insured so he didn’t rebuild the 2nd floor, as per Sentinel article at the time]

No. 12 – 401 Main – Bank Building [Stacy’s Covered Bridge] was built by the Bank of Cottage Grove in 1906, they, Ben Lurch and W.H. Abrams [Leader, May 1906] started the bank in the Griffin Veatch building on the Northside of Main Street and moved into the new building in October of 1906 as reported in the 20 October edition of the Cottage Grove Leader. Then in December of 1911, after the First National Bank of Cottage Grove moved into its new building [537 Main], the Bank of Cottage Grove moved into the space, in the “Bank Building” aka Jones – Phillips building, vacated by the First National Bank of Cottage Grove. [These two banks get confused all the time]

No. 18 – 504 Main – W.H. Cooper Building aka Arcade Theater Building was built in 1913, as per a December Cottage Grove Leader article, “For the next week or ten days Cottage Grove will be without a motion picture show. The arcade theater commenced moving into its new building Monday, but must wait a few days upon the carpenters and plasterers. It will also require several days to connect up all the electric wires and put the new fixtures and machine into position.”
As for when the 2nd story was removed and why: As per the 1993 Historic Survey, “In 1976 extensive masonry deterioration necessitated a move by the Cottage Grove City Council to propose demolition of the structure. After a 30 day reprieve the second story of the building was removed to make it safe for occupants and pedestrians.”

No. 19 – 510 Main – This was not the initial location of Bartels Meat Market. According to the 1993 Historic Survey, “Around 1908 this brick building was constructed to house Lincoln Meats, which operated at this location until 1918. The building was enlarged around 1920 to accommodate a printing shop, but by 1922 was operating as the Quality Market, a meat and delicatessen sore owned by Fred J. Anderson. In 1955 Fred Anderson remodeled the front façade to its current configuration.” [J.H. Bartels built the building at 616 Main in 1905, as per the 1993 Historic Survey, known as the Bartels Building. Also reported in the 16 September 1905, Cottage Grove Leader. The Bartels did occupy this building briefly, when they returned from a few years spent in Ukiah, California. I am creating a timeline for the Bartels family documenting all their business ventures.]

No. 21 – 522 Main – Stewart-Porter Building, built in 1905 as per a December Cottage Grove Leader article, “Two new brick store buildings have been built, one of them the two-story brick of Porter & Stewart at a cost of about $10,000, the other Bartels & Co’s meat market, the finest in Oregon, costing about $8000 with the cooling machinery.” [This Bartels & Co.’s, is the building at 616 Main, to the east of, Britz Jewelers, where Fleur-de-Lis was located]

No. 24 – 612 Main – Stewart Building built in 1909. As per an October 1909 article in the Cottage Grove Sentinel, “ The Stewart Building – One of the prettiest fronts in the city is in the one story building of A.J. Stewart, occupied by Simeral & Van Denberg [Van Denburg], erected this season. The structure is 30 x 95 feet, has a pressed brick front, and large plate glass show-windows. The building cost about $4000. The interior was fitted up especially for the trade in which the occupants are engaged, that of furniture, and is particularly well-appointed.”

The “Significant Buildings & Sites on the Walking Tour” list would need to be updated as well. Also, maybe add Singing Creek to the list of other historical organizations.