1909 — Hotel President Apartments — Mount Vernon, WA - Dated Buildings and Cornerstones on Waymarking.com

In the heart of downtown Mount Vernon, Washington, stands a building rich in history and resilience—now known as the President Apartments. Originally constructed in 1909, it began its life as the Windsor Hotel, a three-story brick structure offering 50 guest rooms, a welcoming lobby, dining room, and bar. Quickly establishing itself as one of the premier accommodations north of Seattle, the hotel expanded in 1922 with the addition of two more stories, doubling its capacity to 100 rooms.

This promising chapter was interrupted on March 23, 1926, when a fire ignited in the basement elevator shaft, devastating the building. Despite the fire’s intensity, all 117 guests were safely evacuated. In a remarkable turn of events, plans for reconstruction began within a week. Architect Thornton F. Doan, who had witnessed the blaze firsthand, generously offered his services free of charge to help rebuild. The new hotel retained parts of the original structure’s north and west walls and was designed in a style that blended Mediterranean Revival interiors—complete with frescoed ceiling beams and ornamented columns—with a cream-painted brick exterior featuring Colonial Revival detailing.

Rechristened the President Hotel, the new building opened its doors on January 8, 1927, with a grand celebration that included a formal dinner and dancing, attended by around 175 guests. Towering over downtown Mount Vernon, it became a landmark not only for its height but also for its elegant design and significance in the community.

By the 1950s, the hotel began a new chapter as its rooms were converted into apartments. In 1995, the Housing Authority of Skagit County took ownership, preserving its role as affordable housing while maintaining commercial space on the ground floor. Today, the building contains nearly 40 residential units and continues to serve the community in a vital way.

In recognition of its historical and architectural importance, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 2010. As the tallest structure in downtown Mount Vernon, the President Apartments stand as a proud reminder of the city’s enduring spirit and evolving story.

Year of construction: 1909 Full inscription: AD 1909 Cross-listed waymark: Not listed

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