This building and its west side conjoined twin at 904 Main Street are likely the most prominent and photographed of the private buildings in the Dallas Downtown Historic District. What may well be the most publicized and evocative photo of the old downtown is of the above three horsemen on a muddy street taken in front of this building with the two-story Polk County Jail in the backdrop.
Like its twin, the façade is in remarkably original condition and well-represents a high-style example of the Commercial Italianate architecture common throughout small towns around Oregon at the turn of the last century. Most of the key elements of the style are evident in its façade, such as its symmetry and verticality, bracketed cornices, a tall arched window above the staircase, abundant and varied ornamentation, inscriptions and, originally, a bare brick façade (still visible on the side of the building). Of special note, the very tall Victorian double doors with their 1890s hardware are still original to the building, a rarity downtown.
A great feature is its artful cast iron front with elaborate iron pilasters that are structural in nature, not just ornamental. These pilasters, a common stylistic element around the Square, were cast right here in Dallas, with the year “1890” cast into their base. These iron fronts made possible the support of very large picture windows to highlight the merchandise of the shops in the building. Note the originality of the two very large glass windows in the façade, a size of glass rarely seen on the market now. For a more complete story on these castings, see the narrative on its companion building, 904 Main Street.
The exceptional integrity of the building is due in large part to the owners withstanding the allure of the anti-Victorian modernizations in our downtown (and others around the county) in the middle of the last century where the ornamentation and elaborate character of old buildings were torn off or covered up with plywood and tin. In fact, this façade has endured only two noteworthy modifications to its front, the plastering over of the exposed brick on its north and west walls for durability prior to 1919 and a change of windows on the second floor.
Regarding these windows, originally the second story façade featured four vertical double hung windows shown in the photo above which were similar in height and shape to the current window over the staircase, though all were somewhat narrower in width. Sometime during the period 1914 to 1941, for unknown reasons, these four classic, narrow, vertical windows were replaced with the current two windows of a more complex, horizontal style that does not so well match the character of the building.
Through a series of old Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, photos and recollections, a pretty good history of its occupants can be assembled:
Hardware Store
The building was constructed in 1890 on a site that had been the “Pioneer Livery” stable since before 1884. The Sanborn map lists who are perhaps the owners of the building as “Miller & Morrison (East Side).” The first-floor use is listed as “Stoves and Hardw.” and a “Tin Shop” in the back. The second floor says “Off” (Offices) and “Hand Printing.”
Grocery Store
By the 1902 map, the main floor is listed as “Gro.” (Grocery) and the second floor is characterized again as simply “Off.” The 1905 map is essentially the same with the slight change from “Gro.” to “Gro & Crocky [sic].” In 1913, the map shows just the use of the first floor as “Gro & Crockery” and no use of the second floor (maybe vacant?). Around 1914, it was called the Simonton and Scott Store. The 1939 map seems to say that the use is the same as the 1913 map, thus a grocery store. This use of a grocery during this era is supported by the “three horsemen” photo which shows the façade having a large sign at the top of the building reading “H. J. Osfield” and a smaller, though prominent sign over the door reading “GROCERY.”
Gas Company
Portland Gas and Coal Company is listed in the Dallas book as an occupant in 1925.
Tavern
Date uncertain, a tavern owned by Charles N. Bilyeu.
Radio and Electric Store
From 1936 to at least 1941, Abraham Hildebrand, a prominent local businessman with multiple enterprises, operated “Hildebrand Radio and Electric” in the building.
Furniture Store
In 1940, Sterling Furniture moved from its Mill Street location, to 519 Main Street (now 950 Main) into what had until then been a 30-car vehicle repair garage. At some point in the early 1950s, by now the Dalton Furniture Company, leased, then purchased the building for selling popular used furniture and connected the two buildings. It housed that enterprise until 1977.
Upstairs Offices
Through to the 1950s, the second story featured four offices with some rather thin, non-structural walls. These offices housed some of the well-known doctors and attorneys in town, including members for the Embree and Hayter families.
Renovation
Still under Dalton family ownership from 1977 to 2002, the building underwent a major interior remodel to replicate its original character (tin ceilings, period-stained glass and so forth).
Sale and Subsequent Uses
The building was sold in 2002 and has had several uses involving various services since that time.
References
- Images of America, Dallas, Published 2012
- City of Dallas Local Landmarks Register
- Library of Congress Sanborn Maps: https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/?q=dallas+oregon
- State Historic Preservation Office, Grant Application #9515, undated, c. March 2023