1886 Williams-Kyser Building
I went walking in Downtown Napa early this morning and came upon this building on Main Street that I had heard about on the radio just this week. Here is more info than you wanted:
Named after its original owners, the Williams building was the first commercial block constructed north of the Napa creek. The hand-hewn native stone structure cost $26,000 to build in 1886 and its designers were San Francisco architects Wright and Saunders.
Mr. D. S. Kaiser was an early tenant, operating a combination funeral and furniture business. The Williams Building became the site of both civic pride and notoriety in 1897 when the Napa County Courthouse was the scene of the last public execution held in California. That day Billy Roe was hanged for murdering Lucina Greenwood of Napa in 1891. Kyser attended the execution in an official capacity as the Napa County Coroner and Roe’s remains were delivered to Kyser’s Main Street undertaking business.
Since the early 1900s a long list of businesses have occupied the historic Williams-Kyser Building, including Napa Beauty College, E.G. Lohman’s agricultural implements-tractors, Napa County Superintendent of Schools office, Valley Vacuum, Copy Corner, the Oberon Gallery, the Feminist Connection, and the Duck Pin Bowling Alley. Amidst the rich historical ambiance of the Williams-Kyser Building, there is now Cole’s Chop House, a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant.
Excerpts from a piece by: Rebecca A. Yerger
www.coleschophouse.com/about-location.html
1886 Williams-Kyser Building
I went walking in Downtown Napa early this morning and came upon this building on Main Street that I had heard about on the radio just this week. Here is more info than you wanted:
Named after its original owners, the Williams building was the first commercial block constructed north of the Napa creek. The hand-hewn native stone structure cost $26,000 to build in 1886 and its designers were San Francisco architects Wright and Saunders.
Mr. D. S. Kaiser was an early tenant, operating a combination funeral and furniture business. The Williams Building became the site of both civic pride and notoriety in 1897 when the Napa County Courthouse was the scene of the last public execution held in California. That day Billy Roe was hanged for murdering Lucina Greenwood of Napa in 1891. Kyser attended the execution in an official capacity as the Napa County Coroner and Roe’s remains were delivered to Kyser’s Main Street undertaking business.
Since the early 1900s a long list of businesses have occupied the historic Williams-Kyser Building, including Napa Beauty College, E.G. Lohman’s agricultural implements-tractors, Napa County Superintendent of Schools office, Valley Vacuum, Copy Corner, the Oberon Gallery, the Feminist Connection, and the Duck Pin Bowling Alley. Amidst the rich historical ambiance of the Williams-Kyser Building, there is now Cole’s Chop House, a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant.
Excerpts from a piece by: Rebecca A. Yerger
www.coleschophouse.com/about-location.html