Last tour planned of Downtown Hotel in Port Angeles

PORT ANGELES — Soroptimist International of Port Angeles-Jet Set will host a final look at the inside of the Downtown Hotel from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

The Downtown Hotel, at 101½ E. Front St., will close Monday in preparation for demolition later this fall.

Admission to the tour will be by donation. Proceeds will support the Soroptimist Scholarship Fund.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The D.W. Morse Building, which houses the Downtown Hotel, was built in 1913, according to historian John McNutt.

It also housed the Cornerhouse Restaurant, which closed Aug. 23 in anticipation of demolition.

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe plans a $24 million, four-story, 100-room hotel in the block.

The tribe purchased a 0.65-acre parcel from the City of Port Angeles and also bought the buildings housing Necessities & Temptations gift shop at Laurel Street and Railroad Avenue, the Cornerhouse Restaurant and the Downtown Hotel.

Businesses displaced by the tribe’s plans also include Cock-A-Doodle Doughnuts, which closed, as well as Budget car rental and Harbor Art Gallery, both of which moved.

Soroptimist Jean Hordyk said that the top two floors originally housed offices, followed by the Hotel Pershing and then the Pershing Rooming House before the Downtown Hotel opened in 2003.

“For the curious who ever wondered what it looked like inside, here’s your chance to see a bit of Downtown Port Angeles history,” Hordyk said.

Tim Chamberlain, manager of the Downtown Hotel for 15 years, said Thursday that Sunday is the last day for overnight guests and that he will shut down the hotel for good Monday after they leave.

Chamberlain, 58 and a lifelong area resident, said he expects to stay in the area.

He said he received compensation from the owners of the building when they sold it to the tribe that will help tide him over until he finds another job.

More in News

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow… Continue reading

Foundation purchases hospital equipment

Linear accelerator to be installed in May

Port Townsend updated on city’s workplan

Forty-five of 61 projects on track, city manager says

Welfare for Animals Guild receives $1,500 to provide spay and neuter services at the guild’s free veterinary clinics. Pictured, from left, are Laura Nieborsky, Barb Brabant, Emily Murphy and Mel Marshall.
Garden club makes donations through local grant program

The Port Angeles Garden Club has announced donations to… Continue reading

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading

Four Quileute Tribal School students take a salmon offering into the ocean as part of the annual Welcoming the Whales ceremony at First Beach in La Push on Friday. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Welcoming the Whales

On Friday, Quileute Tribal School students performed the annual Welcoming the Whales… Continue reading

Former USAID worker Miguel Reabold, shown with a colleague in Honduras in 2018. (Miguel Reabold)
USAID worker fears damage

Reabold worries about relationships