We toured an old building that was built about 1910 and made for live theatre. Later it became a movie theatre. There are various shops on the first floor now. A group is trying to raise money to restore the building to its original state and hope to have live theatre there. They have found some of the original seats in the Elks hall and the original organ is in Alaska. If they could raise the money it would be a beautiful building.
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| Theatre Building (music store on bottom level) |
We also toured another old building that is being made into fancy shops. I wonder if they will get enough businesses to fill them. Several other buildings in the downtown are marked for restoration.
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| Cast Iron Mary |
The original Cast Iron Mary was erected on September 1, 1904, by the Women's Christian Temperance Union. Her purpose was two-fold: first to provide good, clean drinking water for people, horses and dogs; and, secondly, to entice the menfolk away from the numerous taverns found in La Grande at the time. Built to last, Mary survived only twenty years. On the night of April 22, 1922, George Noble, a local bootlegger, who was fleeing from police, lost control of his automobile and crashed into the fountain. Mr. Noble escaped unhurt, but totaled both his automobile and Cast Iron Mary. The original was in an intersection but a replica is now in Max Square is located on the corner of Adams Avenue and Fourth Street on the edge of the historic downtown district.
