Soo Hotel

The Soo Hotel is significant for its association with its builder and long-time owner, Edward G. Patterson (1866-1954), one of Bismarck's early businessmen and a political figure of some importance, and its architect, Milton Earl Beebe (1840-19??), one of the leading architects practicing in North Dakota around the turn of the century. Its construction methodology of poured reinforced concrete and cement blocks is also of some significance in that those building techniques were very new to Bismarck and central North Dakota in 1906.

Edward G. Patterson arrived in Bismarck in 1882 at the age of 16. He ventured into the hotel business in 1893 by leasing the three-story frame Sheridan House, the town's largest and most important hostelry. Owned by the Northern Pacific Railroad and then located adjacent to its tracks, the Sheridan served as the unofficial political headquarters in Bismarck after the capitol was moved here in 1883. In 1899-1900 it was moved a half-block east to make room for a new railroad depot and after remodeling and veneering with brick was reopened as the Northwest Hotel with Edward Patterson in charge.

Soon after 1900, Patterson began acquiring property across from the Northwest Hotel, on and adjacent to the northwest corner of Main and Fifth Streets. In 1905 he built the Patterson Block (listed on the National Register of Historic Places, October 22, 1982) facing onto Main Street and the following year erected the Soo Hotel around the corner on Fifth. During 1910-1l he built the seven-story McKenzie Hotel on the corner lots and in 1916 completed his holdings with a two-story addition connecting the McKenzie Hotel and Patterson Block. (The McKenzie became the Patterson Hotel in 1927 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, on December 8, 1976).

From the mid-1890s Patterson was a force to reckon with in local politics. Bismarck's old Fourth Ward (the southeast portion of town) was a district of working-class people and small homes and as its Alderman, Ed Patterson was their champion. His first wife, Agatha, was also well known for her philanthropies in the district and eventually was appointed Bismarck postmaster during the McKinley and Roosevelt administrations.

Patterson's political success brought him into close contact with Alexander McKenzie, known for years as the Political Boss of North Dakota, and he became known as one of McKenzie's most trusted lieutenants. The two also became close personal friends and McKenzie appears to have been a silent partner in many Patterson business enterprises, including the McKenzie Hotel. Over a period of more than a quarter century, Patterson served in a variety of political positions, both elective and by appointment. He was Bismarck's mayor from 1896-1902, city councilman (1902-09) and city commissioner (1911-15); and Burleigh County Commissioner (1906-26), serving as chairman of the latter body much of the time. He was also a member of the State Penitentiary and State Pardons Boards, where he was a strong advocate of work-release programs and often provided jobs to former inmates. He was a staunch and lifelong member of the Republican Party.