This is Floyd Wynne with THE VIEW FROM HERE.

           The Baldwin Hotel comes into its’ own this weekend.

           This museum is a great unpublicized memento of the way things were in Klamath Falls many many years ago.

Back in 1903 George Baldwin operated a hardware store in a building known as the aouw structure….which is still standing next to the Baldwin.

He decided to build a structure that would house his store as well as room for other businesses.

He made a deal with Major Worden in which he gave him a warehouse located near the bridge across Link River in return for the lot next to his AOUW building plus $1500.    He then paid $3,000 for a Portland architect to design the structure.

Work began on the four and a half story building in December of 1904.

It was to rank along with two other large buildings….the Klamath County School building and the Central School down on Main Street.

Construction work went on throughout 1905 and while the actual opening date is not known...it was in early 1906.   It cost about $20,000 and was made of Klamath County brick. 

Among the early occupants, besides the Main floor hardware store was the Inland Empire Club which was the forerunner of the current Chamber of Commerce.

The history of the hotel and its list of owners will be part of the celebration beginning Friday night with a Centennial banquet at the Baldwin including live music and an  address by OIT President Martha Anne Dow.

Following the Saturday Century Days Parade down Main Street...there will be a ribbon cutting at the Baldwin at noon….with an open house at the Baldwin until 5 p.m. 

Back in 1978 I was a member of the County Board of Commissioners when the future of the Baldwin was up in the air.  A Salem firm had offered to buy the building and reportedly to take the contents to Salem and demolish the structure. 

Bertha Hultsman, a teacher, had launched a fund raising effort to save the Baldwin, but it hadn’t been too supported.  Along with Commissioners Nell Kuonen and Alvin Cheyne it was decided that the building must be

saved.

           Going through budget procedures would have taken considerable time and at the moment time was essential.

           All three of us agreed that we could use some of our Revenue Sharing funds to purchase the hotel…..which we promptly did.  I still have a plaque dated June 7, 1978…..given to each of us with a chunk of the Baldwin in appreciation for our action.

I can remember my first visit there….I was amazed….It was like stepping back into the early 1920s with most rooms intact.   I remember that we appointed Harry Drew as Museum Curator….his crew inventoried everything in the Baldwin…...it’s all there today….and as I said….it’s one of the most unpublicized museum sites in the city.   It has to be seen to be really appreciated….and this weekend is an excellent time to do just that.

One hundred years old…….still a great historical structure.

This is Floyd Wynne and that’s  The View From Here.