HOME & LIVING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022
THE OBSERVER & BAKER CITY HERALD — B3
Three families, one structure: The Lott es Building
GINNY
MAMMEN
OUT AND ABOUT
he 1889 Sanborn map
shows a dwelling on the
lots at 1411-1413 Adams
Ave. in downtown La Grande.
This was the home and shop of
John L. Mars, a carpenter and
contractor. John, born in Ger-
many, and his wife Annie, born
in England, had immigrated in
1883 and moved westward to La
Grande. Mars was known for his
fast, effi cient work and one of his
great contributions to the area
was the mile-long fl ume for the
Electric Light Company in 1903.
This was to carry the wood for
the company from Fox Hill to the
county road near Oro Dell.
By 1903 the Sanborn map indi-
cates a large structure at 1411-
1413 Adams, designated to be a
store, being constructed in front
of the house. By 1910 the dwelling
had been removed and the struc-
ture had been enlarged and was
housing a secondhand store.
However, like many of the other
wooden buildings at this end of
Adams in the early to mid 1920s,
this one was demolished and space
was created for one of the more
solid brick structures. And as usual
there was someone just waiting to
add that one more.
This story of the Lottes
Building begins in 1888-89 when
members of three families immi-
grated to Oregon from Germany.
One was the Stroeber family with
Thomas and Barbara and their
three children — John, Henry and
Barbara. There was the Lottes
family that brought brothers Ulrich
T
Contributed Photo
The Lottes Building has housed several businesses since it was constructed in 1925.
and John, sons of Fredrick and
Margaret Lottes, who remained in
Germany. And there was a young
lady named Anna Baer who also
immigrated from Germany about
this same time.
Within a year of arriving in La
Grande the Lottes brothers were
married — Ulrich had married
Barbara Stroeber and John had
married Anna Baer.
John seemed to have a problem
settling into one particular type
of employment. During his life
he was a laborer in a brewery, a
brewer, a fi reman at a sawmill, a
laborer with various odd jobs and
at the time of his death in 1931, at
age 66, he was a janitor at the tele-
phone company in Pendleton.
Ulrich was the more stable of
the two. In 1893 he was listed in
the city directory as a wood dealer.
By 1900 he was operating a saloon
at 1118 Jeff erson across from the
railroad depot. Through the years
his establishment fl ourished and
he and Barbara were able to build
their business as well as purchase
four lots in La Grande’s Coggan’s
addition and other property.
Ulrich posted an advertisement
for The Lottes in 1917 off ering spe-
cialties such as oyster cocktails and
whisky. He had also taken over the
business next door at 1116 Jeff erson
from Sam Saites and John Pullos.
This he advertised in The Observer
as “A Gentleman’s Resort —
Cigars, Tobaccos, Lunches, Soft
Drinks and Confectionery.”
Business was booming for
Ulrich and and the other tavern
owners in La Grande and then
came Jan. 17, 1920, and prohibi-
tion which banned the sale of alco-
holic beverages. The notices for
The Lottes no longer advertised
whisky, and Ulrich was off ering
soft drinks and listed as an owner
of a pool hall.
Ulrich continued working and
after prohibition in 1933, he again
was able to advertise his busi-
ness as The Lottes Lunch and
Beer Parlor. Here he served up
sandwiches and beer during the
19 hours a day he was open. The
Lottes was popular with locals as
well as those coming and going on
the train.
Prohibition, however, did not
slow down the business side of
Ulrich Lottes. In 1925 the one-story
brick building at 1411-1413 Adams,
known as the Lottes Building,
was constructed. The fi rst busi-
nesses to occupy the space at 1411
was Gwilliams’ Electric Bakery.
Some of the other early businesses
in the building were Western Auto
Supply, Inland Poultry and Feed,
and Becker’s Meat Market. Later
this was the home of the Sears Roe-
buck Catalog store and Group W
Cable Inc. Today it is the location
of Christ Church.
Ulrich Lottes passed away in
1935 in Union County at the age
of 68. His business at 1118 Jef-
ferson continued under the name
of The Lottes with Melvin Palmer
as manager. Later in the 1950s and
’60s, known as the Lottes Tavern,
it came under the ownership of
Jean Elliott, wife of a railroad
worker. Today this is the location
of Jeff erson Street Depot.
Keep looking up! Enjoy!
█
Ginny Mammen has lived in La Grande for
more than 50 years and enjoys sharing her
interest in the history of people, places and
buildings.
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TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022
by Stella Wilder
TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2022
YOUR BIRTHDAY by Stella Wilder
Born today, you are destined to be known
not only for the things you do that are widely
remembered and revered, but also for who
you are behind the scenes -- and that indi-
vidual is a truly fascinating combination of
confidence and insecurity, fantasy and reality,
and almost all other contrasting or contradic-
tory traits. It is the fact that you conflict with
yourself that gives you such personal power
and potential.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- You’ll spend
a good deal of time and energy today talking
yourself off a certain cliff, but this issue isn’t
going away any time soon.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) --
Communication with a loved one may
become complicated today as you both are
trying to make a point that the other isn’t
really ready to hear.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Certain
actions will go unnoticed today, which suits
you just fine, but others are likely to put you
in the spotlight. Are you ready for that?
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) --
You’re eager to come up with a plan that
allows you to outmaneuver a rival -- but per-
haps you’re thinking about this the wrong
way.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You
may not be ready to reach out to someone
who is back in the picture after quite a long
time, as it will require some difficult adjust-
ments.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Whether
an idea is large or small makes no difference
whatsoever, you must try to put it into motion
today -- or you’ll lose the opportunity.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You must
play by the rules, but that doesn’t mean you
can’t bend them just a bit today to give you a
temporary, important advantage.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- It may fall
to you to say or do something no one else will,
but that doesn’t mean you’ll be in a position of
authority anytime soon.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- A subtle
change yields a dramatic result today -- and
you may be surprised to learn just how much
of your private life will be affected.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You are
aware of certain problems lying ahead of you
at this time, but you’re not prepared to face
them. It’s time to imagine solutions.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- What you’ve
done in the past to deal with a certain situa-
tion is not likely to work as well for you this
time -- but today’s outcome isn’t bad.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- You’ll go about
your business with little concern for what
others think of either your methods or
motives -- but a friend’s comment rankles.
COPYRIGHT 2022 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.
DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION FOR UFS
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500
by Stella Wilder
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022
YOUR BIRTHDAY by Stella Wilder
Born today, you like to think you are being
swept along in your life by a kind of existen-
tial current, but the truth is you are for more
instrumental in deciding what you will do,
and when, and with whom than you think
you are. Perhaps chalking things up to destiny
or fate or the stars themselves allows you to
weather your failures and disappointments
more philosophically. On the other hand,
your way of thinking prevents you from tak-
ing full credit for all the things that go right in
your life -- including your greatest successes.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- If you
choose to be unfocused today, so be it, but
any unintentional straying from your intend-
ed purpose can actually prove hazardous.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- What you
want is nearer today than it has been in quite
a while, and yet it may prove difficult to close
even that short distance.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- You cannot
expect to win over your critics if you persist in
doing the very thing they criticize. Some sort
of adjustment is required today.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- What
someone has to tell you today can make all
the difference -- so you must be willing to
wait until that message is delivered.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- You
have more options available to you today than
you think. All you have to do is look around
to see the potential of a certain situation.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) --
Complaints aren’t likely to get you anywhere
today, but if you’re willing to present a way
forward, you can certainly have a lasting
impact.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) -- You may
have trouble reconciling what others are tell-
ing you and what you can see happening all
around you. You must investigate further.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Random
comments must not be allowed to affect you
today, but pointed criticism is different. You’ll
want to listen carefully -- and learn.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Progress
can be considerable today, even though you
don’t reach the goal you had set for yourself.
There’s still time for that.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- A minor
mishap mustn’t be allowed to trip you up all
day long. Acknowledge it, correct it and move
on -- it’s the only way to progress.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Despite feel-
ing alone in a certain situation, you haven’t
been abandoned by your allies. They’re in the
wings, waiting to offer assistance.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Disappointment
can be avoided today by tending to the diffi-
cult things first and leaving yourself plenty of
time to engage in enjoyable activities.
COPYRIGHT 2022 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.
DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION FOR UFS
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500