Benton Hotel
a.k.a. Hotel Benton
408 SW Monroe, Corvallis, ORThe Hotel Benton, a seven-story building of reinforced concrete prominently sited adjacent to the courthouse square in downtown Corvallis, Oregon, was built in 1925 for a local corporation headed by Dr. Ralph Bosworth, whose house has been entered into the National Register of Historic Places. L. N. Traver, a local contractor, was the builder, and the architects were Chester A. Houghtaling and Leigh L. Dougan, whose Portland firm of Houghtaling and Dougan produced a number of substantial buildings in 20th-century period styles, including the Elks Temple, Washington High School and Medical Arts Building in Portland and the Civic Center in The Dalles. Of these, the Portland Elks Temple and The Dalles Civic Center are listed in the National Register.
With its formal facade organization, its restrained but unmistakably classical detailing, and its sixth-story window arcade once punctuated with painted spandrel medallions, the hotel embodies the distinctive characteristics of the Italian Renaissance Style--one of a variety of styles based on historic periods popular in the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, Houghtaling and Dougan's Portland Elks Temple of 1923 is perhaps the most richly elaborated example of 20th-century period architecture in the Italian Renaissance style in the state. The Hotel Benton, the largest project of its kind ever undertaken in Corvallis, was accomplished, in part, through public subscription. Like many similar projects up and down the West Coast launched in the early years of the automobile age, it was considered an outstanding civic achievement. The objective of its Kiwanis Club instigators and other backers was to provide a tourist hotel with first-class accommodation and encourage new business. The Hotel was the first in the Benton County seat to be considered fully "fireproof," and it represents an early use of reinforced concrete in Corvallis building construction. As is typical of small-city hotels of this vintage, the beginning of a gradual decline in the hotel's prosperity is marked from the 1950s, following the cancellation of railroad passenger service to Corvallis in the previous decade and the subsequent rise of motels. By the 1960s, the hotel was eclipsed in its original function and some impermanent revision of lobby space for commercial use, modification of ground story shop fronts, and conversion of ballroom space for movie theater use resulted. The hotel is now the subject of a HUD UDAG-assisted rehabilitation for low-income housing and is considered the key to the city's overall downtown revitalization efforts. The Hotel Benton was determined eligible for inclusion in the National Register by the Keeper on September 30, 1981. It possesses integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association with the progressive climate of the early 1920s. The hotel has been significant as the hub of community social life for thirty-five years.
It has been said that of all the commercial developments undertaken by a community, none is more important than a quality hotel. As a financial enterprise, its anticipation of the future needs of the city must meet the exacting demands of the public. Each guest must be received as a prospective citizen. To the merchant guest hoping to expand market territory, the professional anxious to establish a practice, or businessmen hoping for first-hand knowledge of a community, the welcome is generally first extended by a hotel. While the hotel industry has had a long and colorful history in Corvallis, no single establishment received a stronger outpouring of citizen support than the Hotel Benton.
With the first settler appearing in Marysville (Corvallis) in 1846, the community grew rapidly as marked by the docking of the first steamer, Canemah, in 1852. Soon, gold was discovered in California and Southern Oregon with Corvallis being swamped each night with overland travelers. As was the custom at the time, it was necessary to... "keep strangers at any time they appeared, putting them in the attic, woodshed, stable or any place that protected them from the elements."
Corvallis's first hotel, a large wood frame structure named the City Hotel (owned by Dr. J. R. Bayley), was constructed in the late 1850s to act as a stage station, serve famous meals, and service the many overland travelers. An added benefit was realized by the citizens of Corvallis when this establishment housed many nationally famous personages within its rooms. In 1869, George Francis Train while residing at the hotel delighted the citizens with his inexhaustible wit and humor. It was quickly realized that the city had much to gain through the development of quality hotels. Besides the tax and employment considerations, honor could be brought to the city through events staged in hotels offering engagements billing famous personages.
On March 29, 1873, the City Hotel in Corvallis was burned to the ground, and at least one life was lost. The fire, while threatening other establishments in the downtown, was contained to just the hotel. The threat was clear that large wooden structures posed not only a fire hazard to other structures in the community but a safety hazard to citizens' lives.
By 1880, three wood frame hotels were operating on Second Street in Corvallis: the Occidental Hotel (clearly the most important), the Vincent House, and I. J. Haskins. All were of wood frame construction. The Occidental, originally of minor size, grew to prominence with numerous additions only to be consumed by fire after the turn of the century. This three-story hotel had an exterior veranda on each floor, an obvious advantage in viewing the nearby countryside and sternwheelers operating on the Willamette River.
Similarly, the Hotel Corvallis (later named the Julian Hotel after Julian McFadden, a prominent Corvallis attorney and judge) was constructed in 1895 complete with a large wooden viewing platform above the four-story brick hotel. As the first brick hotel in Corvallis, the structure contained a ballroom and a famous dining establishment. By the turn of the century, the building served as an important hotel catering largely to the needs of astute Portland businessmen. Initially, the hotel was rented on weekends and transportation connections were facilitated by sternwheelers operating on the Willamette. With the advent of the automobile, motorcades would loudly announce their arrival from Portland much to the dismay of the local citizens, few of whom owned cars. Slowly, the reputation of the Julian Hotel began to suffer. Soon, clients of "moral standing" would seek hotels in nearby cities thereby fueling numerous Corvallis discussions appraising the need for "quality hotel accommodations."
For discussion purposes, it is important to note the development of a third prominent hotel constructed in Corvallis prior to 1930, namely the Corvallis Hotel (not to be confused with the earlier Hotel Corvallis). The expanding hotel trade associated with the success of Benton Hotel is believed to be the major incentive behind the development of the Corvallis Hotel. The four-story brick building containing a ballroom and restaurant was built in 1928, only three years after the erection of the Benton Hotel. With the decline of the Julian Hotel, Corvallis was once again faced with a lack of quality hotel, banquet, ballroom, and dining facilities. Various community organizations were formed to investigate the tasks surrounding the development of such facilities. As a community-wide endeavor, the proposed name of the hotel reflected the county's pride in the concept, the "Benton Hotel."
Such a development was envisioned as early as 1920. In an article appearing in the July 7, 1920, Corvallis Gazette-Times, reporter J. A. Bexell in travels to the east, related that construction of such a "...hotel marks in a very large degree, the progressiveness of the town". The Kiwanis Club was responsible for the original hotel proposition. In point of fact, the Kiwanis Club was formed to "...do practical work, the first of which would be the erection of a hotel".
Dr. Ralph Lyman Bosworth, the first president of the Kiwanis Club, was clearly the driving force behind the development of the Benton Hotel. Born on September 20, 1890, in Orleans, Nebraska, Dr. Bosworth received his degree in medicine from the University of Colorado in 1912. Having relocated to Corvallis that same year, Dr. Bosworth's most obvious contributions to Corvallis came in the area of medicine. His private practice was almost immediately successful for, "...his ability and devotion to duty gained for him quick recognition and...a large and remunerative practice".
During the period of 1920 to 1950, Dr. Bosworth was a catalyst in the development of a variety of Corvallis issues including political, medical, and commercial enterprises. His tireless efforts resulted in the construction of many of the community's more important buildings. As the founding father of the Central Willamette Medical Society, he was the driving force behind the construction of Corvallis General Hospital. "He worked tirelessly selling the idea to the other local doctors and helping to raise the necessary money"5 resulting in the construction of "Corvallis General... (which) incorporated many modern facilities for the care of patients and at the time was looked upon as one of the finer hospitals on the west coast."
Dr. Bosworth served as Corvallis City Councilman from 1920 to 1923. As a councilman, Bosworth was assigned to the Fire and Water, Sewer, and Health Committees. He was primarily responsible for the passage of a resolution to issue $100,000 worth of bonds for the construction, expansion, repair, and improvement of the water system in the city. Because of the constant threat of fire to the city, Bosworth personally sponsored a resolution for a $10,000 bond to purchase a modern fire engine capable of expelling chemicals because of water shortages in the city during the summer. During his tenure the Council also improved and constructed a number of streets and sewers, resulting in Corvallis being associated with the stature of a "modern" city.
Ralph Bosworth was also very involved with the commercial and economic development of Corvallis. He was director for the Benton County Bank, recently included on the National Register of Historic Places, which also housed the offices of his medical practice. He was responsible for the construction of, "...one of the most modern grocery store buildings in the northwest"7 on the corner of Fifth and Monroe Streets. The building, while substantially altered, still stands. The Bosworth family home, constructed in 1922 by Lou Traver, was recently relocated from 1109 NW 9th St. to 833 NW Buchanan St. in Corvallis to prevent its demolition and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Dr. Bosworth was concerned with many facets of his community. During the period of 1926 to 1937, he served as team doctor for the football and basketball teams at Oregon State Agricultural College (now Oregon State University). He was also involved in the activities of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Dr. Bosworth was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Corvallis Elks Lodge number 1413, the Corvallis Commercial Club, and the Corvallis Golf Club. He was president of the Corvallis Kiwanis Club and later a Kiwanis District Lieutenant Governor. In his community, Dr. Bosworth was referred to as, "a man among men, commanding respect by his innate force as well as by his superior attainments".
The Kiwanis Club, under Dr. Bosworth's direction, formed a corporation entitled "The Corvallis Hotel Corporation" for the purpose of having a legal and responsible body to conduct such business. The stockholders included Dr. Bosworth, Harry Felberbaum, L. N. Traver, Tom Nolan, Bob Hunter, C. E. Ingalls, and Walter Taylor, all as prominent and astute a group of businessmen as Corvallis could offer. A contract was reached with Hottaling and Ferguson, a Portland development firm. This contract would require: The Corvallis Hotel Corporation to raise $135,000 of capital; Hottaling and Ferguson were to furnish $115,000 of which $25,000 was to be their own capital investment, the remainder to be borrowed on a first mortgage, the $135,000 on a second mortgage.
The Corvallis Hotel Corporation came within $15,000 of the $135,000 necessary to make the development materialize. Difficulties arose when "...the remainder could not be raised because of the fact that a number of people would not subscribe so long as the hotel was to be owned by Hottaling and Ferguson " from Portland. A mass meeting was called of the original bond buyers. Because of the strong support of the local citizens in terms of capital requirements, it was realized that a project of such magnitude should be owned by the local constituents. Accordingly, the Benton Hotel Corporation was formed with Hottaling and Ferguson transferring their contract to it.
The Benton Hotel Corporation was composed of Dr. R. L. Bosworth, Arthur Clarke, J. L. Gault, C. H. Woodcock, J. F. Brumbaugh, C. E. Ingalls, and Bob Johnson. With this corporation went the responsibility of letting contracts, authorizing any or all construction changes or additions, securing a new manager for the hotel as well, and raising the additional $25,000 stock that the transfer, ordered by the second mortgage bondholders, made necessary. First mortgage bondholders were expected to provide the additional capital necessary to purchase the $25,000 stock. The net effect of such a transaction was the ability to loan themselves $135,000 on a second mortgage as it was "...scarcely likely that they will permit themselves to foreclose on themselves at any great financial loss".
Various appraisals recognizing the success of the project placed the value of such a development at between $300,000 and $350,000. As a result "...Corvallis people have saved anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000" through construction of the Benton Hotel "...by building this hotel themselves and using local contractors who were interested as much in the success of the enterprise as they were in their own financial gain".
Contractor responsibilities were awarded to Lou Traver with work to commence in August 1924. Since relocating to Corvallis in 1902, Mr. Traver was responsible for the construction of "...more business and private structures than any other person in Corvallis". During the period of 1921 to 1925, he was responsible for the construction of over one and one-half million dollars worth of buildings in Corvallis and at Oregon Agricultural College. Various projects to his credit include the pharmacy building, commerce building, and college science building, all on the Oregon Agricultural College campus, as well as the Elks Temple and numerous private residences. Construction of the Benton Hotel went surprisingly fast, earning him a reputation as a man "...with a vision for the future and an eye for systematic work..."13 Being constructed from virtually all local materials and labor force, the building was described as Corvallis' first "fireproof" structure was officially opened on June 1, 1925.
Formal ceremonies announcing the opening of the hotel were not limited to a local event. Over 50,000 printed announcements in letters sent out by a local committee ensured ". virtually every influential businessman in the state will receive a personal announcement of the hotel opening, a description of the hostelry and some of its and the city's features". On hand for the ceremony were numerous individuals from the Willamette Valley and Oregon as well as representatives from many eastern and southern states. Stockholders were treated to a banquet featuring speakers professing overwhelming support for the city and its accomplishments.
Special consideration was made with respect to interior furnishings and fixtures. Over 2,000 pieces of furniture were installed in the 120-room hotel, all but twenty-three of which contained a bath. Four thousand yards of Axminster carpet were utilized in the upper-story floors and hallways. The lobby floor, while constructed of terrazzo, was carpeted in chenille carpets in plain colors. A large fireplace located off the lobby lounge was capable of seating thirty-five people. Furnishings in the lobby included four, eight-foot Coxwell davenports and numerous highbacked chairs and rockers. Bird cages, ferneries, mirrors, and paintings contributed to the homelike, comfortable atmosphere. Furnishings found in the mezzanine were of the wicker variety trimmed in blue and gold.
Dining facilities are of particular note, as the hotel had a widespread reputation for quality. Capable of seating three hundred, the dining area was complete with French walnut tables and Windsor chairs. White linen and Gorham silverware served to finish each place setting. The kitchen facilities were described as "...the very latest thing in convenience and sanitation", and were designed by kitchen engineers from Nathan Dorman's of San Francisco. All kitchen equipment was constructed entirely of steel and was complete in terms of the latest innovations. A large dishwashing machine capable of washing and sterilizing all dishes, as well as an immense range, refrigeration plant, and special fish storage all contributed to fine dining pleasure at affordable prices. Managerial responsibilities for the new hotel were awarded to A1 Pierce. Mr. Pierce's first experience in hostelry occurred at Grand Haven, Michigan. He was also connected with the fine resort hotels in Grand Rapids and Mt. Clemens, Michigan, for many years. In 1910, Mr. Pierce was retained as manager of the Seward Hotel in Portland, a position he held for ten years. Employment experiences in Portland ended in 1920 when he became manager of the Marion Hotel, in Salem. As past president of Oregon's Hostelry and Hospitality Club, he "...set a precedent for accomplishments that has been recognized by high officials". Locally, Mr. Pierce was a member of the Rotary Club, the Masons, and the Shriners. At the time of his appointment as manager of the Benton Hotel, he was the vice-president of the Oregon State Hotel Association.
It is difficult to measure the impact the Benton Hotel has had on the social, commercial, political, and cultural structure of Corvallis. Being located within one block of the Southern Pacific Railroad station, ten blocks from the university, and in the heart of the commercial core of Corvallis, the building served as host to nearly every conceivable event or convention for over thirty years. At the time of construction, the population of Corvallis had only slightly exceeded eight thousand people. Furthermore, the local economy was somewhat depressed and while other similar communities were content in their respective status quo, the citizens of Corvallis were building what was at the time and still is the largest structure within the commercial district.
The Hotel Benton's contributions to the social life of Corvallis are well documented. Virtually every week between 1925 and 1960, some event of community interest took place at the hotel. As the ballroom could hold approximately three hundred people and since the dining room was clearly the best in the community, all major events were held there. The Commercial Club, which was the predecessor to the Chamber of Commerce, held its regular meetings in the hotel until only recently. Besides the Kiwanis Club, the Rotary Club has been historically one of the most influential groups in Corvallis. Each group has held weekly meetings at the hotel as did the Zonta Club, the local women's club. The Town Club, a social organization, met monthly in formal attire from 1925 to 1960. Dance groups found the ballroom to their advantage, including the Tilicums, a social dance club, as well as the Monads, a formal dance club.
Many college (and later, university) activities took full advantage of the Benton Hotel as well. In particular, all fraternities and sororities held dances in the ballroom. The Thirty-Staters, the original Oregon Agricultural College alumni club, met there on a monthly or weekly basis.
Being situated across from Benton County Courthouse, the hotel had more than a casual role in the area's legal history. From 1925 to 1971, prisoners in the county jail were fed meals prepared by the hotel. Similarly, the sequestering of jurors, sometimes for several weeks as in the case of important murder trials, was accomplished by the Benton Hotel.
Because of its large banquet and ballroom facilities, as well as the quality of its accommodations, the Hotel Benton had the advantage of other local hotels for major events. Conventions sponsored largely by the university as a vehicle for the exchange of ideas were an added benefit to the citizens of Corvallis. Clearly, the Benton Hotel became the outlet for such events as no other local hotels had comparable facilities. Scarcely a month went by from 1920 to 1950 when issues of local, regional, and national importance were not expounded upon through public forums at the hotel.
Athletic events have clearly played an important role in the development of the Benton Hotel as well as the community of Corvallis. As might be imagined in a college town, visiting teams and sports personalities have resided in the Benton Hotel prior to appearances and contests. In October 1943, world heavyweight champion, Joe Lewis, visited the hotel prior to speaking to soldiers stationed in nearby Camp Adair. The sport of basketball was responsible for many changes to the hotel. Because of the large size of many of the players, seven-foot beds were ordered and installed to encourage various athletic departments' business. In 1955, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Western Regional tournament, was held in Corvallis. The finals saw the University of San Francisco, behind center Bill Russell, defeat Oregon State University, 57-56, and go on to win the national title. All teams competing in the tournament were staying at the Benton Hotel. During a post-tournament celebration, chairs were thrown through the many windows, and the police were called to quell the disturbance. Unable to do so, the local priest from the Catholic church held a midnight mass, and order was restored. Subsequently, all the windows in the hotel were replaced with aluminum windows of the casement variety.
Various entertainers including musicians and opera personalities have performed or appeared at the hotel since its opening. Corvallis has had a fondness for the opera as exemplified by numerous Metropolitan Opera events staged in the Benton Hotel or community. A partial list might include Richard Benelli, 1937, Charles Coleman, tenor, 1943, Gene Watson, contralto, 1944, Alexander Kipnis, baritone, 1945, Ann Kaskas, contralto, 1945, and Kirt Baum, tenor, 1948. Other musicians known to stay in the hotel include Vironsky and Babin (1944), duo pianists, and Virginia Morely and Livingston Gearheart (1945). A number of renowned Hollywood and Broadway actors and actresses utilized the hotel during visits to Corvallis, including Mary Astor and Shirley Temple during the 1940s, Will Rogers, Jr. in 1943, and John B. Hughes, a well-known radio and news commentator.
Political organizations were quick to recognize the resources provided by the Benton Hotel. Governor Dewey, a Republican presidential candidate, spoke at the hotel on his swing through the Pacific Northwest in 1948. John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy spoke at the hotel as well as Governor Ronald Reagan. Virtually every Oregon candidate for governor from 1925 to 1960 would either speak at or reside in the "Benton" while politicking in Corvallis. Others of note known to have stopped and spoken at the hotel during the period of 1940 to 1960 include vice-presidential candidate Richard Nixon; Governor John Rocke- feller: Secretary of Agriculture Claude Wickard; and Representative Charles Hallick, Majority Leader of the 80th Congress.
Commercial involvement in the hotel was limited in large part to the first story. First Federal Savings and Loan, now known as Cascade Federal Savings and Loan, operated one of its first and only offices from the hotel. Others known to have operated initially from the hotel include a druggist, beautician, restaurant, and coffee shop.
In 1945, the Benton Hotel was purchased by H. Warren Taylor who sold the structure in 1951 to B. N. Woods. Taylor again purchased the building in 1953 on a partnership basis with Carl Doty. In 1956, Taylor again sold his half interest in the hotel to Cecil C. Bates and William Benson. Over the past twenty years, several individuals have held an ownership interest in the building.
Over the past several years, the hotel has continued to function in its original capacity. However, with the loss of passenger service to the Corvallis depot in the 1940s, the quality of clientele has suffered. Furthermore, the change of transportation attention toward the automobile, requiring parking facilities nearly impossible to obtain, has supported a more residential hotel function. Being in continual service for over fifty years has contributed to the hardships. Extensive rehabilitation is called for to bring back the elegance masked behind post-war partitioning and suspended ceilings. Fortunately, the quality of the "permanence" and soundness so important to the original builders and developers remains, thus satisfying their "...dream of years - a hotel in keeping with the college community in which it stands".
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The first recorded European contact with the region occurred in the 18th century when explorers and fur traders from the Hudson's Bay Company ventured inland. However, it was not until the mid-19th century that significant settlement took place. In 1847, a group of emigrants led by Elijah Bristow arrived in what is now Benton County, establishing Oregon's first non-Native American settlement.
During this period, the Oregon Territory was expanding rapidly, attracting more settlers seeking opportunities for land and a better life. Benton County was officially established on December 23, 1847, and named in honor of Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, known for his support of westward expansion. The county's population grew steadily, especially with the completion of the Oregon Pacific Railroad in 1880, connecting the area to the rest of the state.
Benton County has undergone significant economic and social transformation throughout its history. Agriculture, particularly timber production and farming, played a vital role in the county's development. The fertile soil and favorable climate allowed for the growth of various crops, including wheat, oats, and strawberries. In the mid-20th century, Oregon State University (formerly Oregon Agricultural College) in Corvallis became a major driving force behind the county's economy, as its research and educational programs contributed to technological innovation and industrial diversification.
Today, Benton County continues to thrive as a vibrant and dynamic community. With a focus on sustainability, the county embraces its agricultural heritage while also being a hub for technology and innovation. Home to a diverse population and renowned educational institutions, Benton County remains a place where history, nature, and progress intersect.
Benton County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Benton County, Oregon.
- 1847: The Oregon territorial government creates Benton County.
- 1851: Philomath College, now known as Oregon State University, is established.
- 1862: Corvallis becomes the county seat.
- 1893: The first electric power plant in the county is built in Corvallis.
- 1908: The William Jasper Kerr Research Center, now part of Oregon State University, is founded in Corvallis.
- 1922: The first county library is established in Monroe.
- 1943: Camp Adair, a World War II military training camp, is established near Corvallis.
- 1952: The Greenberry Store, the oldest continually operating store in Oregon, is established in Philomath.
- 2007: The Philomath Frolic and Rodeo celebrates its 60th anniversary.
- 2011: The county commemorates its 150th anniversary with various events and activities.