To spot the Julian Hotel, look ahead for a tall, four-story red brick building trimmed with bold white accents, standing prominently at the corner with a row of evenly spaced windows and a canopy shading the sidewalk below.
Now, step closer and imagine yourself right here in Corvallis, over a century ago. It’s 1892, and a fresh new hotel-then called Hotel Corvallis-has just popped up like a Victorian dream come true. It’s not the brick building you see now, but a wooden frame covered with fancy brickwork and crowned with a jaw-dropping tower at the corner. Guests stepping off the dusty streets would gaze up at a spindly turret giggling in the clouds, topped with an open cupola made especially for watching small-town life unfold, with a view fit for the fanciest top hats and parasols. Picture the hustle and bustle as travelers arrive, horses neighing and porters shouting greetings by the ornate entrance marked "Hotel Corvallis."
Now, leap forward a couple of decades-1910’s here and change is in the air. The old Queen Anne frills are yesterday’s news, and architect Elmer E. McClaran is about to give the place a total makeover. Out go the turret and the fancy Victorian details, making way for crisp, clean lines and a Colonial style. With a wave of his blueprints, McClaran not only transforms the look but adds a whole extra floor-making this a true four-story giant for Corvallis. The grand reopening must’ve echoed with the clatter of cutlery and happy chatter in the restaurant-room for 300 folks, served by 13 spirited waitresses and, as the ad proudly but awkwardly announced, one “Chinese servant."
The name changes too, honoring the new owner, State Senator Julian N. McFadden-so, say hello to the Julian Hotel! By 1984, the building earns its spot on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, as the sun hits the warm brick and you stand where belles, businessmen, and dreamers once gathered, you can almost hear the laughter and hopes swirling around-a living memory box, solid as ever.
