Enterprise Mercantile and Milling Company Building

The Enterprise Mercantile and Milling Company was established in the late 1880s by investors who bought another company with a similar name called the Island City Mercantile & Milling Company. EM&M operated a general store and flour mill, which processed much of the wheat produced by area farmers. The general store sold groceries, dry goods, hardware, and farming equipment. EM&M sold lumber, grain, and hay as well. In the years leading up to 1916 the city's economy was thriving, which prompted the owners of the company to construct the new building. America's entry into World War I stalled its completion until 1922. However, when it was finished, it was considered the biggest mercantile business in the region.

Unfortunately, the store did not do well despite selling the latest goods and farm equipment. This coincided with the weakening of the local economy as businesses closed and the timber and agricultural industries declined. As a result, in 1924 the company sold the flour mill to help pay off its debt but this was not enough. The store was forced to close in 1925 and never reopened. The city acquired the building in 1934 and in 1935 decided to renovate into affordable apartments for those who lost their homes because of the Great Depression. Renovation work was finished in 1939 and the city sold the building to a local rancher, who later sold it 1941 to another rancher, Donel E. Courtney. He renamed the building Courtney Apartments. The next owners, Kelsay and Floris Berland, bought the building in 1949 and changed the name to the Berland Apartments. The Berlands owned the old building until 1972. The company that owns the building today, EM&M Associates, acquired it 2008.

Dickerson, Elane. "Historic EM&M building getting facelift." Wallow County Chieftan. September 20, 2011. Last Updated December 13, 2018. https://www.wallowa.com/news/historic-em-m-building-getting-facelift/article_e046d1fb-07a2-5b2f-b772-e1659d60aabe.html.

Donovan-Boyd, Adrienne & Donovan, Sally. "Enterprise Mercantile and Milling Company Building." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 7, 2012. https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OR/12000084.pdf.