New Redmond Hotel
Introduction
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Built in 1928, the historic New Redmond Hotel building is one of Redmond's most recognized landmarks. It was built by William and Fanny Wilson, who were both originally from Alaska. Hugh Redmond is believed to be the one to have designed the building, which is a good example of a toned down version of the Georgian architectural style. The three-story building features a red-brick facade; a main entrance with a large round arch, windows (one under the arch and two on each side) with elliptical motifs; and a curvilinear parapet at the top of the wall above the entrance. A few businesses occupy the first floor of this hotel. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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The former New Redmond Hotel building is one of the city's largest structures and has remained a vital part of the city's economy. It is now called the SCP Hotel.
Backstory and Context
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William and Fanny Wilson arrived in Redmond in 1905. Both people were from Alaska where they equipped and financed gold prospectors. It is unclear why they settled here in Redmond, but they soon became prominent proponents of the city and it is believed that they even supported Redmond financially during the Great Depression. Construction of their hotel began in August 1927 and was completed in July the next year. The hotel hosted a large grand opening banquet with 350 guests who could take tours of the rooms. The hotel became an important gathering place for the community and contributed to the city's economic stability for many years. It was called the New Redmond Hotel, because it replaced the first hotel of the same name, which was constructed in 1906 and burned down in a fire in 1927.
The Redmond Hotel became a hot spot for travelers passing through Central Oregon. The hotel has had no other purposes besides being a hotel. However, it served temporary purposes like being a temporary home building for the Chamber of Commerce and a bus station since it was located on Highway 97. It is an example that is still alive in Oregon today and one of the few historical places of Georgian architecture. Because of the importance to Redmond history, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The New Redmond Hotel operated for several decades until 2004. It appears it remained unused until the current owners bought it in 2017. After two years of renovation, the SCP Hotel Redmond opened in December 2019. SCP stands for "soul, community, and planet," which reflects the new owner's philosophy of promoting social and personal wellness and environmental sustainability. Despite being under a different name, the hotel is still an important landmark in the town’s history.
Sources
Folsom, Geoff. "Renovated downtown Redmond hotel ready for debut." The Redmond Spokesman. December 3, 2019. https://www.redmondspokesman.com/news/renovated-downtown-redmond-hotel-ready-for-debut/article_088f449e-12d7-11ea-8492-976740ecd236.html.
Gungura, Betty Jo Fowler & Deitch, Thomas W. "New Redmond Hotel." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. October 28, 1980. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/45696b26-3c8e-4ace-869e-dc98d53ac3c1.
"Historic New Redmond Hotel reopens Dec. 6 after 2-year renovation." KTVZ. November 21, 2019. https://ktvz.com/news/redmond/2019/11/21/historic-new-redmond-hotel-reopens-dec-6-after-2-year-renovation.
Ian Poellet, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Redmond_Hotel_-_Redmond_Oregon.jpg