Buildings & Sites
Grand Central Hotel
August 2004 photo by Jim Loring (in the process of renovation)
July 1999 photo by David Bangs
May 1999 photo by David Bangs
Grand Central Hotel: 58 East Sunset Way, See
Map
When the Grand Central Hotel was constructed, Issaquah was a stopover point
for passengers traveling by train from Seattle to Snoqualmie. James Henry
Croston, who worked in the mines as a carpenter, built the hotel in 1903 and
operated it until his death in 1913. The family eventually sold the hotel in
1920.
Early on, the hotel served as a temporary home to many of of Issaquah's
future residents while they established their homes and businesses in town.
Until recently, the building was in sad condition, particularly when compared to photos of
its former grandeur. However, in 2003 a local contractor and resident of the
Grand Central, Kurt Schlick, began doing restoration and repair work that
transformed the building's facade.
Issaquah is fortunate in that many of its remaining early buildings, such as
the Railroad Depot, Pickering Barn, Oddfellows Hall, and Gilman Town Hall have
been restored to good condition. The Grand Central, the last remaining of
many hotels that served Issaquah early in the century, remains an excellent
candidate for future restoration work.
The adjacent Rolling Log Tavern has grown over the years, and now takes up
part of the hotel building's first floor. Originally a favorite hang-out of
loggers in the 1930’s, the Rolling Log remains a favorite local pub.
History
This hotel is the last of many from Issaquah's early years. It was
built in 1903 as a three story rooming house by James Henry Croston, who
operated it until his death in 1913. The Croston family sold the hotel in
1920, and the hotel has had many owners over the years. As of 1999, it is
possible to rent a room, but the building is in deplorable condition.
James Henry Croston moved from England to Pennsylvania in 1879, and then to
Issaquah in 1893. He worked in the local mines as a carpenter. The Croston family
boast some eight generations of carpenters! Denny Croston who operated the
Issaquah-based Croston Construction Company still lives in Issaquah today.
Photo courtesy of
Denny Croston
This 1903 photo shows the hotel soon after it was constructed west of the
Snoqualmie Falls Power Company's Gilman Substation. The substation was
constructed in 1899, and stood until 1967.
Photo courtesy of Denny Croston
In this photo, taken in 1910, members of the Croston family posed on the
porch.
Issaquah Historical Society Photo 95.23.1
This photo, taken in the late 1920s, shows the addition of the "Grand
Central Cafe" on the west (left) side of the building.
Issaquah Historical Society Photo 95.23.1
A closer look at the "Grand Central Cafe." This is an
enlarged section of the above photo.
This ad appeared in the September 16, 1931 edition of The Issaquah Press
According to a 1931 article in The Issaquah Press, the Grand Central Hotel
was being run at that time by Mrs. M.Z. Marian. She was building up a successful
business, but there had been "many changes in proprietorship" and a
decline in quality from earlier years. Her chief aim was to "bring it back
to the position it formerly occupied in the community."
Photo
courtesy of Denny Croston - Originally from Tax Records
This 1940 photo shows that the cafe had become the "Issaquah 10¢
Store." At this time, the façade of the current "Rolling
Log" tavern had been constructed to the west (left) of the hotel, but the tavern
had not yet been expanded to take over part of the hotel building.
Walt Seil & his father, Rex Seil (lssaquah's Marshall) bought the Grand
Central Hotel in 1945. According to the Seils, Walt ran the place for about a
year; his wife, Olga, did the housekeeping. Later in 1945 Walt Seil went on to
work at what turned into a 30 year career at the creosote plant in West Seattle;
his parents took over the running of the Grand Central Hotel. Walt & Olga
Seil still live in Issaquah today.
The Seil's sold the hotel in 1962 to Art Burt, who sold it to John Lydon in
1994, along with the buildings housing the Rolling Log Tavern and the dry
cleaning business behind the hotel.
Physical Description
From the 1998 "Issaquah Historic Property Inventory":
This hotel, currently used as an apartment above and commercial space at the
street has seen numerous changes over time that erode at the building's historic
integrity. The building currently has little of its original grandeur.
Asphalt siding was added in the 1940's; this obscures the original wood
siding. And the alterations that have occurred over time could be peeled back to
reveal its history; wood porches could be added to replicate the documented
original structure. The building in its location and its overall form remain
unchanged; this is its essence.
As its name describes, the building was once both "grand" and
"central". The boxy 2 1/2 story large form sits right up to the
sidewalk in the most urban way. Originally (now gone) a full attached second
story porch was supported by four classic columns and created a covered front
entry porch. The hipped roof form still sports small dormers on each side of the
building. The soffit is a flat box soffit with medium overhangs. The upstairs
has large 2-over-2 double hung windows. Original flat rustic drop siding with
comer boards is still visible on the small dormers and at the sides and rear.
Bibliographic References
Issaquah Historical Society files. Issaquah Press March 19,1931. Interview
with Walt & Olga Seil by Robin Abrahams & Anne Van Dyne, November
21,1997. Issaquah Press "Issaquah Family Album: The Croston family",
March 21,1990. Telephone Interview with Denny Croston by Anne Van Dyne. March
18.1998
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