195 W Second Street – Reno, Nevada

A small frame dwelling stood at the northeast corner of Second and West Streets at least as far back as 1879. The Woman’s Christian Temperance Union purchased the property from the Chism family and in 1907 created what they called a rest room for people to read and relax. Meals were served and the building was meant to fulfill a variety of charitable purposes in addition to regular organizational business.

Part of the building was renovated to accommodate the Anti-Cigarette League in December of 1911.

One of the WCTU departments was called “Work Among Indians.” Elizabeth Glick of the Baptist Home Missionary Society conducted outreach with local tribes at the WCTU property. One of the events was an annual Christmas dinner. Initially, the attendees were strictly Paiute but Washoe and Shoshone tribes also participated.

This postcard showing members of the Paiute tribe outside the WCTU building was postmarked in 1915.

WCTU relocated to new headquarters in the Chism Flats next door to the east by March of 1918 and leased the property to a variety of tenants. Benjamin Seltzer operated a dying and cleaning business at that location until around 1920, followed by the tailoring shop of Jacob Wolfson.

The house was also used by a file and knife sharpening business as well as a motorcycle and bicycle shop. Harrington Petroleum Corporation opened a service station on the property in June of 1927.

Richfield Oil Company sued Harrington in July of 1927 alleging $1,356 in unpaid merchandise. A judgment was granted that August for $1,656.26 in gold coin and that was the end of that.

Wayne Hinckley Service Station, later Hinckley Tire Service, occupied the corner for nearly 15 years.

Charles Hyde opened Hyde’s Associated Service in the former Hinckley location in the Spring of 1942.

The station changed hands a few more times, ultimately becoming Larry Quarles Associated Service in 1953.

Reno realtor John F Hickok purchased the property in February of 1959 to build a two-story apartment motel, which would be open in time for the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Plans called for 20 units with underground parking. The concrete block construction was extremely plain. Even the sign was about as bare-boned as you could get in that era.

The Olympic experienced the same hardships as its neighbors and was robbed in October of 1973 by a man the manager described as an “over-the-hill hippie.”

Similar incidents continued, sometimes accompanied by acts of violence. In June of 2005, a six-year-old girl was found at the motel in the presence of meth and marijuana. The plumbing in the room was inoperable, causing the unit to be condemned by the health department. Her mother and the mother’s fugitive boyfriend were arrested. A man was beaten, stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver, and robbed in October of 2015.

The property has clearly been heavily renovated and at some point, the “M” on the sign was changed to an “H.” I do not claim to be a hospitality expert but believe me when I tell you this is not, and never has been, a hotel. Apparently, it is also no longer a motel. The property appears to be operating as the Olympic Apartments.

This is how the Olympic looked in September of 2025 with what definitely was not an illegal transaction taking place out front. Just a conversation…stop casting aspersions.

When I initially saw the brutalized sign for this establishment, I thought I would come across some really snazzy mid-century imagery. I mean, it was built for the Olympics! Even when it was new, this property wasn’t winning any beauty contests. The current aesthetic is a bit jarring but if there’s one thing Reno needs, it’s affordable housing.

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