1904 - 405 1st Street

This building at 405 1st Street was erected in 1904 to house the Farmers & Merchants bank by Dr. Francis Pomeroy, physician and real estate developer. That same year, Pomeroy had a brick warehouse building erected facing F Street at the rear of this building. That building also housed a plumbing business for a time. The wall between the two was opened up around 1916 creating the L-shaped space we see today. 

What was here before? There was a two-story wood-frame building that housed a general merchandise store in 1884. By 1888, J.S. Hull Grocery occupied the ground floor with J.E. Thomas’ photography studio up the stairs on the second floor. Both men lost their business and goods in a fire February 18, 1890. The fire had started in J.F O’Donnell’s building at the corner and quickly spread. As the Cheney Free Press noted:

“The flames spread rapidly, soon enveloping the two-story structure jointly being occupied by J.S. Hull grocery and J.E. Thomas, photographer. Mr. Thomas did not even have time to unlock his studio door as the building first caught along the stairway, thus preventing anyone getting in or out.”

The lot remained empty until 1904 when Dr. Pomeroy’s new one-story brick building was erected.

In July of that year, Farmers & Merchant bank received its new safe and the Cheney Free Press reported on how sturdy and “safe” it was for your money:

“…just received a new manganese steel, burglar proof safe. The safe consists of only two pieces, the door forming one part. It contains a time lock and combination, which can be set for seventy-two hours ahead. The walls are three inches thick and it is practically impossible to make an impression with a drill, even at great pressure.”

Farmers & Merchants moved into the building in October 1904. The Free Press described the building:

“This building is one of the handsomest structures in the city and adds much to the appearance of Main Street. The front contains large plate glass windows and the iron work is oxidized. 

In the interior an iron railing extends clear across the whole room facing Main street and the wood work of the fixtures consists of oak and fir. A fine vault has been erected, which is absolutely fire proof, being two feet in thickness, built of brick and concrete, and having double steel doors. 

When the bank get well settled in its new quarters it will not only have a comfortable and convenient building in which to carry on its business, but will have the advantage of a splendid location as well.”

The bank was here at least through 1910, but by 1915 Pastime Parlors occupied the space and the change of business type—of serving “refreshments” and games continues to this day. Cheney had voted in a local alcohol prohibition in 1910, so Pastime was a billiard parlor which sold soft drinks and tobacco - it was not the sort of place for a woman to be seen in and even a male teacher could be fired for being seen in a billiard parlor. A parlor was also a place that a man living in a rooming house or hotel could buy lunch or a light meal. The entire state of Washington went dry in 1916 and the national prohibition on alcohol went into effect in 1920.

A 1916 map shows the space split between the billiard parlor using the address 403 1st and a small barbershop using 405 1st. That arrangement ended by 1935.

When Prohibition ended at the national and state level, Dallas Lyon, owner of the Pastime since at least 1926, changed the menu and the name. An article in the paper from 1935 noted that Dallas Lyon was reopening May 25th after completing extensive remodeling, noting a new oak floor and a sound proof wall separating the beer parlor from the recreation room. Pastime Billiards was now Pastime Beer Parlor, soon to settle on the name Pastime Tavern. I should note that this location is one of two that housed a tavern called Pastime, we will talk about the other one at 407 1st in another article.

On January 17, 1941, William Lee took over ownership of Dallas Lyon’s tavern and renamed it, Bill’s Tavern. Lee had formerly operated Lee’s Food Shop since coming to Cheney in 1933.

Bill’s son, Francis “Fran”, joined as a partner in 1947. Fran was a Cheney High School graduate of 1939 and served during World War II as an army air corps air transport pilot. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and American Legion, as well as a partner with Dr. Caldwell in establishing the Cheney airport that was located where Salnave Park is today.

Bill Lee retired in 1957. Fran’s son, Dick became a partner in the tavern in 1973 after serving in the Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a 1965 graduate of Cheney High. Fran retired in 1983.

Dick Lee retired in 2006, selling the tavern to Josh Baldwin who remodeled and renamed it Wild Bill’s Longbar. The various remodelings of the building have left only a frame on the sides and upper portion of the original 1904 facade.

Wild Bill’s has changed owners several times, but remains an icon to its namesake Bill, and over 107 years of serving refreshments to its customers.

• Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps 1884, 1888, 1890, 1891, 1897, 1905, 1908, 1916, 1939.
• Cheney Historical Preservation Commission Reports
• Cheney Free Press, various dates
• Cheney phone books 1955 - 2010