Baker-Hiatt/Rarey/Morris Building

This building is now known as the Morris Building, named for hardware magnate Alfred L. Morris. The site has had several incarnations. Originally the Baker & Hiatt general store, opened for business in 1897 in the fourth brick building constructed in Wenatchee. With William "Taz" Rarey as manager, the store advertised dry goods, clothing, shoes, groceries, harness and feed. The building had a large back room which served as a meeting and social hall. Emil Frank's Central Meat Market sold fresh and cured meats in the Baker-Hiatt Building for several years; other early tenants included a carriage storage facility, billiards hall, bowling alley, tobacco store and from 1899 to 1922, a post office.

Rarey briefly operated a saloon a few doors north, at 7 South Wenatchee Avenue, before purchasing the Baker-Hiatt, which then became known as the Rarey Building. In The 1914 Polk Directory the Pearl Grocery occupied the building, advertising "The most up-to-date stock of groceries, fruit and vegetables in the city. We give you guaranteed goods and prompt delivery.

Al Morris and his uncle Alfred Z. "A.Z". Wells, who was just 8 years older than Al, came from South Dakota to Wenatchee in 1902. At the time the only hardware store in town was Frank Scheble's, at the corner of Mission and Orondo streets. Morris and Wells purchased the business and within a few months moved to a larger space, a newly constructed two-story brick building at 15 South Wenatchee Avenue. With the rapid increase of the orchard industry and recently completed Highline irrigation canal, the Wenatchee Valley's demand for orchard machinery and irrigation equipment was high. Wells & Morris Hardware thrived until 1914 when the two men dissolved the partnership. Morris kept the store and while Wells developed his and his nephew's large orchard holdings north of Chelan. (Wells later re-entered the hardware business with Jim Wade.)

in 1920 Morris bought the lot at 23 South Wenatchee Avenue, next to the alley, and constructed a three story building. Morris Hardware became Wenatchee's premier hardware store featuring "hardware, galvanized irrigation pipe, sheet metal works, plumbing and supplies, paints, oils, glass, building material, wagons and harnesses." Morris married Mary Steiner, the daughter of prominent Waterville attorney R.S. Steiner, in 1922. Although they had no children of their own, Al was fond of kids. He donated the grounds and money for equipment for the little league park on Cherry Street, and was a major supporter of the Appleatchee Riders Club. A baseball fan, Morris sponsored a team i the town league for several years; the Morris Hardware team won many a championship. Morris leased part of the building to a restaurant and C.J. Breier general merchandise in the late 1920s to late 1930s and to Mode O'Day women's weare from 1938 to the late 1960s. Al Morris passed away in 1968. Around that time the hardware store was dissolved and the Morris Building was modernized with marblecrete and aluminum; Cusick's Inc. was the contractor. It has been the home of many businesses since then, including Berg Furniture, Grant Leather and Saddle Shop, Detwiler's Furniture, The Jewel Box, the Little Art Gallery, Pacific Trails Sportswear, Farmers Home Administration, Catholic Family Services, Columbia Designs, and Coylar's Jewelry. Bob and Audrey Salmon, current owners of the building, remodeled it to restore a more historical appearance.

Polk Directories. Wenatchee, WA. 1907-2006.

Rader, Chris. A. Z. Wells. The Confluence. March 1st 2012.

Rader, Chris. A Block of Downtown Wenatchee. The Confluence. December 1st 2013.