In 1900, Hood River’s population was just over 700. Within 10 years, it was over 2,000 (2). Around 1910, prominent land developer, Julian Heilbronner was looking to construct a new, grand hall to match with the ever-growing community. It was constructed along with the neighboring building on the block, which was a new First National Bank. Both buildings, with a peaking design quality and innovation, (Heilbronner’s building was the first to use a steel frame), represented an exciting boom in Hood River.
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The Heilbronner officially opened January 1, 1911, and the block eventually became the center of the commercial and downtown area of Hood River. It hosted retail shops on its first floor, offices on its second, and a grand hall on its top third floor. This hall on the top floor was constructed with a rock maple floor, and was supposedly one of the nicest dance floors outside of Portland (1). The hall is what turned the Heilbronner into a community-focused building for Hood River. A variety of events, lectures, parties, and film screenings were held there.
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In 1918, the organization Knights of Pythian, whom had locations and groups all around North America and were in religious service to devote "friendship, charity, and benevolence," acquired Heilbronner Block (1). They had been using the space for meetings in the years prior, but eventually purchased the entire building, promptly changing its title to the Pythian Building. Despite this ownership change and the building's primary focus changing, community events were still held within. The Knights owned the building until 1970, before being acquired by another fraternity-type organization, and once more in 1999 by Bradford Perron, who's company has turned the building into a boutique hotel celebrating the town of Hood River and its history (1).
