When It Burned For The Last Time In 1947
ST. CHARLES HOTEL
THE ORIGINAL HOTEL WAS BUILT IN 1851. DESTROYED BY
FIRE, FEBRUARY 19, 1852 AND REBUILT BY THOMAS H. CLAIR,
PROPRIETOR. IT ALSO WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1864.
F. A. ESCHBACKER, BUILT A NEW ST. CHARLES HOTEL AND
OPERATED IT INTO THE 1880'S, UPON HIS DEATH HIS SON
WILLIAM AND HIS WIFE BECAME PROPRIETORS, THEY SOLD TO
JOHN COSTA. IN 1902 HE SOLD TO ANTONE LAVEZZOLA
WHO REMAINED PROPRIETOR UNTIL 1942. MARION F. LUSK
BOUGHT THE HOTEL AND SOLD TO ORA HIGGINS WHO WAS
THE OWNER WHEN IT BURNED FOR THE LAST TIME IN 1947. THE
ST. CHARLES WAS AN AREA LANDMARK AND THE PRINCIPAL
HOTEL OF DOWNIEVILLE. IT HOUSED THE FIRST TELEGRAPH
AND WELLS FARGO EXPRESS OFFICE.
Submitted by Debby Drake.