1919 - Baines Building
Started in 1919, construction of this building was finished in 1920. The building was praised as one of the most modern and up-to-date bank buildings in eastern Washington. Featuring two stories and a full basement, the building is faced with red pressed brick and relieved with terra cotta sills, belt course, cornices, and coping. The Commercial Bank occupied the first floor, with offices on the second floor and the original Okanogan County Abstract Office in the basement.
The Commercial bank building was purchased in June of 1951 by Bill Baines "other grandfather" Harley Heath and has been owned by the family since then. Harley was the owner and publisher of the Okanogan Independent, which was located across Pine Street from the Commercial Bank. It is not known why Harley purchased the building at that time. Bill and Jack Baines first operated Baines Title Company out of the basement of the building in the early 1950's.
In May of 1960 Bill and Bonnie Baines purchased the building and moved Baines Title to its current location on the main floor. The upstairs offices were leased first to the Forest Service and then to attorneys RE Mansfield, James Thomas and Pat Morrissey. Today most of the upstairs offices are used for storage of growing collection of title files. Kirk Hopkins who is the grandson of Bill Baines occupies two of the offices as Hopkins Appraisal Service.
Today, Baines Title Company occupies the entire first floor of the old Commercial Bank and has been expanded into several adjacent building. The business is now owned and operated by Anita Hopkins and is managed by her daughter, Kelly Townsend, who represents the fifth generation of the Baines family to work in the title company.