SIXTH STREET

     Across the first set of tracks from the corner of 6th and Main is where the railroad depot was located before being moved and remodeled for the Senior Center.  It included a telegraph office until that was discontinued in late 50's or early 60's.  C. W. "Skip" Conner was the telegrapher and station master.  He retired June 1, 1977.  Dan Bolyard: "The day after he retired Burlington Northern closed the depot. The last remaining agency on the whole line from Cheney to Coulee City was at Davenport."  Carol Hipperson: "Skip and Ella Conner were our next-to-next-door neighbors. Growing up, I never knew what he did, except on the weekends during basketball season. He often refereed the games at CCHS."

     On the west side of 6th were three early buildings.   First there were two store fronts, one of which I remember being used as a carpenter shop by someone who had a couple of miniature Dachshunds.  This may have been Leonard Vaughn's carpenter shop.

     Next to the alley was the Grand Hotel, or "Hotel Grand."  Owen Wister was one of its most notable guests.  For information about his visit, including a paper by Robert B. Olafson, who was a professor of English at Eastern Washington University, a link to the Owen Wister papers at the Rocky Mountain Online Archive, and many of Wister's works (my work on that part of the post is unfinished), go to http://cousinsamslibrary.blogspot.com/2011/07/wister-owen-1866-1938.html

     Pictures of the Grand Hotel:

     Before:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/236214836416960/272640036107773/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150336768935143&set=oa.273111046060672&type=1&theater

     Sam Hardt and his wrecking ball:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/236214836416960/272640036107773/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150336769055143&set=oa.273111046060672&type=1&theater

     Rubble consumed by fire:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/236214836416960/272640036107773/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150336769235143&set=oa.273111046060672&type=1&theater

     On the rest of that block is the Blue Top Motel, owned in the 50's and 60's by Harry Miller and his wife.  It was later owned by Larry & Rosemarie Ennen.
     Ad from News-Standard - April 1980 (C.J.: album): http://www.facebook.com/groups/236214836416960/270997512938692/#!/photo.php?fbid=10150302306315143&set=oa.260175237354253&type=1&theater