Samuels sign unveiled during festival

WALLACE — Fall for History festival-goers were treated to a special sneak peek of the commemorative sign that will be placed at the site of the former Samuels Hotel last weekend.

Wallace resident and Samuels historian Dick Caron organized the event, and along with fellow historians Courtney Frieh, Jim See, Linda See, Tom Harman and Ron Roizen, discussed the importance of the site, as well as the significance of the sign and its design.

“Although the Samuels Hotel is gone, preserving its legacy is important because its architecture was groundbreaking for the time and so much colorful history unfolded there — history that shaped Wallace and the whole region,” Frieh said.

The former five-story hotel sat at the corner of Seventh and Cedar streets, directly across from Wallace City Hall, just a stone’s throw from the Shoshone County Courthouse, and in its heyday was a cradle of industry for the city.

“It was the site where much of Wallace’s rich history unfolded,” Frieh previously told the News-Press. “Its glamorous lobby was a hub for business negotiations where mines were bought, sold and traded. It was the site of the infamous Rossi murder and illicit prohibition activities. The lobby housed a variety of bars, banks, beauty salons, clubs, cafes and businesses over the years. An educational sign will pay homage to this important hotel and will inform tourists and locals alike of its historical significance and beauty.”

As the building aged, declining occupancy rates and whispers of a new interstate highway led to the unfortunate demise of the Samuels – which likely would still be standing today had it just waited a few more years.

“At that time, there was also little interest in historic preservation and Wallace had not yet been designated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places,” Caron previously recounted. “However, occupancy rates had been declining for years and the cost of repair and maintenance was prohibitive.”

Since its demolition in 1974, the site of the former hotel has been converted into a beautiful little park that will soon be the home to the sign — once the planned brick surrounding for the sign is completed.

Caron also took time to recognize the Idaho Humanities Council and its affiliate, the National Endowment for the Humanities, which provided a generous grant to help finance the beautiful sign. He also acknowledged and thanked the sponsors of the project that enabled the grant applicants to provide evidence of local support, including the city of Wallace, Morbeck Foundation, McGillivary Environmental, McGillivary Construction, Wallace Preservation Society, Ski Wallace, Slippery Gulch Fund and Metals Bar.

A formal dedication of the completed sign and brick surround will take place in the near future.