Ramblin Around Town - Eugene

Eugene Oregon is my home Ramblin range. I am Eastern Oregon born & Bred but have been here for a quarter of century now and love most of what Home has to offer.

Courtesy of University of Oregon Libraries

I really love the history of the city and wish more of it had been saved. Unfortunately most of our downtown core has been lost to Urban Renewal.  One place that was spared however is the Smeede Hotel building. Located at 767 Willamette Street, this Italianate style structure designed by George H. Park,  is the oldest  commercial building left to the city. Built in 1885 as the Baker Hotel in 1892 it became the Hotel Eugene and then the Hotel Smeede in 1907. In 1914 it was renamed again as The Smeede Hotel. The Hotel Smeede ghost sign on the north side of the structure dates from some time between 1907 and the 1914 renaming of the hotel.

As the only 19th century structure that remains in the downtown area of Eugene it really is a jewel and realization of this led to the sites addition to the National Historic Register in 1974.

Courtesy of University of Oregon Libraries