7. Garbe Building – 1908, 249-289 Northwest Chehalis Avenue

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The original white-brick building was built by John Garbe, the valley’s largest hops dealer, in 1908.  Erected for a cost of $19,000, it was constructed with four large entrances with an arch and stairway in the center.  The upper floors were built for office and lodging house purposes and were home to the Garbe Hotel until 1923.  From 1923-1939 it changed names from the Garbe Hotel to the Columbia Hotel, Olympia Hotel, then finally to the Crest Apartments.  The first floor was leased to the Saindon Company - one of the largest furniture and home furnishing businesses in Southwest Washington at the time. Hitching rings for horses are still embedded in the concrete curbs outside the building.