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A Short History of the Idaho Hotel
After rich gold and silver deposits were discovered in the Owyhee
Mountains of southwestern Idaho, dozens of mining camps sprang into existence;
one being Ruby City, where the Idaho Hotel was originally established
in 1863. In July of 1866 a large three-story wing was added. However,
that same year Ruby City lost the county seat to its two-year-old rival,
Silver City, a mile up Jordan Creek. Soon, many homes and store buildings
were moved from Ruby City to Silver City in order to capitalize on the
business generated in the new county seat. Later that year, the hotel's
new wing was dismantled, loaded piece-by-piece onto sleds and skids,
and pulled up the snow and ice covered road by oxen to its new site in
Silver City. It was reassembled, and a three-story addition was built,
the frozen-fingered carpenters finishing in time for the owners to host
a 'first-class' Christmas Eve Ball. Spring water was piped to the hotel
by 1868. A bar room and 'piazza' were added in 1871. A commodious new
kitchen was built in the basement 'containing all the modern improvements
and conveniences', and a 'new set of bathrooms were built so that hot
or cold baths could be had at all hours everyday. The bar room was 'ornamented
with the costliest and handsomest mirror ever brought to Silver City' in 1874, all of the interior
woodwork was hand-grained in 1882, and a billiards parlor-gambling room was added
in 1889. In front of the icehouse, 'A fine stone cellar' for storage of food and drink was completed
in 1890. A five-story addition containing a new dining room with two
stories of bedrooms above was finished in 1898, and a storage tunnel
connecting the cellar with a mine tunnel beneath the street in front
of the hotel was excavated in 1901. Numerous businesses had offices in
the hotel through the years: stagecoach lines, telegraph and telephone
companies, doctors, dentists, lawyers and a jeweler.A 'sample room' provided
display space for the wares of visiting salesmen called 'drummers'. A
great many functions were held in the hotel, including balls, weddings,
funerals, musicals, literary club meetings, socials and banquets.
Functions of an 'unsocial nature' also occurred ,mostly in the form of verbal altercations,
fistfights and shootings, the most famous of which was the fatal J. Marion
Moore - Samuel Lockhart shooting that occurred in front of the hotel
in 1868. The hotel was closed around 1942, then fell into disrepair.
In the spring of 1972, Edward Jagels purchased the building and the creaking
old front doors once more swung open for business. The Idaho Hotel became
Ed's personal crusade and he dedicated the rest of his life, nearly 30
years, to restoring this grand hotel and preserving it's place in history.
The hotel was sold again to its current owners in 2001. Their dream is
to continue Ed's legacy and preserve the old hotel as he had intended
for future generations to enjoy. Many sections are still closed to the
public though, as they have yet to be restored.
Phone/Text Message 1-208-941-1119
email: silvercity-idahohotel@outlook.com
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