1900 & 1912 - Taft’s First Hotels - Oregon Historical Markers on Waymarking.com

This sign is one of a group of history signs about the Historic Taft District and is located along SW 51st Street.

Marker Name: 1900 & 1912 - Taft’s First Hotels

Marker Text: The Bones’ residence in Taft Heights was considered the first hotel in Taft. John Wesley Bones and his wife, Susannah, took in travelers - the mail carrier and others who needed a place to sleep and a hot meal. Pictured above from left are Mrs. John W. (Susannah) Bones, son D. Chesley with Daniel, John W. Bones, and Mrs. D. Chesley (Lillia) Bones.

The second hotel in Taft, also located in Taft Heights, was the Mercier House, built in 1909 and used initially as a summer home. When Francis and his wife Marie Mercier moved in permanently in 1912, they began operating it as a rooming house.

In 1912 Andrew Alinger built one of the rooms of his new “Spring Store” around a hillside spring which he had dug out. After Alinger died in 1918, Gallagher and Winnie Bowers ran the store as a hotel. From 1922-1926 it was known as the Homer’s Siletz Bay Hotel.

For a more complete photographic and written history of the Taft area and North Lincoln County, visit the North Lincoln County Historical Museum at 4907 Highway 101 here in Taft.

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