I know the title of this story seems oddly nonspecific considering how many Texaco stations Dodge City had at one time. However, this service station was originally owned and operated by The Texas Company. The white stucco mission-style building had separate bays for greasing and a car wash. A grand opening was held at the brand-new station on January 17, 1931.
Dodge City Daily Globe, January 17, 1931
The men shown here in 1931 may be manager Loren Wilks and attendants Paul Moore and Benjamin Otto.
Photo: Ford County Historical Society Sam Zygner Collection
Texaco leased the station to Bob Ogg in early 1934 and it was managed by H. Gordon McCollom. The business was briefly called Mac’s Certified Service.
Dodge City Daily Globe, December 4, 1934
By 1935, it was operated by Walt Neal.
Dodge City Daily Globe, April 8, 1936
Wholesale grocer John Pressney appears to have assumed ownership by the Summer of 1936. At that time, The Texas Company’s wholesale business was still located at Military and Avenue B.
Telephone Directory Dodge City, Kansas, August 1936, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company
By 1942, the station was operated by Josh Owens. World War II Veterans Ernest Brockhausen and Quincy Glotta bought the business in January of 1946 and called it B and G Texaco Service.
Dodge City Daily Globe, February 7, 1946
Brockhausen began operating as Ernie’s Texaco Service around January of 1949. The station was listed for sale in January of 1951 due to health reasons but appears to have continued operating as Ernie’s until at least December of that year.
Dodge City Daily Globe, January 11, 1951
Other names in the 1950s included Bill’s Texaco Service and Steele’s Texaco Service. By 1957, the building was vacant and it sat for a few years before being converted into commercial space for businesses such as Kansas Abstract and Investment Co. in the mid-1960s.
Dodge City Daily Globe, August 21, 1968
Maxine Salmans was a very successful representative for the cosmetics company Fashion Two Twenty. Her studio occupied the building for almost all of the 1970s.
Dodge City Daily Globe, March 31, 1970
The property was listed for sale in December of 1979.
Dodge City Daily Globe, February 29, 1980
A new building with frontage on Avenue B was completed around 1981 and was occupied by Fast Foods of Dodge City. This building was expanded and housed tenants such as Dodge Country Insurance, Firm One Securities, Stickney Realty, and Frigon Law Firm. Lucky Liquor moved to the space on the corner around 2000.
This is how the former site of the Texaco Service Station looks today:
I’ve always loved mission-style architecture with arched doors and windows. This replacement aesthetic is most definitely not that. On the bright side, some of the concrete curbing looks original. So we’ve got that going for us, which is nice.
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Myron C Lake, who was not a good guy, obtained Fuller’s Crossing from Charles W Fuller via trade in 1861. This land included a timber bridge crossing the Truckee River and a hotel on the south bank called Fuller House. Lake rebuilt the bridge in 1862 after it was destroyed in a flood and finagled a way to make it a toll bridge.
He continued acquiring property and the parcels on either side of Virginia Street just north of the river became known as Lake’s Reserve. A toll house stood at the north end of Lake’s Bridge on the west side of the road.
S. W. Kimball purchased the property where the toll house stood in November of 1876. He constructed a wood frame foundry and machine shop which began right at the end of the bridge and ran lengthwise along Virginia Street.
Daily Nevada State Journal, November 30, 1876, 3. Newspapers.com.
The roof was raised in the Spring of 1877 to accommodate a dance hall on the second floor. Exterior stairs at the north end led to a ticket office which patrons passed through to access the hall.
Weekly Nevada State Journal, March 10, 1877, 3. Newspapers.com.
Amity Lodge No. 8 Knights of Pythias held their grand ball in Kimball’s Hall on April 10, 1877.
Reno Evening Gazette, April 4, 1877, 3. Newspapers.com.
W. T. Remington relocated his blacksmith shop to Kimball’s building in June of 1878.
Reno Evening Gazette, June 17, 1878, 1. Newspapers.com.
The 1885 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the building positioned between two irrigation ditches. You can click on the image to see the full sheet.
George Graves and Fred Holmes took possession of the building in September of 1888 and transformed it into the Iron Bridge Livery Stable.
Reno Evening Gazette, September 11, 1888, 3. Newspapers.com.
By the time this photo was taken around 1890, the red stable building was already missing a porch support.
[G. Graves Livery, Boarding, Feed, and Sale Stable UNRS-P2000-06-0025.tif collection_3207], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.
Graves sold the stable to Abe Scott in December of 1899 and it changed hands a few times before being operated by A. M. Campbell in about December of 1903. Around that time, Reno Lodge No. 13 Free and Accepted Masons bought the property. By 1905, the building was so dilapidated the lodge refused to renew the lease.
Instead, they announced plans to build a new temple on the site that January. The property was deeded to the newly formed Reno Masonic Temple Association for $10,000 in March of 1905. The existing temple was put up for sale at that time but the area lodges continued using it until the new building was ready.
Reno Evening Gazette, January 25, 1905, 8. Newspapers.com.
Architect Henry F Starbuck of Long Beach, California was hired to design the new temple, which would have 140 feet of frontage along Virginia Street. The ground floor would accommodate five storerooms. Nine offices plus the Blue Lodge room would be located on the second floor. The third floor would hold another lodge room, a chapel with anterooms, lockers for all of the Knights Templar regalia, and a banquet room.
Daily Nevada State Journal, June 11, 1905, 1. Newspapers.com.
In May of 1905, workers began diverting a ditch crossing the south part of the property which ultimately went under part of the building. The granite corner stone was installed at the northeast corner of the building along with a time capsule on September 16, 1905. Members of various masonic organizations came from lodges all over the state. The ceremony, reportedly with a thousand people in attendance, took place after a procession of around 200 marched from the old temple to the new site in full regalia.
After requiring a rebid due to high costs, the building contract was finally awarded to W. G. McGinty on September 19, 1905. Construction took a full year to complete.
[Trolley car on Virginia Street bridge, Reno UNRS-P1989-55-3166.tif collection_4626], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.
M. F. Goodwin and Company’s millinery store opened for business on Monday, September 10, 1906. Their grand opening was held the following Saturday.
Daily Nevada State Journal, September 13, 1906, 8. Newspapers.com.
The Wiley B Allen Company music store moved to the new temple that October.
Daily Nevada State Journal, October 7, 1906, 12. Newspapers.com.
W. P. Baker and W. R. Toombs opened their men’s store on October 20, 1906. No merchandise was sold at the formal event, which was planned as a social gathering with a musical program.
Daily Nevada State Journal, October 18, 1906, 8. Newspapers.com.
Nixon National Bank, of which Senator George S Nixon was rumored to be a mere figurehead, opened on the main floor November 12.
Reno Evening Gazette, November 9, 1906, 8. Newspapers.com.
The Dalton, Clifford & Wilson Company drug store opened December 1. N. E. Wilson was Mayor of Reno at the time.
Daily Nevada State Journal, December 2, 1906, 2. Newspapers.com.
The first meeting in the new temple appears to have been held on December 8, 1906.
Reno Evening Gazette, December 6, 1906, 1. Newspapers.com.
Office spaces were rented by Dignowity Exploration and Exploitation Company, Great Updyke Mining Company, Ramsey Consolidated, Reno-Mispah Mining Company, and Dr. Robert O’Neal.
The new temple was officially dedicated on St. John’s Day, December 27, 1906, with hundreds in attendance. Every masonic organization in Nevada had a representative present and there were many attendees from outside the state as well.
Masonic Temple From Virginia St. Bridge Reno, Nev., 453, postcard. Published by California Sales Co., San Francisco, circa 1911. Author’s collection.
Drs. William L Samuels and J. LaRue Robinson are shown here around 1912 in Dr. Robinson’s office, which I believe was located in Room 10.
[Dr. Samuels and Dr. Robinson in Dr. Robinson’s office in the Masonic Building, Reno, Nevada UNRS-P1984-05-1.tif, collection_7028], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.
It was very common for masonic lodges and temples to have very high ceilings in the top floor ceremonial rooms as seen in this postcard. They were often decorated with opulent handstitched carpets and elaborate ceiling and wall treatments.
Virginia Street Looking North, Reno, Nevada, 3A-H78, postcard. Published by Curt Teich & Co., 1933. Author’s collection.
Tenants came and went over the decades. Nevada Bank of Commerce began moving to the building in the Summer of 1946. The main floor housed the lobby plus the coin and safety deposit vault while the trust department, bookkeeping, restrooms, conference rooms, transit department, and a customer storage vault were located in the basement. NBC officially opened November 12, 1946 and they planned to double their square footage the following year.
Nevada State Journal, November 10, 1946, 16. Newspapers.com.
The bank took over the space formerly occupied by the Grey Shop around June of 1947 and interior work was completed by the end of the year.
Reno Evening Gazette, April 1, 1947. 4. Newspapers.com.
At the same time, the temple association hired Salt Lake City architect A. B. Paulson to design an expanded modern exterior which eliminated the huge granite columns and boasted loads of plate glass. That building permit was finally issued in September of 1948 and work continued for several months.
Nevada State Journal, July 31, 1949, 28. Newspapers.com.
In 1953, the temple association accepted plans created by architect Russell Mills for a four-story annex to be constructed on the west side of the temple. This annex was completed in the Spring of 1955.
Reno Evening Gazette, April 7, 1955, 17. Newspapers.com.
Nevada Bank of Commerce relocated its trust department and some additional staff to the annex but the main part of the bank remained in the old temple.
Reno Evening Gazette, October 3, 1955, 8. Newspapers.com.
A large section of the temple, including the bank, was destroyed by fire on August 15, 1965. The blaze was prevented from entering the annex but it did receive some smoke and water damage.
Nevada State Journal, August 16, 1965, 1. Newspapers.com.
Two lodge rooms were condemned. Some retail stores were able to reopen by August 18 but the bank had to operate from its other branches. Gene Christensen’s photo studio above the bank was completely destroyed.
Reno Evening Gazette, August 16, 1965, 2. Newspapers.com.
The temple association preferred to repair the building but since about 40 percent had been damaged, they decided a replacement was in order. To avoid disrupting Christmas sales for the remaining retail tenants, demolition was postponed until January of 1966.
Nevada State Journal, January 18, 1966, 8. Newspapers.com.
NBC was able to reopen their main floor branch on February 20, 1967, before upper floor interiors were finished. The new corner stone was installed at a dedication ceremony on April 9.
Reno Evening Gazette, April 7, 1967, 2. Newspapers.com.
Menards Ltd. reopened on April 13.
Reno Evening Gazette, April 27, 1967, 22. Newspapers.com.
The jewelry store of R. Herz and Bro. reopened on June 1. Wilton Herz and his father, Frederick Herz, are shown below.
Nevada State Journal, June 4, 1967, 38. Newspapers.com.
I should note the building had been designed so additional floors could be added for a total of eight. Clearly, that expansion never materialized.
Reno Evening Gazette, April 8, 1967, 9. Newspapers.com.
This is how the Masonic Temple at the site of Fuller’s Crossing looks today:
Photo by Anna King
The building on the corner is currently home to Brüka Theatre and Antique Angel Wedding Chapel with offices and lodge spaces on the upper floors. I liked the first structure better but this one looks appropriate in its surroundings. With so many lodge and temple buildings sitting vacant across the county, Reno is fortunate to have this one occupied and put to good use.
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Dodge City had four lumber yards in 1926 but none further south than Trail Street. Carl G Heitman changed that in the Spring of 1927 when he opened South Side Lumber south of the Rock Island tracks between Sunnyside and what was then Bridge Street.
Lindas Lumber Company purchased the business in April of 1929 and expanded the facility. The series of structures extended almost halfway between Bridge and Sunnyside.
Dodge City Daily Globe, July 24, 1929
Company founder Edward S Lindas died in July of 1949 and the liquidation of his properties began shortly after his passing. By the time the company announced the closing of the Dodge City location on August 17, 1950, all of the inventory had already been sold.
Dodge City Daily Globe, August 17, 1950
William J Tawzer had been a salesman at McDowell Chevrolet. Tawzer Motor Company briefly occupied the old lumber yard from around 1951 to 1952.
Dodge City Daily Globe, November 2, 1951
This parade photo shows there was once an arch over the entrance to the parking area on the south side of the building.
Photo: Ford County Historical Society Studio de Lari Collection
An eatery called Travel Snack was established in the building in February of 1952. They sold chicken and shrimp boxes plus burgers to go.
Dodge City Daily Globe, February 29, 1952
At the same time, public sales were held regularly in an area of the complex with dirt floors.
Dodge City Daily Globe, April 25, 1952
Daniel and Lois Ducic moved from Pratt in 1953 and opened Ducic Upholstery that October. By 1957, the auctions were being held by Don Weece and his partners.
Dodge City Daily Globe, May 9, 1957
By 1959, the furniture business had moved and was renamed Don’s Auction. Louis and Ola Vernon had taken over the upholstery business they called Vernon’s Upholstery.
Dodge City Daily Globe, May 20, 1960
Vern and Ruby Collier sold the Boot Hill Grill around 1962 and turned their attention toward South Dodge. Delmonico Cafe opened in October of 1963.
Dodge City Daily Globe, August 17, 1963
Vern, a butcher by trade, had equipment installed in February of 1964 which allowed him to cut his own steaks.
Dodge City Daily Globe, June 6, 1964
As offerings expanded, the cafe became known as Delmonico Restaurant. A gift shop was located in the north end of the building. The Colliers were famous for their Sunday buffets.
Delmonico Restaurant & Gift Shop, S-70921, postcard. Published by Dunlap-Henline Distributors, North Platte, Nebraska. Author’s collection.
When the Arkansas River flooded in June of 1965, the restaurant filled with four to five feet of water.
Photo: Ford County Historical Society Troy Robinson Collection
Cleanup of the flood mud was quite the operation but the Colliers managed to reopen Delmonico on July 31.
Photo: Ford County Historical Society Studio de Lari Collection
Delmonico closed in the Spring of 1975 and the furniture store which had become Rent-Buy of Dodge City, Inc. announced in May they would return to the building once it had undergone extensive remodeling. The Delmonico pink exterior was replaced with mustard yellow. Several windows were covered with metal siding.
Contractor T. J. Page had the project completed by September 3 and Rent-Buy held a grand opening event from September 12-20, 1975.
Dodge City Daily Globe, September 17, 1975
Around 1981, the business changed names again and became known as Furniture Outlet.
Although the building had shown its age for decades, heavy snow in March of 1999 caused its demise. That old lumber yard roof wasn’t meant to carry such a load and several rafters broke under the weight. Furniture Outlet was demolished by Gladden Excavating on June 17, 1999. Photos: Ford County Historical Society Dodge City Daily Globe Collection
Due to the outbuildings which had been added to the property over the years, the store remained open during reconstruction. The former lumber yard was replaced with a metal building set further back from the street with parking in front.
Dodge City Daily Globe, July 23, 1999
Additions continued and the group of metal buildings was basically united as one giant structure. Furniture Outlet became an Ashley Furniture HomeStore in 2013. Around 2024, the signage was changed from Ashley Furniture to Weece Furniture but now the Ashley branding is back. The Weece family sold the business to Miller’s of Claflin in the Summer of 2025 and they remodeled the building again.
This is how the former site of Delmonico Restaurant looks today:
Photo: Anna King
Photo: Anna King
Photo: Anna King
My family shopped at Furniture Outlet several times when I was a child and it looked like it was going to fall down the very first time I saw it. In retrospect, this is likely because I didn’t understand how stucco works but also because I hated the yellow color. Aside from being a bit ungainly and difficult to photograph, the property looks good now…for a metal building.
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In July of 1889, the First Baptist Church on Second Street between Virginia and Sierra was destroyed by a fire which swept through the neighborhood. The congregation wasted no time purchasing property at the northwest corner of Second and what was then Chestnut Street.
Plans were completed in August for a wood frame structure measuring approximately 40 x 60 feet with a 100-foot spire. The new church was dedicated on May 25, 1890.
[WA-02787], [Photographs], Nevada Historical Society
At that time, the rest of the block was residential, bordering on rural. The 1890 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the church between Second Street and what would become known as Church Lane. You can click on the photo to see the full sheet.
By 1904, members of the Vietti family occupied homes north of the church and operated a blacksmith shop at 205 or 207 Chestnut Street, depending on the year and how street numbers were adjusted. Partners in the blacksmith shop included Carlo Marmo and John Bottini. This undated photo was taken after Bottini exited the business around 1917.
Nevada State Journal, July 29, 1956, 5. Newspapers.com.
You can click here to see a photo of this building from 1914 before Bottini’s name was covered on the sign.
The Baptist congregation received a $10,000 gift for construction of a new brick building in December of 1916. Architect Fred De Longchamps designed functional spaces to include a banquet hall, dedicated club rooms, and Sunday school rooms. Fundraising continued into the Spring of 1917 with the building contract awarded that August. Tapestry brick was supplied by Reno Pressed Brick Company. The corner stone was laid November 5, 1917.
Reno Evening Gazette, November 5, 1917, 3. Newspapers.com.
This photo was taken on Easter Sunday, March 31, 1918, the date of the opening service.
[Baptist Church, Reno UNRS-P2000-06-0177.tif collection_3259], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.
Vietti Blacksmith Shop was remodeled with what appeared to be a brick veneer in 1939. The name was changed to Nevada Blacksmith and Welding Company around 1940, at which time the wood frame section of the building was extended toward the west. Around 1941, John P Sapparrat became a partner in the business. The company also sold Minneapolis-Moline and Furguson agricultural equipment.
Nevada State Journal, August 7, 1955, 9. Newspapers.com.
The First Baptist congregation again ran out of space and sold the property to Town House Motor Lodge, Inc., which announced plans to replace the church with an 80-unit motel in July of 1955. As this motel would require additional lots to the north of the church property, Vietti family members became shareholders of this company rather than simply selling their lots. Plans were provided by the architectural firm Russell Mills and Associates.
Reno Evening Gazette, July 27, 1955, 15. Newspapers.com.
A decommissioning service (pictured below) was held on January 19, 1956.
[Decommissioning Service, First Baptist Church of Reno UNRS-P1991-47-10.tif, collection_4655], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.
The replat of this block required part of Church Lane to be vacated from Chestnut to Stevenson. A construction permit was issued in February of 1956 for $473,600. The heating installation permit was issued that April and a package liquor license for the attached mini mart was granted by the city in June. Town House Motor Lodge opened on July 24, 1956. The facility included a pool which could be converted into an ice rink. It had two bridal suites and a governor suite with Italian decor. Other rooms were decorated in a Chinese style.
Chestnut Street was renamed Arlington Avenue in April of 1957, presumably to make things less confusing. This particular street had a few different names, depending on the block.
Martin B Johnston bought the Town House in December of 1962 with plans to expand and remodel. Meanwhile, the motel was robbed over and over again. Some criminals used guns and knives but a woman held up the place with either a comb or hairbrush in her pocket. She broke down in tears and gave the money back but was still arrested.
Possibly the most brazen was a man who robbed the Town House thrice in January of 1963: Once on January 1, again on January 12, and yet again on January 19. The third time was not a charm for Milton R Ross, as the clerk had reached his limit and started blasting. Ross, who was not injured by the clerk’s bullets, was arrested on May 4, 1963 and admitted to his crimes.
Town House Motor Lodge, SC7702, postcard. Natural Color by Mike Roberts, circa mid-1960s. Author’s collection.
In January of 1976, a collision at the intersection of Second and Arlington caused the car driven by F. B. Goslow (pictured below) to hit the corner of the building. Injuries to the motorists were relatively minor and no serious damage was reported.
Reno Evening Gazette, January 13, 1976, 2. Newspapers.com.
Ownership changes and robberies continued regularly throughout the 1970s and ’80s, with a motel clerk being pistol whipped in January of 1982.
pho003941. Neon in Nevada Photograph Collection. PH-00225. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada. http://n2t.net/ark:/62930/d1tm7209b.
In the mid-1990s, Reno experienced a glut of rooms and not enough visitors. Part of this was blamed on a lack of conventions in the area. The Town House, more specifically, began to host the type of people who snatched purses from unsuspecting tourists.
On Christmas Day 2000, a man reported to police he fell off a balcony after being chased by someone with a knife. Upon further investigation, police learned a combination of drugs and mental health issues caused him to jump off the balcony.
A drug bust in April of 2002 netted $1,000 and seven grams of crack. The motel mini mart was caught selling alcohol to a minor in February of 2003. There was another drug bust in January of 2004 with a convicted felon arrested for being in possession of a firearm among other charges. In October of 2011, a 67-year-old woman was killed when she was run over by a car in the parking lot.
The Town House was on the delinquent tax list for several years. Secundo Vita Duo, LLC bought the property in 2015 with big plans to demolish and redevelop it and several other mid-century motels. That entity transferred the Town House to Secundo Vita, LLC. in 2016 and the project stalled.
Amazingly, the motel still hosted events including the NadaDada art exhibitions throughout its decline. I believe the last year may have been 2016. In May of 2017, management hired people to dispose of mattresses and other items infested with bed bugs. New furniture was purchased. All of this was done to accommodate new residents who were being displaced from other gentrification projects in the area.
This Google Street View image from March of 2020 shows the Town House Motor Lodge with the neon sign and swimming pool long gone. This was about the time Jacobs Entertainment became involved with the property.
Town House Motor Lodge became vacant around Thanksgiving of 2020 and was demolished in February of 2021. Piles of bricks were still lying around on the empty lot that November.
Ground was finally broken on the 245 North Arlington luxury apartments in May of 2022. This building was originally meant to consist of 130 condos but construction costs caused a pivot to 60 apartments. Lease applications were accepted beginning January 1, 2025 and the grand opening was held on March 6.
This is how the site of the former Town House Motor Lodge looks today:
Photo by Anna King
Generally speaking, preservation of old buildings is better than having them end up in landfills. However, this one wasn’t aesthetically pleasing and probably needed to go. I haven’t been able to find any information about what happened to that beautiful neon sign, though. If anyone knows, please drop a comment.
If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe (way at the bottom of the post on mobile devices) to receive an email each time a new post is published and share on social media. You can also support my work by donating below. This content is 100% funded by history fanatics such as yourself. Thanks for reading!
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Like many towns, Dodge City hasn’t always been consistent with street names. Portions of Second Avenue were alternatively called Bridge Street for several decades. The stretch between the Arkansas River and the Rock Island tracks along Sycamore Street experienced a building boom around 1930.
In April of that year, Martin Stohr sold a couple lots to Lester F Fowler who established Fowler Machine Shop at what was then 406 Bridge Street. At that time, this shop was the only commercial structure on the block.
Dodge City Daily Globe, July 26, 1930
The property was purchased by Logan R Tyson of General Machine Shop in the Spring of 1935. It’s worth noting that Winnie Rosebrook was Tyson’s welding foreman.
Dodge City Daily Globe, August 31, 1935
In February of 1946, Tyson announced he would be building a Kaiser-Frazer dealership on the north side of his machine shop, which would also be enlarged. The combined structures were painted white with modern 1940s streamlined styling. Corners were rounded with glass blocks and neon lighting.
Both of his sons, James and Robert, had returned from World War II and were involved in the business which held a grand opening on October 25, 1946.
Dodge City Daily Globe, October 24, 1946
This photo was taken from the Rock Island tracks looking north on January 4, 1949.
In November of 1949, Tyson took out a permit to remodel a wood frame garage a few blocks south. Merritt Owens and Clarence Maser announced they would relocate Owens-Maser Motor Co. to the old Tyson dealership that December.
Dodge City Daily Globe, December 31, 1949
In January of 1954, Maser announced he had bought Owens’ interest in the business and the dealership became known as Maser Pontiac-Cadillac Co.
The Counselor, September Issue, 1954, Dodge City Edition
Around that time, the company expanded to include a used car lot across South Second, just south of Dillon’s. That lot is shown here during the flood in June of 1965.
Photo: Ford County Historical Society Troy Robinson Collection
Martin Stohr’s old house which had stood at the southeast corner of Poplar Street and South Second was removed in 1973 to expand the car lot.
Dodge City Daily Globe, May 21, 1973
In October of 1978, Don and Greg Goff announced Goff Motor Company had bought the Maser dealership. This was back when Jeeps were still Jeeps.
Dodge City Daily Globe, October 2, 1978
Plans were being made to completely remodel the building at that time.
Dodge City Daily Globe, October 4, 1978
The father and son duo operated the dealership together until Don’s retirement around 1995. A special meeting was held in December of 1998 to approve merging Goff Motors with their neighbor to the north, George Nielsen Motor Company. While the two dealerships advertised jointly in the interim, the merger became official with the new entity, G & G, Inc., in March of 1999.
Pat George exited the business around 2004 and then John and Traci Wentling were partners with Greg and Linda Goff until about 2015. The Wentlings wound down the G & G Car and Truck Supercenter around 2023. Hyundai of Dodge City currently occupies the property.
This is how the former Maser Pontiac-Cadillac dealership looks today:
I’m not the biggest fan of Streamline Moderne architecture but it beats covered up windows and metal mansards. That is all.
If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe (way at the bottom of the post on mobile devices) to receive an email each time a new post is published and share on social media. You can also support my work by donating below. This content is 100% funded by history fanatics such as yourself. Thanks for reading!
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In early 1954, brothers William and James Tomerlin negotiated what ended up being a swap with Frank Hofues for the New Golden. The deed was transferred to New Golden Hotel Company on February 10, 1954 and the sale was completed that April.
The brothers were not initially interested in the gaming operations but that changed in 1955 when a license was approved for the new operators of the Golden Bank Club. The Tomerlins were listed as officers in full control of the partnership with an additional 25 limited partners.
Photo: Reno Fire Antique and Classic Apparatus, Inc.
A press conference was held November 15, 1955, at which time the Tomerlins announced they had bought out the Bank Club, casino, and restaurant lease effective December 1. The main casino and theater restaurant closed at midnight November 16 so a massive remodeling project could begin. The hotel, slot machine bar, Bank Club and coffee shop remained open and several employees were shifted over to those areas. Architects for the project were Bill Wagner and Wayne McAllister and the project was expected to cost $200,000 to $250,000.
Center Street, Reno, Nevada, BBR-49, postcard. Published by The Old Lamp Post, Virginia City, Nev. Photo by Walt Mulcahy, circa mid-1950s. Author’s collection.
A six-day closure of the Golden Bank Club occurred at the beginning of December for cleaning and redecorating.
Nevada State Journal, December 1, 1955, 2. Newspapers.com.
The Mardi Gras Show Lounge and Golden Casino opened May 25, 1956. Visitors were entertained by the Kirby Stone Four.
Reno Evening Gazette, May 25, 1956, 2. Newspapers.com.
The Malt Shop opened that August with an entrance to the Lincoln Alley. This space was designed by Frank Green with red and white stripes and white wrought iron furniture. Management was very clear about welcoming children as long as they were accompanied by an adult.
Nevada State Journal, August 17, 1956, 3. Newspapers.com.
Another remodeling project was announced in the Spring of 1957 which included a new cocktail lounge with a coin arcade connecting to the Mardi Gras. A new glass entrance to the Carnival Room was constructed along Lincoln Alley measuring about 44 feet along with a marquee and neon sign. The grand opening was held July 3, 1957.
Reno Evening Gazette, July 2, 1957, 15. Newspapers.com.
The Mardi Gras Show Lounge was redone again in April of 1959, at which time the first sunken bar was installed in Reno. This bar curved around the base of the stage to make performers visible from every seat in the house. That August, Harrah’s was rumored to be interested in buying the Golden Bank Hotel and Casino but Bill Tomerlin, who lived in a penthouse and actually grew corn on the rooftop, insisted it would more likely be the other way around.
In early 1960, the Mardi Gras was refreshed with waterfalls bookending the newly enlarged stage. At that time, the keno bar was also updated with a venetian glass mosaic. The Bank Club closed for remodeling in December of 1960. It was redone in a clash of Victorian and Rococo styling with red and gold punctuated with brass and crystal chandeliers.
Bank Club Gay Nineties Saloon and Gambling Hall opened February 3, 1961. The Tomerlins added live entertainment to this venue, where it had previously been in the lounge only. Employees wore handmade Victorian costumes, which were all different.
Nevada State Journal, February 18, 1961, 22. Newspapers.com.
The Girl in the Gilded Cage was unveiled at the February 24 formal grand opening, which revealed (like, literally revealed) a true commitment to the Naughty Nineties. Ragtime pianist “Nickelodeon Jimmie” Kellogg provided the entertainment.
Reno Evening Gazette, February 23, 1961, 23. Newspapers.com.
Hotel, casino, and lounge remodeling projects were still in progress at that time. An elaborate revolving neon sign was installed in April of 1961. It was more than 50 feet tall and was said to weigh more than 8,000 pounds.
Nevada State Journal, April 9, 1961, 22. Newspapers.com.
The enlarged Mardi Gras Show Lounge reopened May 11, 1961. In addition to the gilded cage, there were girls on a swing under the Roaring 20s marquee. The main attraction that season was Barry Ashton’s “Playmates in Paris” with dancers who performed nude from the waist up. It caused quite a stir. A colorful rain curtain was added across the front of the lounge stage for the production of Ashton’s “Les Girls” in November of 1961.
The Mardi Gras Show Room closed again for remodeling to increase seating capacity to around 350 on January 3, 1962. Cafe La Rue, modeled after a Paris sidewalk, opened at the beginning of March.
Nevada State Journal, March 3, 1962, 24. Newspapers.com.
Ashton’s “Paris Playmates of ’62” opened March 22. Three tiers had been added to allow for better visibility in the Mardi Gras Show Room. The show included dancers inside a giant champagne bottle and glasses, “brimming over with pink flesh.” Food service was also added to the three nightly shows.
Nevada State Journal, March 22, 1962, 7. Newspapers.com.
Twelve days later, Hotel Golden was destroyed by a deadly fire. Like the one in 1912, this blaze started in the basement. Building engineer William H Smith reported a welding tank pressure gauge exploded as he prepped furnace cleaning brushes needing new handles. Smith attempted to extinguish the flames and cut the gas and electricity before being overcome by fumes. He was treated at a local hospital. Photos: Reno Fire Antique and Classic Apparatus, Inc.
Six people lost their lives, including 20-year-old Carol Maye Snelgrove, who was a “Paris Playmates” cast member. Other victims were hotel barbershop bootblack Nathaniel Banks, guests Gertrude Holbrook,Marie Colnar, and Walter Klitz, and permanent resident Lucia Pedlar. More than 20 people, including five firefighters, were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.
Jon Wagner’s YouTube page has incredible footage of the blaze.
Those dreadful metal louvers covering the windows were blamed for hindering firefighters’ efforts. Survivor Margaret McCollum claimed there was no fire alarm on the fourth floor. She credited Golden security officer Paul Gallo with saving her life by carrying her through the smoke to safety. In an interview from his hospital bed, Gallo claimed Reno firefighter Lloyd Davidson saved them both. McCollum was apparently the last guest out of the building before it fully collapsed. Gallo, left unemployed after the fire, was later arrested and charged with armed robbery and vehicle theft.
Reno Evening Gazette, April 3, 1962, 6. Newspapers.com.
The neighboring Dondero Building, home of Harrah’s Bingo, was demolished due to severe structural damage. Numerous lawsuits were filed against the hotel and its owners. Meanwhile, Reno building codes were changed to disallow louvers and other window coverings.
The Tomerlins hired architect Martin Stern of Beverly Hills to design a new entertainment, casino, and hotel complex. This project was planned to be constructed in multiple phases with the ground floor casino being the first priority.
Nevada State Journal, May 25, 1962, 1. Newspapers.com.
Construction of Phase One began in November of 1962.
Reno Evening Gazette, June 28, 1963, 23. Newspapers.com.
A grand opening was held in the Golden Casino’s Carnival Room on July 3, 1963 with entertainment by Buddy Greco and Helen Boice. Not even Phase One was fully completed at this time. Cafe La Rue began serving food a few weeks later and the basement barber shop opened on August 23. Plans called for a three-story parking garage above the casino and entertainment spaces and the steel framing was in place.
Reno Evening Gazette, July 4, 1963, 8. Newspapers.com.
Meanwhile, retired Golden bartender Charles “Chick” LaMonte had a couple fountains installed at his home which were made using glass salvaged from the demolition debris.
Nevada State Journal, August 8, 1963, 12. Newspapers.com.
The basement Gourmet Room opened September 26, 1963 and “Paris Playmates” returned to the Golden that October in the Carnival Room. Phase Two, the Mardi Gras Theatre Restaurant, didn’t open until June 30, 1964. Barry Ashton was back again with his new “Mardi Gras Follies” in an enlarged space with seating for 500. This floor had four tiers instead of three. The stage had a hydraulic lift, rain curtain, steam curtain, and a portable ice rink for good measure.
Reno Evening Gazette, May 27, 1964, 17. Newspapers.com.
Rumors that the Golden had been sold were flying by December of 1964. The Tomerlin brothers issued denials and said that was all news to them. The Mardi Gras Room was completely redecorated that month in a Japanese theme for the December 23 opening of “Hello, Tokyo.”
Work on Phase Three, the parking garage above the casino, was supposed to begin in the Spring of 1965. The steel girders for the parking levels still extended upward from the main floor. Phase Four was to cover the convention center, pool deck, and health clubs. The 24-floor hotel tower was planned for Phase Five. None of those things happened under Tomerlin ownership.
By February of 1966, rumors were again floating about the Golden being for sale. A piece in the March 16, 1966 Nevada State Journal included quotes from both William Harrah and William Tomerlin denying any agreement had been reached.
However, Harrah and the Tomerlins announced that Harrah’s had signed a five-year lease on the Golden the evening of March 28, 1966. This deal was effective April 1 and the Golden closed for business the morning of March 29. At that time, William Tomerlin stressed that it was only a lease, with an option to renew, and the brothers did not intend to sell the property.
Reno Evening Gazette, March 29, 1966, 1. Newspapers.com.
The Golden’s sign was removed on April 7, 1966. Harrah’s Reno Theatre Restaurant held a grand opening on June 20, 1966, which was the 20th anniversary of Harrah’s in downtown Reno. Eddie Fisher headlined the event.
Nevada State Journal, June 20, 1966, 2. Newspapers.com.
The former Mardi Gras became known as the Headliner Show Room.
Nevada State Journal, June 21, 1966, 10. Newspapers.com.
Bill Harrah announced plans for a 24-story hotel on January 10, 1968. Its design appeared to have been recycled from the plans created by Martin Stern back in 1962. In fact, Stern was rehired for the project. Construction would begin in early Spring.
Harrah’s Hotel Downtown Reno, postcard. Published by Harrah’s Club, 1969. Author’s collection.
Harrah’s 24-story tower became Reno’s tallest building. The first event to be held in the new Harrah’s Hotel was a members-only gathering of The Prospectors club on October 9, 1969 in their space on the fourth floor.
Reno Evening Gazette, October 10, 1969, 7. Newspapers.com.
The hotel officially opened for business the following day. At that time, work hadn’t been completed on about 40 percent of the upper floors. Danny Thomas headlined the formal dedication on November 8, 1969. Harrah’s Reno opened its new convention center on May 19, 1970.
Bill Harrah died in June of 1978 and Holiday Inn bought Harrah’s in 1980. The business has been sold and spun off and reorganized several times since then. Those corporate maneuvers are widely accessible on the interwebs. In addition, Harrah’s expanded several times to take up the better part of two full blocks downtown.
The Headliner Room was renamed Sammy’s Showroom in honor of Sammy Davis, Jr. who died May 16, 1990. Jay Leno performed the night of the dedication, April 19, 1991, with repeat performances April 20-21.
Reno Gazette-Journal, April 18, 1991, 68. Newspapers.com
In January of 2020, it was announced that Harrah’s Reno was being sold to Reno City Center, LLC. The facility was ordered closed by the governor that March due to COVID and the deed was officially recorded in September of 2020. Reno City Center filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 16, 2024 with the case being dismissed on February 26, 2025. There have been hard feelings and probably some strongly worded letters.
I won’t attempt to describe the cast of characters doing the partner hokey pokey in this saga. It’s extremely convoluted. As of this writing, the project has been rebranded as Revival Reno. There have been many, many plans…with jazz hands. The project had a developer, until it didn’t. Tommy Ahlquist of Ahlquist, LLC exited stage left this December. As of right now, the property sits in limbo.
This is how the site of the former Hotel Golden looks today:
I randomly selected Hotel Golden from a batch of vintage postcards with the idea that I learn a new city best by digging into its history. This choice was made with zero knowledge about the fire or its evolution into the Harrah’s property. Now that I know, I’m very interested in what happens next.
You can catch up on the first two parts of the Hotel Golden series by clicking the links below:
Many thanks to Reno Fire Antique and Classic Apparatus, Inc. and the University of Nevada, Reno Special Collections and University Archives Department for graciously allowing me to use historical images in this series.
If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe (way at the bottom of the post on mobile devices) to receive an email each time a new post is published and share on social media. You can also support my work by donating below. This content is 100% funded by history fanatics such as yourself. Thanks for reading!
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Dodge City’s business district took a while to spread north along Second Avenue to Spruce Street. The east side of the block between Walnut and Spruce filled up with commercial buildings long before the west. City Furniture Store and Santa Fe Trail Garage anchored the corners on the west side of Second with brick and concrete block structures by 1910 but the lots between them were filled with wood frame dwellings.
In October of 1912, the Globe ran an editorial complaining about two “insignificant shacks” occupying the lots just north of the alley on that block. The paper suggested the homes be removed and replaced with more substantial commercial structures.
The Dodge City Daily Globe, October 9, 1912
Those two “shacks” were occupied by John Keech and Robert Whitaker. R. C. Canady moved his shoe repair shop to the north house vacated by Whitaker in the spring of 1915. O. F. Adair also moved his shine stand to that spot from the Santa Fe Depot.
Dodge City Daily Globe, March 1, 1915
That July, C. H. Coe opened a tire vulcanizing business in the former Keech house to the south. He and partner Bob Rath also fitted keys, sharpened mower blades, and performed general repairs.
Dodge City Daily Globe, August 23, 1915
The Skillington Tailoring Company moved into the old vulcanizing shop in the Spring of 1917. Unfortunately, their building was completely destroyed in a fire that October. The damage to Canady’s neighboring shop was less severe and he asked Andrew Russell, who owned both structures, to repair his building but both lots were ultimately cleared. Canady then moved his shop to Second and Chestnut.
A single-story concrete block building was constructed at 611 Second Avenue with parking between it and the alley to the south. Dodge City Tire Repair Company, a partnership of brothers-in-law William S Leonard and John H Tenbrink, occupied this new structure in January of 1918.
The Dodge City Journal, March 13, 1919
Tenbrink and his new wife, Edith, relocated to Los Angeles in 1920. Leonard took on Leo W Hafred as a partner and worked for years as an auctioneer. Harry L Likely bought an interest in the business in February of 1925.
The Southwest News, February 12, 1925
The shop was renamed Tire Service Company and it remained in the building until September of 1928.
The Dodge City Journal, June 10, 1926
By October of 1930, the Eckles brothers owned the building and had it repainted for the Smith Cafe. Archie Sever then opened the Jayhawk Snack Shop in April of 1932. Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Beaver from Oakley bought the eatery in June of 1932 and called it Beaver Snack Shop. They sold the business to Floyd and Pearl Herring in February of 1933.
Dodge City Daily Globe, February 7, 1933
In addition to Herring’s Waffle Shop, the building also became the Union Bus Depot in the Fall of 1934.
Dodge City Daily Globe, March 16, 1936
This menu from Herring’s Waffle Shop can be found in the archives at the Ford County Legacy Center.
The bus depot expanded into the building just north of the waffle shop at the end of 1936.
Dodge City Daily Globe, September 1, 1936
In 1938, a neon sign was installed across the top of the waffle shop with a bus at each end. The neon was configured so that the wheels on the buses indeed went round and round. It was said to “make your feet itch,” apparently meaning it would make people want to travel.
Photo: Ford County Historical Society Troy Robinson Collection
I love how the speaker was used as a megaphone on the postcard in the second slide. Very clever!
Photo: Ford County Historical Society Troy Robinson Collection
Postcard: Ford County Historical Society Troy Robinson Collection
Around 1944, Herring’s Waffle Shop moved to Front Street. The bus station was then operated by the partnership of Glass and McEwen before it also moved back to Front Street.
The Dodge City Journal, March 16, 1944
Around this time, the restaurant became Marlin’s Uptown Waffle Shop.
Dodge City Daily Globe, December 29, 1945
In about 1946, R. E. Lawrence became the proprietor of the waffle shop and he sold part interest to Irven and Thelma Shuman in April of 1947. Under this partnership, the Shuman packing plant and Shuman Frozen Foods would supply food to the restaurant. The Shumans held a contest to rename the restaurant and $25 was awarded for the winning entry, White Buffalo Grill.
The Dodge City Journal, June 26, 1947
After changing hands a couple more times in the 1940s, the White Buffalo became the Blue Goose. That restaurant only lasted a couple years and held an auction in September of 1951.
Dodge City Daily Globe, September 21, 1951
That December, Hal Wyman Plumbing and Heating held a grand opening in the former waffle shop.
Dodge City Daily Globe, December 21, 1951
Wyman relocated to a spot west of Mammel’s in February of 1955.
Dodge City Daily Globe, February 28, 1955
That appears to have been the last business to occupy the building before it was demolished to create a parking lot for First National Bank which still exists today. Workers are shown here installing the bank clock on November 2, 1955.
This is how the former site of Herring’s Waffle Shop looks today:
It’s difficult to work up nostalgia for a plain concrete block building that looked a bit awkward in its location. The drive thru at First National was a huge upgrade for their customers. However, I am very interested in what became of those beautiful neon signs, with one important caveat. If they ended up in the scrap pile, please don’t tell me.
If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe (way at the bottom of the post on mobile devices) to receive an email each time a new post is published and share on social media. You can also support my work by donating below. This content is 100% funded by history fanatics such as yourself. Thanks for reading!
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The first installment of this series covered the Hotel Golden from its beginning as a three-story structure through Charles Sadleir’s tenure as Manager.
Frank Golden, Jr. served in the US Army from June 8, 1918 until August 1, 1919. After his discharge, he worked for the Vulcan Oil Company in Tiffin, Texas and also spent time in San Francisco. Golden then returned to Reno upon Sadleir’s resignation in December of 1924 to resume management of his father’s old hotel.
“Frank Golden, Jr.” Reno, A Book of Short Stories and Information, by Lilyan Stratton Corbin, Colyer Printing Company, 1921, p. 269.
Another 60-room addition was completed in 1926 and the annex was remodeled and enlarged in 1929. Hotel Golden received all new walnut furniture in 1930.
The Golden’s Reichel automatic fire alarm system successfully detected a series of fires in the hotel’s metal garbage chute in the early 1930s. No damage was caused to the building from the four instances I counted.
Nevada State Journal, January 6, 1933, 6. Newspapers.com.
In 1935, the old section of the Golden was modernized. At that time, the lobby shrank a bit to make room for a separate bar and an expanded restaurant and kitchen. Air conditioning was added to the lobby, bar, and dining areas.
Nevada State Journal, June 30, 1935, 15. Newspapers.com.
Due in large part to twelve of his banks failing during the Great Depression, George Wingfield became personally bankrupt in December of 1935. Reno Securities Company was entangled in all of that as a loan guarantor, causing Crocker National Bank of San Francisco to assume ownership of the company and thus, Hotel Golden.
Center Street Looking North, Reno, Nevada, 7A-H902, postcard. Published by Curt Teich & Co., 1937. Author’s collection.
In early 1937, Frank Golden became ill and was away from work for about two months. He returned toward the end of May but resigned in July of 1937. Golden expected to spend two or three months at his Lake Tahoe vacation home. He was replaced by co-managers Gordon Davey and Earl Harrington.
Crocker National Bank kept Wingfield on the payroll as what amounted to an executive manager of the Golden and Riverside hotels. On September 1, 1937, Wingfield announced he had regained control of Reno Securities Company.
Work was constantly being done on various sections of the building. The newly remodeled Golden Coffee Shop operated by William Pappas opened in June of 1939. This space seated 60 and featured a large, refrigerated show window.
Nevada State Journal, June 4, 1939, 11. Newspapers.com.
This photo from 1940 shows the Hotel Golden with painted friezes below the cornice. The entire brick façade also appears to be painted with spots, possibly an optical illusion.
[Center Street, Reno, Nevada UNRS-P1988-63-194.tif collection_4645], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.
Hotel Golden was sold to a new entity called Golden Securities Company in November of 1946. John V Mueller was President and the hotel was leased to James H Lloyd. The bar and restaurant were to be operated separately.
Nevada State Journal, November 13, 1946, 6. Newspapers.com.
However, Golden Securities then announced the building would undergo extensive remodeling with the lobby decorated in a western theme. Lloyd took over management of the Golden Coffee Shop effective December 1, 1946. Gordon Davey and Earl Harrington stayed on but only as managers of the Rooms Department. Lessees were only given a couple weeks to vacate the premises.
Reno Evening Gazette, November 20, 1946, 11. Newspapers.com.
The entire transition could have been handled better.
Nevada State Journal, December 5, 1946, 11. Newspapers.com.
Golden Gulch, which had a bingo parlor, gaming room, and bar, opened on June 14, 1947.
Reno Evening Gazette, June 13, 1947, 17. Newspapers.com.
A formal grand opening event was held June 27 followed by the Golden Wheel penny casino grand opening on July 12, 1947. The old hotel safe, which had survived the basement fall in the original fire, was moved into storage in August of 1947.
Nevada State Journal, August 28, 1947, 6. Newspapers.com.
It was somewhat inaccurately reported that Hull Hotels, controlled by Thomas E Hull and his sister, Sally Lewis Crofwell, acquired controlling interest of Golden Securities Company in June of 1948. Regardless, Hull hired architect Frank W Green to completely overhaul the Golden into something both the Journal and Gazette called “gaudy.”
The main floor transformation included approximately 30,000 square feet of casino, bar, and restaurant space costing around $300,000, depending on whose version of the agreement you believe. A new entrance with approximately 172 feet of Herculite glass was installed. The casino was decorated in a sort of Virginia City western theme. There was a giant kidney-shaped bar and the space had a golden ceiling, of course.
This was done even though the ground floor had just been remodeled the year before. Hull also had the three upper floors redecorated. At the time, it was said to be the most expensive remodeling project in Nevada’s history.
Center Street and Hotel Golden, Reno, Nevada, 9B-H286, postcard. Published by Curt Teich & Co., 1949. Author’s collection.
A gala premiere was held at the new Golden Club with its theatre restaurant on October 7, 1948 and was by all accounts well-attended.
Nevada State Journal, October 7, 1948, 13. Newspapers.com.
However, Hull’s tenure was short-lived. Contractors went unpaid and liens were in place for more than $350,000. Hull left Reno in January of 1949 and his publicist had no comment. James Lloyd stepped in to manage the Golden once again as Hull faced multiple lawsuits.
At that time, Golden Securities announced Hull was no longer associated with the hotel or the company as an executive or as a shareholder. In court documents, the company further attested that Hull had not, in fact, acquired 51 percent ownership of the company. He had simply taken an option but had never actually followed through with the purchase. Hull had subleased the hotel personally from Lloyd and then subleased it again to El Rancho Reno, Inc., a subsidiary of Hull Hotels. Since El Rancho hired the construction companies, Golden Securities’ position was that they had no legal obligation to pay any of it. Bolstering their argument was documented evidence that they had posted signs on the property during construction stating the project was in no way connected to Golden Securities.
El Rancho was bankrupt and went into receivership. The lawsuits dragged on until September of 1950, when Hull finally settled his debts with a significant assist from the Bank Club. Creditors were over the moon about receiving 100 cents on the dollar in a bankruptcy case, which never happens. Everything was totally, one hundred percent legit.
That same month, Bugsy Siegel’s alleged friend, Joseph “Doc” Stacher, withdrew his gaming license application and had his shares in the Hotel Golden and the Bank Club bought out by James McKay and William Graham. Stacher still held a mortgage on the property, however. Totally legit.
In March of 1952, it was announced that Frank Hofues bought the Hotel Golden and neighboring Bank Club. Hofues was to take possession May 1 but the ugliest remodeling project you can imagine began that same month.
Nevada State Journal, March 11, 1952, 14. Newspapers.com.
Architect Edward Fickett’s design of the New Golden included horrendous metal louvers over the windows along with a streamlined façade.
The Golden Bank Casino, Reno’s Finest Entertainment Center, K7203, postcard. Published by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc., circa 1952. Author’s collection.
The club and casino closed for about ten weeks. Hofues completely remodeled the interior with colorful plastics and confetti finish on the walls. A door was also opened between the Golden and the Bank Club. The grand opening was held May 28, 1952 with headliner Cab Calloway. Work on the hotel floors continued throughout the summer.
Nevada State Journal, May 28, 1952, 17. Newspapers.com.
By February of 1954, negotiations were once again underway for an ownership transfer of the New Golden. That’s where we’ll pick up in the last installment of this series. Click here to read Part One.
If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe (way at the bottom of the post on mobile devices) to receive an email each time a new post is published and share on social media. You can also support my work by donating below. This content is 100% funded by history fanatics such as yourself. Thanks for reading!
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In Dodge City’s early days, Front Street was the main drag and Chestnut Street (now Wyatt Earp Boulevard) one block north was barely even a side street. Many of you will remember when the reverse was true and the buildings with doors on both sides of the block only used Front Street for service entrances.
In the Spring of 1908, E. E. Smith moved his coal office into a new concrete block building at what became 404 Front Street. The lot had been empty for some time but it had previously hosted a series of frame structures which had been vacant more often than not. A scale was installed just to the east of the office.
Telephone Directory The Dodge City Telephone Co., December, 1910
Dr. Noble Melencamp purchased the property from Smith and in February of 1925, began construction of a large concrete block and brick building with entrances on both Chestnut and Front Streets.
The Southwest News, February 19, 1925
The building was leased to Southwest Motor Company, which opened that Spring. Their showroom was located on the Chestnut side with a 25-car garage along Front Street. Also, that’s one heckuva typo.
The Southwest News, September 16, 1926
Mark Parkhurst of Greensburg bought the dealership in August of 1927 and remodeled the building at that time for the Dodge City location of Parkhurst Motor Co.
Dodge City Daily Globe, September 24, 1927
This circa-1930 photo was taken from Front Street looking northwest.
Hill later relocated to a spot on Second Avenue and new occupant Gum Motor Co. held their grand opening in the summer of 1937.
Dodge City Daily Globe, August 16, 1937
Davis Electric Co. moved to the building in 1946 after Gum’s new location was completed further west on Chestnut. R. W. Miller also opened a radiator repair business in the old garage area.
Photo: Ford County Historical Society
C. E. Davis sold Davis Electric to the E. S. Cowie Electric Co. in the Spring of 1948.
Dodge City Daily Globe, April 8, 1948
Mullin Furniture opened their Economy Store in the west side of the building in August of 1949.
Dodge City Daily Globe, August 23, 1949
Around 1955, McKinley Automotive moved to the east side in conjunction with Reuben Schleining of Rube’s Electric Company.
Dodge City Daily Globe, July 17, 1956
McKinley and Schleining relocated to East Trail Street in the Fall of 1957.
Dodge City Daily Globe, October 4, 1957
The Mullin store vacated the building around 1958 and it sat empty until Hawley Bros. moved from the former Durr-Meng dealership in the Summer of 1959.
Dodge City Daily Globe, June 30, 1959
After Hawley Bros. relocated around 1966, the property was listed for sale. From that point, the building’s days were numbered. These photos were taken just prior to the block being demolished as part of the Urban Renewal project in 1970. Photos by Joleen Fromm, Ford County Historical Society Troy Robinson Collection
This is how the former site of Parkhurst Motor Co. looks today:
Making a convincing argument that this block looked better in the 1960s would require some serious mental gymnastics. Even though it’s only a roadway with landscaping, the area is obviously much more attractive today. My issue is with the property owners and local officials who allowed it to become a slum in the first place. There are high-traffic properties in this town where the process is repeating. Let’s arrest the decay while the history can still be saved.
If you like what you see, be sure to subscribe (way at the bottom of the post on mobile devices) to receive an email each time a new post is published and share on social media. You can also support my work by donating below. This content is 100% funded by history fanatics such as yourself. Thanks for reading!
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I know what you’re thinking; Hotel Golden was a four-story building. That is correct, but it didn’t start out that way. When I started reading about this building, I saw it had been covered extensively and I wasn’t sure I would have anything new to add. Then I noticed some discrepancies.
Francis Bernard “Frank” Golden owned a jewelry store at the corner of Second and Virginia Streets in Reno plus some very successful mining claims in Tonopah. In March of 1903, Golden announced he had hired architect Morrill J Curtis of Holesworth, Curtis and Co. to design a new three-story brick building to be constructed on the west side of Center Street between Commercial Row and Second Street.
Daily Nevada State Journal, March 17, 1903, 7. Newspapers.com.
Golden wanted a four-story building but there was a debate over whether Reno fire protection was sufficient for that additional level. Plumbing bids were solicited for the Nevada Block in August of 1903.
Daily Nevada State Journal, August 15, 1903, 5. Newspapers.com.
Ground floor spaces were completed first so Golden could begin collecting rent from business owners. Those rooms were ready in early January of 1904 with Vitagraph Theatre Company opening January 16. The Reno Evening Gazette moved to the Nevada Block January 24, 1904.
Reno Evening Gazette, January 24, 1904, 2. Newspapers.com.
The May 1904 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map shows the incomplete three-story brick Nevada Block at 209-221 Center Street. A wooden porch extended along the back of the building. The interior had iron-clad ceilings and wire glass skylights. It was noted that offices and rooms were to be built upstairs.
Other building occupants included Chris Mason’s Coronado Saloon, East Reno Land Company, and the Viavi Company. Workingman’s Friend clothing store opened the morning of October 15, 1904.
Reno Evening Gazette, October 14, 1904, 5. Newspapers.com.
John L Herron and Al North leased the Nevada Block from Frank Golden in December of 1904 so they could open a new establishment called the Hotel Golden. The building was reconfigured with offices on the first floor. Hotel Golden opened February 1, 1905 with 96 rooms boasting electric lights, steam heat, and hot and cold water.
Daily Nevada State Journal, February 2, 1905, 1. Newspapers.com.
In 1906, Hotel Golden claimed to be the largest hotel in Nevada.
City Directory of Reno and Sparks 1906, 171. Published by Barndollar Durley, 21 E. Second Street, Reno, Nevada.
The May 1906 Sanborn still shows a three-story building with commercial spaces on the ground floor. A brick structure for heating had been added between the hotel and the alley.
Plans for a fourth story addition were announced in July of 1906. At the same time, the building was expanded to fill the lots all the way to the alley. This added approximately 100 rooms and 48 bathrooms to the hotel as well as commercial spaces along the alley.
Reno Evening Gazette, July 19, 1906, 8. Newspapers.com
A second contract was let in November of 1906 for an extensive lobby remodeling project, at which time walls were removed where the Golden Grille was previously located to create a “metropolitan” lobby.
The quality of this image is horrendous but I have been unable to locate another photo of this building prior to the fourth-floor addition.
Nevada State Journal, Industrial Section, December 23, 1906, 21. Newspapers.com.
Because the hotel remained open during the expansion, a wooden superstructure was built along the front of the hotel in February of 1907 to protect pedestrians from falling debris as the fourth floor was constructed.
Frank Golden assumed management of the hotel business when Al North relocated to Goldfield in January of 1908. An elevator was installed that March.
Reno Evening Gazette, March 3, 1908, 2. Newspapers.com.
This photo from July 4, 1910 shows the updated four-story Hotel Golden.
[Center Street, Reno on Day of Jeffries and Johnson Fight UNRS-P1992-01-8633.tif collection_1933], Special Collections and University Archives Department, University of Nevada, Reno.
Frank Golden died December 9, 1911 (rather than in 1914 as generally reported) at only 49 years of age. There was another Frank Golden who died in Nevada in 1914 but he was around 60 and was not a man of means.
Nevada State Journal, December 11, 1911, 6. Newspapers.com.
Not that things were going great financially for our Frank at the time of his death. There were some bank failures as well as large mortgages. There was also an outstanding debt to a contractor which seems to have stemmed from a dispute over whether the fourth floor of the hotel was built as per the terms of the contract. First National Bank of San Francisco made a claim for more than $120,000 in early 1912 and it only got uglier from there.
Reno Evening Gazette, March 5, 1912, 1. Newspapers.com.
Widow Mamie L Golden and son, Frank Jr., managed the hotel as the estate went through probate. Mamie attempted to fight the judgment which had been awarded to contractor Eugene Schuler prior to her husband’s death but a sheriff’s sale of the Nevada Block was ordered in February of 1915.
Reno Evening Gazette, February 24, 1915, 8. Newspapers.com.
Reno Evening Gazette, February 24, 1915, 8. Newspapers.com.
Reno Evening Gazette, February 24, 1915, 8. Newspapers.com.
First National Bank of San Francisco redeemed the judgment and took possession of the building, which was then sold to Reno Securities Co. in October of 1915. Former Riverside manager Clarence Farnsworth was announced as manager of the Hotel Golden at that time.
Reno Evening Gazette, October 23, 1915, 1. Newspapers.com.
Reno Evening Gazette, October 23, 1915, 1. Newspapers.com.
Frank Jr. was brought back to manage the hotel in April of 1916 after Farnsworth resigned.
Nevada State Journal, April 9, 1916, 1. Newspapers.com.
A fire gutted the basement and first floor of the Nevada Block on October 11, 1916. Five hotel rooms were “wrecked” on the second floor. The Golden safe went through the floor to the basement and was recovered without damage. Fortunately, no one was injured and the hotel continued operating while management made plans for repairs.
Nevada State Journal, October 12, 1916, 8. Newspapers.com.
A “modern” lobby with tile floors replaced the one gutted in the fire. At that time, the stairs between the lobby and second floor were relocated near the elevator. Previously, the staircase had been just inside the front doors.
W. S. Elliott bought a third of the Hotel Golden in May of 1918 leaving George Wingfield and H. G. Humphery with the other two shares.
Reno Evening Gazette, May 20, 1918, 8. Newspapers.com.
Frank Jr. left for Leon Springs, Texas that June to join the Army Signal Service in World War I. He had raced motorcycles for a few years and became part of the Motorcycle Corps. Charles J Sadleir was hired to replace him.
I can’t get into all of the details about the various expansions into neighboring lots or this thing will never be finished. However, George Wingfield announced the purchase of the old Russ House in January of 1920 with long-term plans for hotel additions. A building permit was issued in September of 1922 and the existing Hotel Golden was remodeled at the same time. The new addition opened in June of 1923.
In the next installment of this three-part series, I’ll discuss Charles Sadleir’s resignation in December of 1924 and his very familiar replacement.
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