Marie Reed hosts Postcard Friendship Fridayat her blog, Cpaphil Vintage Postcards.
I'm joining in today, having deferred
Old Postcard Wednesday to Friday this week.
I'm grateful to NoeHill.com for publishing online the only information I found that provided even the slightest indication that the old hotel still stands. The site provides a list of Historic Sites in Josephine County that includes the National Register of Historic Places National Register numbers. The Redwoods Hotel at 310 NW 6th is on the list, linked to the saddest photos of what remains of the hotel as of July, 2007. I cannot determine whether or not this building is used for anything today. It really appears not, but maybe it's a rooming house?
Prior to tracking down the above lame information, I found some other tidbits from around the area.....
- The historic Redwoods Hotel should not be confused with the Redwood Motel in Grants Pass, although this looks like a lovely place and has an interesting history itself.
- The Josephine County Historical Society website does not mention the Redwoods Hotel (not that I could find, anyway). It does provide two "walking tours" of historic buildings, businesses and homes/churches. I must admit that I enjoyed looking at the homes; a few are truly spectacular.
- I did find the same old postcard I have is for sale here. And there is a real photo of the Redwoods Hotel for sale at ebay. It shows a 1940s vehicle on the street, and note that the word FIREPROOF had been removed from underneath the large sign on the building.
- A site called America on Wheels has a page for the Redwoods Hotel, and the webmaster is just waiting for someone to be the first to write a review or to share his/her photos. Somehow I don't think anyone is going to oblige the request.....unless America on Wheels has a time machine it can provide to zap former guests to the 21st Century in order for them to download memories and photos of staying there.
........and, the last one is especially for The Watercats in Ireland who, after viewing the old postcard about Finland Sheep Grazing that morphed into a bit of a Conan O'Brien thing, wrote in comments: Every time I come here I receive new piles of semi-useless information!.. That is a very, very good thing.. [:-D .........
- A Grants Pass Oregon Redwoods Hotel tie is available for purchase at zazzle.com.
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19 comments:
I wouldn't have immediately noticed the 'Fireproof' without your keen post observations! That's just like saying a ship is unsinkable 'Titanic'.. I wonder if it did indeed catch on fire! It also cracks me up that it's called 'Redwooods' even though it's in the middle of the town and nowhere near those breathtakingly massive trees!
Hooray for Old Postcard Wednesday!
Great post, the card is fab!
Debby
I hadn't noticed the sign either! It looks like the building's wings have been clipped at some point. What a shame that such a magnificent place has been allowed go so far downhill.
Lydia:
When I read your postings and click on your links I find more fascinating, not to say useless, information and lovely thoughts.
A lovely postcard.....
I love the name of the hotel. I suppose one could say the Redwoods are found up and down the west coast. :-)
It would be interesting to find out that the place burnt down....but I would rather go on thinking that it remained standing....just under a different name.
Have a beautiful weekend.
What a puzzle. That's all I can say. So much of Oregon affects me this way. What were they thinking, I ask myself.
It looks like it's still in fairly good shape.
Great card. That's a common style of building from that era.
I love old buildings for all of the stories they hold...
Another great Old Postcard...Friday!
I love the looks of old hotels. We definitely do things differently these days.
very impressive :)
cool postcard
xx
@Marie- Maybe there was a fire in one or both wings and that's why just the center structure is shown in the 2007 photos. As far as the name goes, they must capitalize on the proximity to the Redwoods of course!
@Debby- Thanks for being here. :)
@Sheila- You have to wonder why the decision was made to crop the building like that!
@Viridian- Oh, I love it. You've joint The Watercats in the enjoyment of useless info!
@Robin- It would be strange if they had fires in both wings of the building, but I suppose nothing is impossible. I'm glad you enjoyed the postcard. :)
@Hattie- I'm fascinated that much of Oregon affects you that way. I find the I-5 corridor extremely distasteful for the most part. At least individual towns attempt to keep some old buildings....
@Postcardy- Well, I guess that there's anything standing at all after the hatchet job is something positive!
@dmarks- Yes, and far superior to the trashy big box architecture today.
@Erin- I do too. Old houses also (I live in one built in 1910)!
@Kim- That's for sure. I just wonder how long the newer ones are going to hold up, and the challenges ahead when they start to fall apart. Maybe they're built better than I give them credit for, however!
Sorry I'm late!.. Honoured of the mention :-D... I got to get me one of those ties!! It's one of the deadliest = (brilliant over here), things I've ever seen! As always, have enjoyed the little trip through time, though it always saddens me to see such beautiful old places looking so forlorn. The hotel looked magnificent in it's day, I can't help but think how lonely it must feel now...
My my Lydia,
I used to live in Grants Pass, until I moved to the next town heading south. I must have drove by this hotel building many many times without realizing it's history..but I remember always looking at it, as I (like you) love the older buildings. Next time I'm in Grants Pass I might take a photo of it if I can.
Blessings,
Rhi
Too lovely, once again.
I really must get to Oregon, see your sights(re. your recent posts with flowers, plants, landscapes.......) AND learn more about YOU, Lydia--and your fabulous mind! Peace, woman.
@the watercats- Did you notice at zazzle.com that they will make ties about other "notable" local places? You could build a really quirky and deadly (new word for me!)collection! See below that Rhi knows the old hotel...
@Rhi- Well no small wonder to me that you didn't know its history! I had the hardest time digging up info for this particular old postcard. I do hope you get a photo of it and post it at your blog; let me know if you do.
I stayed in Grants Pass in a motel right on the river when I was there for an audit (my working life). I enjoyed walking around the downtown area after dinner. It's always been one of my favorite cities to drive by heading south on I-5, as the scenery changes there ... becomes wilder.
@Lisa- Your comment crossed with my replies to the others!
Glad you enjoyed, and am wondering if you are still planning a trip out here later this year. Wayfaring Wanderer (also on my blogroll) is coming in October. :)
What a very interesting story. I have to agree, the 2007 photo of the place is very sad. It looks like it's an apartment building of some kind, if only because the curtains on the window are all different. I'd think if it was an office building there wouldn't be curtains all askew. (Why it's acceptable in ones home and not at the office is a totally different subject lol)
Here's my theory on the wings of the building -- water damage.
The center structure probably had a better water runoff system on the top of that flat roof than the smaller buildings. I'm thinking that there was a breach in the roof and the damage was so extensive that the only way to salvage the building was to cut off the limbs and keep the body. (that sounds gruesome.)
Thanks for your research, it was fascinating to go there with you :)
@Kirby- I hadn't realized the difference in the curtains, and I think you have hit on a great point. Good eye!
I also think you may be spot-on with regard to the wings. Water damage makes perfect sense. And if that is the case with this building, then I credit the city of Grants Pass for preserving the part of the structure that could be saved. Thanks for you insights!
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