Wingate & Williams Building
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 45° 36.068 W 121° 10.908
10T E 641795 N 5051339
Sign about the Wingate & Williams Building in The Dalles. It is one of many building history signs in The Dalles.
Waymark Code: WM6X5R
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 07/31/2009
Views: 3
Marker Name: Wingate & Williams Building
Marker Text: Common names for this building include “The Williams 1870 Building” and “The DesRochers Building.” The two-story rectangular brick building received extensive remodeling in 1938, covering or removing the earlier building fabric.
The Wingate & Williams store has been a major retail outlet in the commercial center of The Dalles for over 100 years. Founded by Edward Wingate in 1869, the store sold hardware and general merchandise, furnishing supplies for the gold rush as far as Idaho. Griffith Williams joined as a partner in about 1872.
After the deaths of both partners, Anna M. Williams formed the Walther-Williams Hardware Company in 1901. The firm offered hardware, wagons and farm machinery, and later became one of the earliest automobile dealerships in Oregon. Idaho Department Stores purchased the retail business in 1956 and operated until 1972. From 1972 and 1984 the “Williams 1870 Store” served The Dalles from this location. Angle DesRochers purchased the building in 1990, relocating her Hampton Furniture business here.
Visit Instructions:
Include your thoughts and observations pertaining to this location and your visit. Provide any additional history that you are aware of that pertains to this location. If the marker commemorates a historic building tell us what it is used for now or share with us the circumstances of an earlier visit to bring this locations history to life.
Please upload a favorite photograph you took of the waymark. Although visiting this waymark in person is the only thing required of you to receive credit for your visit, taking the time to add this information is greatly appreciated.
Be creative.