Burns Hotel, 1893
(Courtesy of the Harney County Library Claire McGill Luce Western History Room)
Originally located on the northwest corner of North Broadway and West A Street, the Burns Hotel had played host to a variety of organizations and individuals. Built in 1883 by John Robinson, the original hotel had been constructed with lumber brought in from Camp Harney.[1] Before the hotel was moved to another place, it housed a variety of businesses, including the local branch of the U.S. Land Office.[2] In the 1890s, Henry Richardson and Thomas Stevens managed to have the original hotel moved to another location so they could construct a new hotel on the site. Barely having reached the half-century mark, Robinson’s hotel again made way for new construction, the only difference this time being the complete demolition of the hotel. The new hotel that had replaced Robinson’s held an even shorter lifespan. Only eight years after the demolition of the original hotel, this new hotel collapsed under the weight of progression and politics in 1938. From 1938, three retail stores have sat upon that site, J.C. Penny, Ereno’s Men’s Store, and the Burns Department Store.[3] Currently, the Burns Paiute Tribe has assumed possession of the current building and is remodeling it in hopes of once again seeing the doors open.[4]
Notes
[1] Harney County Library, “Burns Hotel,” last modified 2014, http://www.harneycountylibrary.org/western-history-room/exhibits/historic-burns-oregon/Burns%20Hotel%20copy.jpg/view.
[2] Harney County Library, “Burns Hotel.”
[3] U.S. Department of Interior, “Categorical Exclusion Environmental Review and Approval,” last modified August 26, 2013, http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/burns/plans/files/ErenosReservoirRenovationCX.pdf.
[4] Randy Parks, “Celebration kicked off with ribbon cutting on March 2,” Burns Time Hearald, March 7, 2014, A2.
