The Priest River commercial core experienced its most dynamic growth during the period of significance (1912-1924). That period saw construction of new commercial establishments and the retrofitting of existing buildings to accommodate different enterprises. New building construction included Elmer J. Petersen's addition (built, incidentally, of fire-resistant exterior materials) to the Bonner House (since razed), a "
popular hostelry on Main Street" (Priest River Times 1 November 1923):
The new part will set just behind and east of the present building. It will be a two story hollow tile building, 60 x 31, with a one story kitchen, 20 x 20. There will be a large basement for fuel storage and laundry. The ground floor will have sample rooms, wash rooms, living rooms, and kitchen. The second floor will have twelve bedrooms, with hot and cold water in each, making twenty-two bedrooms in all. The building is planned so that it can be added to on the west where the frame part now stands when the growth of the town warrants it.
That same year Mickey Powell who had formerly managed a restaurant in the John Hamberg building on Main Street moved in to the building previously occupied by the Mercantile Company. Powell opened a bakery and specialized in baked goods to order (Priest River Times 18 January 1923, 1). Similarly, the Northern Furniture Exchange opened a "secondhand furniture business in the Mike Presta building formerly occupied by the Star Pool Room" (Priest River Times 2 August 1923, 1). Earlier that year the Star Pool Room was the scene of a sensational "holdup" in which the proprietor, Dominick Naccarato, was "
relieved.... of his watch and $280 in money" (Priest River Times 15 February 1923)
Remodeling activities were also representative of ways in which businesses in the commercial core accommodated to changing consumer demands and trade patterns:
The Bonner Hardware Company is the name of a new firm that will make its bow to the buying public in Priest River early next month. John Hamberg will operate the business in his adjoining buildings on Main Street, recently vacated by the Priest River Hardware Company and Mickey's Cafe. An archway will be opened between the two and the building occupied by the Cafe will be used for a large stock of furniture while the hardware, electrical goods, plumbing supplies, etc., will be handled in the other room
(Priest River Times 18 January 1923, 1).
New technologies also undoubtedly affected consumer product interest by connecting Priest River with regional as well as local influences. By the 1920s, Priest River had received telephone service. In 1923, the Interstate Utilities Companies finished work on "
two new party lines in the Italian Settlement, one with 10 subscribers, and the other with 9" (Priest River Times 11 January 1923, 1). The utility predicted that new subscribers "
will wonder how they ever got along without" the new and modern communications services (Ibid.). The Interstate Telephone Company served Priest River from a brick building located on High Street. The building is presently known as the Office Services Building and is a contributing element within the District.
The epitome of growth and commercial change in the Priest River commercial core culminated with the completion of the "New Beardmore Block" in 1922-1923. The building represented a departure from the vernacular architecture that had characterized the city's core development in preceding years. The design of the Beardmore building reflected architectural styling popular in the early decades of the twentieth century. Decoration was used to distinguish the building as an ornament to the community rather than simply to accommodate utilitarian commercial needs (Longstreth 1987, 37). Often, the analogy was "made between these new commercial 'palaces' and the palaces of merchant princes in Renaissance Italy".
Clearly, Charles W. Beardmore represented something of a twentieth-century merchant prince as he presided over his varied commercial affairs from his suite of offices in his imposing new building located at the corner of Main and High streets. The three-story building was of hollow tile and brick construction, with terra-cotta ornament, including gargoyles, adorning the cornices. The Beardmore Block opened on a severely cold day in December of 1922 (Priest River Times 21 December 1922:1).
However, cold weather and "snow underfoot" failed to detract eager visitors to Priest River's premier commercial establishment:
All day long the place was thronged with visitors inspecting the merchandise and admiring the new building. Souvenirs, calendars, bill folds, thermometers, and lead pencils were given to the visitors and Schillings' coffee was served by a demonstrator during the afternoon.
The Beardmore block was a full-service, remarkably self-contained commercial, professional, and residential establishment. The building housed commercial establishments, professional offices, corporate headquarters, entertainment facilities, and lodging. Commercial businesses mainly occupied the first floor. Those businesses included the Rex Theater, Priest River Hardware Company, general merchandise store owned by Beardmore, the Kaniksu Drug Company, a meat market, barber shop, and assay office. Corporate and professional offices were situated on the second floor. They included the C. W. Beardmore lumber, logging, sawmill, and general merchandise offices; dental and medical doctors' offices; and offices of the Diamond Match Company and the Western Union Life Insurance Company. A spacious lodge room, connected with a banquet room, lit by skylights dominated the center of the second floor. The balance of the second floor of the Beardmore Building consisted of "
seven four and five room apartments, each equipped with an electric range and bath" (Priest River Times 31 May 1923, 10). The local newspaper concluded that the "
building would be a credit to a town may times larger than Priest River".
From the NRHP Registration Form