McConnell and Maguire Building

In 1878 Mr. William J. McConnell moved to Moscow, Idaho to enter into the merchant business.  Mr. McConnell went into business with Mr. James H. Maguire, together they opened a small wood framed retail store in the 1st and Main block of Moscow.

The original McConnell and Maguire Mercantile store, labeled W. J. MCConnell & Co., 1880, Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-03-008.

Over time the McConnell and Maguire mercantile business grew and required larger a larger space.    They built their next store on the same block but it was a much more permanent store, with prominent glass display cases facing the street and sidewalk.  Their new building had been completed by 1885 when the picture below was taken. 

The McConnell and Maguire store is located second from the right, with the large display windows.  This picture was taken in 1885, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 01-02-003.

With the success of the business Mr. McConnell was free to pursue other interests.  In December of 1890 Mr. McConnell was elected to be one of the first Unites States Senators from the newly formed state of Idaho.  Mr. McConnell served in the United States Senate from December of 1890 through March of 1891.  Upon Mr. McConnell's return he decided it was time for the McConnell and Maguire store to enlarge their store once again.  This would be the last construction project for the McConnell and Maguire store and their largest.

In 1891 McConnell and Maguire hired the architects W.J. Lewis and M. D. Ogilbee to design their new store.  The new store was to take up most of the 1st and Main blocks in downtown Moscow.  The architects designed the building you are looking at today, a three floor stone building with plenty of windows and natural light.  the McConnell and Maguire company began operating in the building in the first year and used all three floors of the building as store space.

The McConnel and Maguire store, photo taken sometime between 1891 and 1893, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 01-03-112.

McConnell Maguire Co. advertising, photo taken between 1890 and 1893, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society, 01-03-152.

In 1893, there was a panic at the banks and the McConnell Maguire Company was one of many of the casualties.  In 1893 the McConnell Magure Company closed, just two years after they built this marvelous building.

The next major tenant for the building was the Motter, Wheeler and Company general Mercantile.  This store was established in the building by 1905.  During this time the U.S. District Court held office space on the second floor.  The photo below shows a circus parade on its way through Moscow in front of this building.  This photograph was taken in 1905.

A circus parade on its way through Moscow in front of the former McConnell Maguire store, now the Motter, Wheeler and Company general Mercantile.  Photo taken in 1905, courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society 01-02-325.

In 1911 the building was renewed under Nathanial Williamson as the Williamson's center.  Williamson's center was at its heart a mercantile store that sold just about everything you could need.  Williamson's center expanded shortly thereafter to include a resteraunt, grocery store and hardware store in the adjoining Browne block.  Williamson's hallmark was a large electric sign which read Williamson's verticially along the street side of the building.  Williamson's was also the first store in Moscow to have a passenger elevator.

Williamson's Center ca. 1911.  Courtesy of the Latah County Historical Society 01-03-113.

In 1919 the Williamson's center went out of business and the building went unoccupied for a number of years.  In 1928 the second and thrid floors of the building were converted into apartments, the building became known as the Thatuna Building.  In 1978 the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

References:

Hibbard, Don. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. Boise, ID, November 2, 1977.

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 13-14, 81-82.

Monroe, Julie R. Images of America: Moscow. (Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing), 18.