A Photo Essay of historic images from Downtown Moscow

Below is a collection of historic photographs from the Latah County Historical Society archives of Main Street in Moscow, Idaho.

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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.

Moscow City Hall

The building you are looking at was originally constructed as the post office and federal building for the city of Moscow.  This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The building was designed by the architect James Knox Taylor, who was the supervisory architect for the U.S. Treasury Department.  Construction on this building began on May 2, 1910 and was completed on July 1, 1911.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-49.

The federal building was a large investment into the city of Moscow by the government.  In 1911 the federal building cost $84,484.25, using inflation calculators the building would have cost over $2 Million to construct in 2013.  The presence of a federal building added to Moscow's prestige as the center of business and civic affairs in the palouse region.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-54.

The facing for this building is constructed of brick, stone and terra cotta.  The building was constructed in the Federalist Style of architecture.  Exterior elements worthy of note are the large rounded first story windows, a decorative frieze created from a terra cotta band featuring diamond and rectangle decorations.  The interior of the building features marble floors and oak ornamentation.   The building was initially housed the post office on the ground floor, the second floor housed the federal court room and court offices, the third floor consisted of various offices for various federal agencies including the IRS, the District Attorney, Grand Jury, Forest Service, FBI and a holding cell for prisoners.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-57.

Federal offices moved from the building in 1974 when the City of Moscow purchased the building for $70,000.  For several years the building sat vacant until in 1981 it became Moscow’s Community Center to be used for large community events.   Today the building is used as the City Hall of Moscow; the building is open from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday for people to peruse the hallways.  On the second floor is the Third Street Art Gallery which highlights local artists.  The foyer on the first floor is very well preserved and certainly worth heading inside to see.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-58.

References:

Hart, Arthur A. United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form. Boise, ID, May 22, 1973.

Otness, Lillian W. A Great Good Country: A guide to Historic Moscow and Latah County, Idaho. (Moscow: Latah County Historic Society, 1983), 45.

Schuknecht, Sarah. “Moscow’s First Federal Building.” Student paper, University of Idaho, 1998. Latah County Historical Society Archives, LC Moscow Buildings 18.

 

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-59.

Courtesy of Latah County Historical Society, 01-06-291.