The view is from just above the foot of Washington, on the west side of the street opposite the north end of the old Bank of Montreal Building.
In the foreground on the right are three buildings, all of which were originally built as hotels. First is the
Collins House, built in 1898, followed by the
Hoffman House, which was built prior to 1898 and was considered the finest hotel in the area at the time. The Hoffman House and the Collins House were later connected and became known as Wise’s Hardware Store for many years. Separated again, the are now home to several small businesses.
The third building on the right is the third hotel, the
Bodega Hotel, constructed between 1896 and 1898. The next building after the bodega is under construction as the photo is taken. It and the next building, a vacant lot in the photo, still stand, but the final two in the row have been since replaced.
The second building on the left in the contemporary photo, blue with bow windows on the upper floor, was originally built as a liquor store and probably a tobacconist as well, in 1986. It can't be made out in the 1900 photo.
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