Pomeroy Building/Moose Hall

Called the Pomeroy Building or Moose Hall, this two-story building was erected in 1890 by Dr. Francis A. Pomeroy with partner and first tenant, George Gale Mobley, a general merchandise vendor. The timing was fortuitous, for when the Cheney Normal School was destroyed by fire in August 1891, the newly completed building had space on the second floor to accommodate some of its classes.

Dr. Pomeroy was not only a long-serving physician and surgeon in the community as well as for the Northern Pacific & SP&S railroad section, he was also a successful real estate investor and developer. His name has been mentioned before in this downtown series and there were several buildings that are no longer standing associated with the good doctor. Dr. Pomeroy also served as a city councilman as well as Cheney's third and thirteenth mayor.

The general framework of the building we see today is reminiscent of the original with two commercial spaces flanking a central entrance to the stairway to the second floor. However, the original triangular parapet that crowned the building was removed about 1990 and plastered over, a central awning structure on the front was also removed, and both ground floor commercial façades have been extensively remodeled.

The Cheney Loyal Order of Moose lodge purchased the building from Dr. Pomeroy in November 1929. They redeveloped the second-floor rooms for fraternal functions of the both the men's lodge and Women of Mooseheart Legion. They continued to lease the two ground floor commercial spaces. The building became known as Moose Hall to a new generation of townspeople. In 1940, William Lee and Roy Stuhr who operated businesses on the ground floor, purchased the building from the lodge, who continued to use the second floor for meetings. The building has had several owners since.

What was here before? Under part of this building's footprint there was a harness shop in 1884 followed by Thomas Davaz' saloon. Mr. Davz lost his business to the fire of February 16, 1890, despite the heroic efforts of the fire fighters. The lots remained empty until Dr. Pomeroy's brick building was erected.

Now we'll look at the businesses that occupied the building.

006/2006/16/12 July 1980 Country Life Natural Foods, Goofy's Tavern, Bill's Tavern, and Cheney Realty at the corner of F St.