PlacesPages: Rainier #14: Bryant Building

Friday, May 2, 2014

Rainier #14: Bryant Building

109 A Street East

Bryant Building on September 5, 2005.

The Bryant Building, better known as the Hotel Rainier, was built after the fire of June 28, 1924 destroyed the old building belonging to Arthur Bryant that was in the same location. Before the fire, the old building housed the Commercial Hotel, operated by Mrs. Arthur Bryant; Bob’s Bargain Center, owned by Robert S. Fishback; the Bungalow Cafe, owned by Charles A. Hitchman; the Rainier Hardware Company owned by Fred J. Tucker; and W. A. Rader’s confectionary.

View of A Street in March 1910, showing buildings that were destroyed in the 1924 fire on the right.
(Michael Clark collection, used with permission)

The new Bryant Building was completed in October 1925 and featured several storefronts on the first floor and the Hotel Rainier on the second floor. The Grand Theatre in the easternmost storefront opened on October 18, 1925. Other original occupants included the Interstate Restaurant and J.W. Wright & Company of Portland. The storefront on the west has been home to the Ol’ Pastime Tavern since around 1938.

Mural depicting the Bryant Building in 1953, showing the Pastime Tavern, Columbia Café, and Rainier Theatre.

The Grand Theatre was renamed the Roseway Theatre on April 7, 1931. On March 18, 1933, the theatre was renamed again to the Rainier Theatre. The theatre went through a number of owners over the years, before closing for good in June 1958.

Related Links:
Rainier Theatre at CinemaTour

This photo of a train running down A Street in the 1980s shows the Bryant Building with the original balcony and a roll-up door over the former theater space.
(Photo by Cliff West)

By the 1950s, the Interstate Cafe space had become the Columbia Cafe. In April 1971, the theatre space became Best Auto Parts. Interestingly, in June 1971, a Western Auto store opened in the former Columbia Cafe space. On November 7, 1977, Sweet Earth Plant Shop opened in the former Western Auto space. Later, the former theater space was occupied by Rainier Appliance for many years until that business moved to the Sammons Building on the highway in 2007.

A Model A Ford in the 2002 Rainier Days in the Park Parade, with the Bryant Building in the background. Rainier Appliance was occupying the former theater space at the time. Note the missing second floor balcony.

The second floor originally had a balcony overlooking the street. The original balcony was removed in the mid-1990s, but the door and the beams that supported it remained in place.

Bryant Building on July 13, 2008.

The building and tavern were purchased in 2008 by Sloan and Jennifer Nelson.

Bryant Building on July 13, 2008.

After purchasing the building in 2008, the Nelsons built a new balcony in place of the original.

New Balcony on July 13, 2008.

The entrance leading to the stairs to the hotel rooms above has been restored. The original home of the Rainier Theatre, which had been Rainier Appliance for many years until that business moved into the former Elam's space on the highway, is now home to Noni's Necessities. The ground floor also houses the offices of the Nelsons' Hometown Property Management.

Restored Hotel Entrance and former theater space occupied by Noni’s Necessities on July 13, 2008.

In the 1990s, a mural was painted on the Hotel's west wall.

Rainier – The River Town mural on September 5, 2005.

The mural, titled "Rainier - The River Town," loosely depicts Rainier in the early 1900s, and was painted by Rainier Elementary School students under the direction of artist Lynn Takata.

Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

The mural was sponsored by the Rainier School District, the Oregon Arts Commission, Artists in Education, the Rainier Elementary PTO and the Rainier Kiwanis, with special thanks to Marie Oberg (who was Rainier Elementary's Librarian at the time) & Esther & Larry Gates.

Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

The mural included several scenes of riverboats and industries that were prevalent in Rainier at the turn of the century including agriculture and a sawmill.

Sternwheeler depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

Sawmill depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

Farm depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

House depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

Old Rainier Fort depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

One of the more interesting items included in the mural is this depiction of Rainier's fort, which has been described as actually being more of a stockade, consisting of logs stood on end to form a wall 40-50 feet high, topped with a sentinel platform, and without a blockhouse as depicted here. It was built around 1858 to serve as a storehouse and to offer protection and defense from Native Americans, though they never posed much of a threat to the residents of Rainier. Rainier was never attacked by Native Americans, and only once early in its history were the town's women and children gathered inside due to concern about an attack that never occurred. The fort was eventually abandoned and all trace of it disappeared in the late 1800s.

Historic Buildings depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

The mural also included depictions of several of the historic buildings in town.

Dibblee House as depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church as depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

United Methodist Church as depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

Pharmacy Building as depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

George Moeck House as depicted in the Rainier – The River Town mural on July 13, 2008.

This mural has since been painted over and was replaced in 2009 with a smaller mural depicting the building as it appeared in 1953. This mural is shown below.

New Mural on July 11, 2009.