Friends of The Saratoga Hotel, Caldwell, Idaho

JTR Collection

I had an email exchange this past week with a fella named Bert from Caldwell, ID. Bert has this cokamany idea about rebuilding the historic Saratoga Hotel that burned down in 1990. Crazy? Maybe. Seems a little far fetched but can't say as I haven't dreamed of seeing the Saratoga's resurrected across from the Steunenberg Block building on the corner of 7th & Main. It seems Bert even has a Facebook page going to support the idea. Check it out and make a comment. Click "Friends of the Saratoga" on the Facebook link below.

Friends of The Saratoga mentioned you in a comment. Friends of The Saratoga wrote: "Welcome aboard John T. Richards Jr., thank you for chiming in and for giving us some inspiration through your writing and passion for our history."

Below is a excerpt from my trip to Boise and Caldwell for the Premier of Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century at the Egyptian Theater on November 7th, 2007. Just happens I was sitting upstairs in the then Acapulco Restaurant that occupied the top floor of the Caldwell Bank & Trust building where my great grandfather Frank Steunenberg had his office. Here I am dreaming too as I gaze out the widow imagining Frank doing the same and the Saratoga right where it use to be across the street.

John imagining the Saratoga.

"For dinner Caley and I headed for the Caldwell Bank and Trust. Well not a bank anymore and the arches and nice brick work were long ago covered. It is now home to the Acapulco restaurant. The bank makes up part of the Steunenberg Block. We wanted Mexican food and this proved to be a good stop to feed both the historical and hunger needs. The downstairs where the bank was located remains vacant, hopefully the future home of a thriving business as efforts to revitalize old Caldwell and complete the Indian Creek project continues. I have an old cabinet photo of the inside of the bank with AK Steunenberg standing at the cashier’s window. It is hard to picture it now, but it looks like the original ceiling remains in tact. Upstairs in the restaurant is where Frank Steunenberg had his office and would have sat surveying the then major intersection of activity in a growing Caldwell. As we sat in the window booth staring out, I imagined the Saratoga Hotel still across the street (regrettably burned down in 1990) and Harry Orchard watching out the window from room #19 in December of 1905 with a clear view of the Governor’s office."

Caldwell Bank & Trust on the left and Saratoga Hotel on the right along with the Caldwell Band. Library of Congress.

The link below from Google maps shows the corner today where the Saratoga had been located. Click on "view larger map" and pivot the street view around to view all four corners and the train station. Nice parking lot.

View Larger Map
Just remember Bert, I have sat upstairs in the Caldwell Bank building where my great grandfather Frank Steunenberg had his office. If you ever get the Saratoga rebuilt, I would like to sit by the window there too and am putting in my reservation now for room #19 where Harry Orchard stayed while keeping his evil eyes on the governor's movements and planning his dastardly deed. I never got to do that before the Saratoga burned down. Sounds pretty crazy I know, but I like to retrace the footsteps of history as close as possible. A couple guys can always dream—can't they?

I will keep following the Indian Creek red brick road and see if it ever again leads to a Saratoga Hotel in Caldwell or just to a parking lot on an empty corner. 

Related blog posts & other links:
Monday, January 28, 2013
7th Avenue, Caldwell, Idaho pre-1906

Saturday, July 25, 2009
Caldwell Commercial Bank/Bank & Trust Co. 

Saturday, July 2, 2011
7th & Main Street Caldwell, Idaho - Panorama

Friday, August 1, 2008
Automatic Teller Bank from the Caldwell Banking & Trust Co. Ltd.

Saratoga Hotel (after the third floor was added)

Assassination: Idaho's Trial of the Century (IPTV website).

Teaser: Coming soon—a few pieces of Saratoga Hotel souvenir china. I might even part with a couple if I can ever find the Saratoga Hotel again. 

7th & Main Street Caldwell, Idaho - Panorama

You have probably seen this familiar view on the blog before of the Caldwell Banking & Trust Company. Here is another of the 100+ year old postcards I recently picked up. They seem harder to find in recent years so I am happy to get an extra.

This particular card is postmarked Caldwell, Idaho April 10, 1906, a little over three months after the assassination of Governor Steunenberg. Along the side is written the message: "4/2/06 where I am today and will leave my surplus coin here." Click here to see the Automatic Teller and read more about saving your coins at the Caldwell Bank.

To go along with the above, I found this more rare double panorama card of the intersection at 7th and Main Street in Caldwell, Idaho. It is a printed and colored version patterned after the panorama photographs (here is one of Caldwell) that were popular in their day. I don't believe a lot of double cards were made due to the difficulty with mailing and most ended up separating or torn in half on the fold. First lesson of archiving, if you have a newspaper, post card or document that is folded, get it unfolded, flat and protected ASAP. This one has a weak fold with some slight separation but still holding pretty well. It was mailed to me...folded! Never again.

Click on the photos for enlarged views.

On the far left we get a peek of the 7th Street side of the Bank & Trust, going to the right we see the City Hall at what was then the far end of 7th Street, the Saratoga Hotel before the top floor addition was added, an Interurban car making its stop in front of the hotel and I believe what would be the Masonic building on the far right. Someone correct me if I am wrong. At the opposite end of 7th Street from the City Hall would be the Old Train Station where it still sits today after a bit of restoration and refurbishing.

In addition to those cited above, you may remember a number of other blog posts related to this historic Caldwell, Idaho intersection.

7th and Main Street - Caldwell, ID

"Caldwell Commercial Bank, Caldwell, Idaho"

Caldwell Banking & Trust Co.

"Interurban cars running through Main Street of Caldwell"

7th Avenue, Caldwell, ID pre 1906

Here is an early real photo postcard from the undivided back era (1901-1907). There is no writing, postmark or stamp. On the back is a one cent stamp box.

We are looking West down 7th Avenue toward the intersection with Main Street in Caldwell, ID. The Blaine Street intersection would be to the East behind the photographer and in 1907 would become the site of the new Caldwell City Hall. Feel free to straighten me out if I got it wrong or to comment with additional information.

Up on the right at the street corner of 7th Avenue and Main Street we can see the brick facade of the Caldwell Bank & Trust and across Main on the same side is the I.O.O.F. brick building that housed various businesses over the years. On  the opposite left corner is the Saratoga Hotel identified by its steeples.

Here is the same view today about as close as I can get it on Goggle Street view. Takes a minute to upload sometimes.

View Larger Map

" As the governor crossed Seventh Avenue, he approached the pale cream facade of the Saratoga Hotel, Caldwell's principal hostelry, the fulcrum of its social life." —Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas

If we enlarge the photo, we can see the Herr Clothing store nearest on the right (J. F. Herr Clothing Co). A man is squatting down as he appears to be working on a sign at the edge of the street with advertising for the store.

In the distance (West down 7th Avenue) we see what I believe is the Union Pacific Railroad water tank along with a small building to the right facing the train tracks.The railroad had reached Caldwell in 1883 but the station we know today was not constructed until 1906 at the site of this tank. The Pacific Hotel, built by the Union Pacific Railroad, was just to the left of the water tank but I don't see it here—at least not all of it. According to Early Caldwell Through Photographs, the Pacific Hotel was cut in half and moved to 115 North Kimball. When exactly that occurred I do not know. I am guessing it had been moved by the time of this photograph—with the Saratoga having now been built across the street. To the left of the tower, but on the East side of the tracks, is I believe a peek of the roof line and chimney of the older depot (or perhaps a section of the Pacific Hotel?) soon to be torn down in favor of the brick building we know today.

In the 2012 Cavalcade, a similar but slightly later photograph shows 7th Avenue after the train depot has been erected and compares it to a contemporary view.
7th Avenue - Idaho Press-Tribune: Cavalcade

Real photographs of Caldwell, ID pre-1906 seem to be few and far between. I am always looking for items from that period that show the same view as would have been seen by Governor Steunenberg during his many walks up and down 7th and Main to the Saratoga and the Caldwell Bank before he was murdered.

Frank sighting in this photo postcard? What appears to be a rather large figure with hat and a full length coat standing on the corner directly in front of the Caldwell Bank & Trust. Frank would have been at the bank and back and forth to his office there on almost a daily basis.

"It wasn't so much of his size that made people cock an eye at the governor; it was the way the weight was distributed, much of it packed around his stubby neck and sloping shoulders, then again just above his belt. A long swatch of auburn hair was invariably plastered flat across the right forehead. The cumulative picture of awkward dishevelment gave many people the feeling there was something 'a little bit different' about Frank. One amicable commentator said he was 'a fit subject for  portrait by Rembrandt.' Another thought he had 'the face of a Roman Senator,' but not the heroic features of Marcus Antonius, more the slightly cockeyed visage of Popilius Lena. A friend fondly remarked, 'He didn't have so many peculiarities, but those he did have, he hugged very close to him.'" —Big Trouble by J. Anthony Lukas

May Day Parade in Caldwell, Idaho circa 1906-1910?

For a mere few bucks, I purchased this nice old photo taken in Caldwell, Idaho, perhaps circa 1906-1910. The location is near the intersection of 7th & Main Streets. We see the Saratoga Hotel with a crowd of parade watchers on the balcony over the entryway and to the left across the street we get a peek of the Caldwell Bank & Trust. 

The photo looks to be from one of the many parades that took place down Main Street—but which one and when? Let's take a closer look. We see Main Street is still dirt but the interurban tracks are in evidence which would take us to about 1907.

Who is Dr. M. Nichter, Veterinary Surgeon? I have not found much of anything on this gentleman nor spotted any other photos in Early Caldwell Through Photographs, Canyon County A Treasure of Land and Its People (V. 1&2) or the Nichter name in any of various Idaho reference books. Help me out here if you can. Thanks to Jenny, the friendly seller of this photo, we do have a couple more clues. It seems Dr. Nichter crossed paths with Jenny's Great Uncle Walter. Here's her description of their connection:

"Offered for sale is a vintage PHOTOGRAPH by Hildreth Studios Caldwell, Ida. I am including copies of census records and other documents pertaining to the man in the photo. He is in a parade (note people watching from balcony) driving a wagon with 2 horses and advertising DR. M. NICHTER VETERINARY SURGEON.  Mr. Nichter, whose parents were born in Germany, is wearing a dashing black top hat. Matt Nichter was born in about 1872 in Indiana and remained there until after the 1900 census where he is found in Wea, Tippecanoe, Indiana where his occupation is listed as a "Horse Trader". It must have been about this time that he met my Great Uncle, Walter Dispannett, also from a family of horse traders. Walter drove his first harness race in 1907 at the age of 21. By 1910, Mr. Nichter had moved west and was living in Caldwell Ward 2, Canyon County, Idaho and listed his occupation as a "Vet Surgeon". He married April 7, 1919 to May Sullivan in Payette, Idaho but by 1920, she is no longer in the picture as he is listed as a boarder in the James Sively household on Blain Street in Caldwell, Idaho. On various census's, he is listed as a widower and divorced so I don't know what happened to May. After 1920, he moves to the State of Washington where he appears on the census records in 1930 and 1940 in Yakima County. He dies in Yakima, Washington October 2, 1944 at the age of 72. This information led me to assume this picture was taken while he still lived in Idaho between his arrival in Idaho after the 1900 census and his leaving before the 1930 census. He must have sent it to his old pal, Walt Dispannett, as he came from items I inherited from Great Uncle Walter. Please examine the photos and ask questions before bidding. It may be that a local historian in Caldwell may be able to date the photo exactly from town records of when the parade took place."—Jenny

On that 2nd floor outdoor balcony over the Saratoga entrance we see a party of onlookers. Anyone you know? I don't see any Steunenberg's. Although pretty obvious, we know this photo is at least pre-1923 as the remodeling and 3rd floor addition to the Saratoga has not yet been done.

Well here's a clue. To the immediate right of the Saratoga entrance, we see the business is a "Barber Shop" as indicated on the window and by a barber pole to the right. I believe the storefront was once the Caldwell Forwarding Company office and later H.H. Jones Furniture & Undertaking but not sure the time period. In the window, but difficult to make out, is a advertising poster. The first three lines are something like: "Watch May Day, .....on 1, May, Caldwell Idaho" or similar. So I am figuring this is in fact a May 1st—May Day Parade but don't yet know the exact year.

Over to the left we get just a peek of the Caldwell Bank & Trust and maybe someone will recognize this fella standing in the crowd. I see a couple shadows in the windows of the bank but probably not Frank, as I am guessing this photo is post assassination but perhaps around the time of the Haywood trial. Frank's brother, A.K. Steunenberg, may have passed away already too.

The photo is by Hildreth Studio of Caldwell, IDA. I have seen the same name and logo but searching for specifics on the photographer and when the studio existed.

As I just received the photograph today, I have barely begun to search Idaho records but maybe someone out there can add to the information so far. If you have more clues or knowledge about this photo please let us know. You can click on comments or send an email to: john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net 

Caldwell Idaho and surrounding areas

From an old, non family, photograph album I recently purchased on eBay. No doubt a couple of fellow Caldwell fans out there are not happy with me as the bidding was spirited but not too pricey. I will always get items posted on here for all to see anyway. I just received the album and am scanning the pages this morning and posting without additional information or further research. Information and more photos will be added from time to time. All the pages with photos were already detached so I am getting them into archival covers. Most of the pages in the album were unused. The photos measure in the 2 1/2" by 1 3/4" to 2 3/4" by 4" range and are glued to the pages. Some of the images of buildings around town are well known already. Others have appeared as postcards. I will probably be updating and adding some individual images as I get the chance. Let me know if you recognize the homes, family, etc. Feel free to school me.

Know any of these Caldwell folks?

A piece of the Steunenberg house being moved?  Doubtful but the scene might have been similar. Gotta love those early steam engine tractors. They could pull a house!

We know all the places shown above & below...or do we?  Many are labeled. Take a guess at the others & email or comment. I have posted a couple of them already.

Looking at the intersection of 7th & Main. Of course that is the Caldwell Bank & Trust/Steunenberg block on the left, City Hall in the distance, Saratoga hotel on the right and, as indicated, the photo was taken from the train depot. Goggle street view today. City Hall and the Saratoga long gone. Steunenberg block and Train Depot remain. Below another bridge shot from the same page. I know a couple guys out there are bridge afectionados like I am.

And above we see the interurban depot at 501 Main St. Same building at this Google map link. 
Facade has changed but still has the chimney.

Someones kinfolk?

I do like these WWI vintage tanks. Looks like the town turned out for the show.

 Now that looks like a fun ride...as long as you don't fall in front of the tank!

Please feel free to email me at john.t.richards@sbcglobal.net or click on comments below to add information.

This photo of the Carnegie Library in Caldwell posted for Patricia. Click on comments below.

Click here where I found this photo for more on the Carnegie Library.
And here is a Google map view today at 1101 Cleveland Blvd., Caldwell. I had to go around the corner to 11th street to get around those two trees still out front. 

More Main Street, Caldwell, Idaho

Here is a recent real photo post card I acquired with a view down Main Street, Caldwell, Idaho. I would say circa 1905-08. The photo was incorrectly described by the seller as Nampa, ID. That didn't fool a handful of us Caldwell collectors who pursued it in a spirited manner!  I am going to put a few pics up here without too much commentary. You can find quite a bit on this blog about 7th and Main or just click here for a sample search.

Looking down Main Street toward the intersection with 7th Street. 

Interurban coming up Main Street

Looks like an early car parked on the street. Maybe Walter Sebree's down near where I believe the First National Bank was located and he was President? Here is an excerpt from an article appearing 1/18/15 in the Idaho Statesman written by historian Arthur Hart. Click here for the full article. 

It was the wealthier and more adventuresome citizens who bought the first cars, and the Idaho Statesman reported regularly on their exploits. On Jan. 2, 1904, under the headline "SWELL AUTO" came this: "Walter Sebree came over from Caldwell yesterday in his new automobile, covering the distance in about two hours. The car is a handsome vehicle of considerable size and good lines. It attracted much attention as it stood on Eighth Street." Fast runs between towns were reported regularly that year, as when E.H. Dewey and L.C. Van Riper came over to Boise from Nampa in an hour and 10 minutes. (These "fast runs" averaged about 12.5 miles per hour.)

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/18/3597595/the-first-decade-of-the-auto-in.html#storylink=cpy

Saratoga Hotel on the right with the Caldwell Bank & Trust/Steunenberg Block on the opposite corner across 7th Street.

More Early Caldwell, Idaho

Here are two Albumen Photos of Caldwell along with various detail scans. I will probably add a few more scans as I enlarge and study the photos. Let me know if anything particular you want me to zoom in on. The originals are about 8" x 10".

First photo shows the Western Bank Building circa 1906. ©JTR

Click here for Google street view today (we sure know how to ruin a nice building). Bottom floor left to right I see the following signs/window lettering: The Scenic, Rooms, Idaho Meat Co., Western Nation Bank, United States Depository, Pressary Clothes? (basement level), Meranda The Tailor, Dentist (can't make out the name) and The Ragket Store.

Top floor left to right: Walter Griffiths Lawyer, in the tower window I see a lady with one of those big hats of the period, Griffiths & Griffiths Law Office and *A Griffiths Lawyer (they seem to have a big chunk of the upstairs) and of course the kids out front.

The second photograph (below) is looking down a muddy Main St. from about Main & Kimball.

 Click here for Google street view today. ©JTR

"T.K. Little bought the building in 1899 and added a second floor and the flat-topped corner tower."

Quote from Early Caldwell Through Photographs.

Steunenberg Block can been seen on the left along with the Saratoga Hotel at the intersection of 7th and Main. The train station would be to your right down 7th. Interurban coming at you. ©JTR
Click here for Google street view.

Steunenberg building left and Saratoga Hotel with the cone tower on the opposite corner of 7th St.