A New Chapter for the Old Columbia Hotel
The former Northern Pacific company office is set to be transformed into 'The Academy,' a new college for the growing region.
Kennewick will have a college, and the work of remodeling the building and preparation for opening the school this fall will commence in a few days, says the Columbia Courier. The old Columbia hotel, a magnificent three-story building, was built here twelve years ago by the company who constructed the first ditch. When its franchises were taken over by the Northern Pacific company, the building was included and has been occupied by them since and used as offices by the land and irrigation officers of the company at this place. Wednesday, the fate of this imposing structure culminated. A deal was consummated whereby the Northern Pacific company sold the building and grounds to Mrs. M. Olsen of Spokane, who will establish a college here. The name of the institution will be 'The Academy' and will be financed by Mr. and Mrs. Olsen until the institution becomes self-supporting. Mr. and Mrs. Olsen formerly resided at Reardan, where Mr. Olsen was engaged in the banking business. For the past two years they have been domiciled at Spokane. Work will commence in a few days to remodel the building and put it in shape for the opening of the fall term. A dormitory will be built and every facility arranged for the reception and comfort of students coming from a distance.
“A deal was consummated whereby the Northern Pacific company sold the building and grounds to Mrs. M. Olsen of Spokane, who will establish a college here.”
Adaptive reuse of historic buildings was as essential to the frontier boom as it is to modern urban development. Today, historic preservation advocates often look at former civic or commercial landmarks with the same eye for 'college' or 'community' utility that the Olsens had in 1903.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.