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| JE NILES ROOM |
JE NILES
Jay Eugene Niles was born in Clinton County, Michigan
on May
28, 1853. In 1868 he migrated
with his family to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. After settling in the little town of Henley, the Niles
family contributed to the culture and entertainment of the area by forming the Niles Family Orchestra. This musical group was in constant demand for dances, rallies and celebrations.
In 1887 J.E. Niles wed Mary J. Helman to begin a marriage that would
last for 60 years. Three children were eventually born to this union: Sylvester J., Edna and Myrtle. In 1888, at the age of
25, J.E. Niles purchased a flourmill in Adin, California, and later added The Groves and Knight Planing Mill and an insurance
business to his growing list of business endeavours. In 1908, Jay sold his extensive holdings in the Adin area and moved his
family to the growing city of Alturas.
Jay’s first enterprise in
Alturas was the construction of the original Niles Hotel, a two story stone edifice on Main Street, known today as the Laird
Building, which currently houses a variety of stores and a pharmacy. In 1912, J.E. Niles purchased the Curtis Hotel, completed the interior of the upper two floors, and renamed it the Niles Hotel. He operated this landmark until
1929, when at the age of 76 he sold the hotel and retired…temporarily.
In 1931 J.E. Niles opened a new era in his life by purchasing the Alhambra
Theater in Alturas, and, in the depths of the great depression, he built the present Niles Theater. On November 16, 1947,
at the age of 94, Jay Eugene Niles’ long, productive life ended. His grave can be found in the Alturas Cemetery alongside his wife Mary, who died in 1944. In 1987, when Sylvester Niles’ wife, Mary Bath Niles, died at the
age 100, only two members of the once large Niles family were left to mourn her passing: her son, Keith Niles and Dora Sherman, a great-niece of Mary Niles.
A large assortment of Niles family memorabilia is on display in the J.E. Niles Room of the Niles
Hotel. The room is a fitting tribute to a man whose optimism and industry was instrumental to the development of the young
town of Alturas. For a more detailed history of the Niles Family,
see the 1989 edition of the Modoc County Historical Journal, available at the Modoc County Museum.
HISTORY OF THE NILES HOTEL
The first stones for what was originally named the Curtis Hotel were laid on the dusty corner of Main and Modoc in Alturas in 1908. In
1912 Jay Eugene Niles purchased the building, completed the second and third floor rooms, then renamed it the Niles Hotel.
For many generations the Niles Hotel was the social center of Alturas and Modoc County—the
meeting place for cattlemen, railroad workers, farmers, loggers, salesmen (they were called “drummers” in the
early days), tourists and local businessmen and women.
When the hotel was built, each of the sixty guest rooms were furnished
with wood-burning stoves. During the winter months, the hotel guests would keep warm in their rooms by purchasing an armload
at the lobby desk for two bits (25 cents).
Under the ownership of Mitch and Babe Jurasevich (who owned and operated
the hotel for over 40 years) “modernization” arrived in the form of lowered ceilings, steam heat, private baths
and the first elevator in Modoc County. The Niles Hotel prospered through the roaring ‘20s, the great
Depression, four major wars and the administration of fifteen American presidents.
By the 1970s, two other large hotels in Alturas, the Warner and the
Modoc Hotel passed into history—either burning to the ground or torn down. In 1976, the Niles Hotel, neglected and old,
ravaged by the winds of time, was finally closed to the public.
In August of 1976, Stephen and Cheryl Baker purchased The Niles and set
about the challenging task of restoring the landmark to its former glory. The massive restoration project eventually would
take over twelve years and an investment in antiques, labor, and materials of well over one million dollars.
The first step in the restoration of the Niles Hotel was
to strip tons of plaster from the interior walls and install miles of electric wiring and a new heating system to replace
over eight tons of obsolete radiators. Although electric heating has been installed in order to meet modern building codes,
it’s ironic that the most efficient method used to heat the building today is a variety of antique and modern wood burning
stoves (as was the case in 1908).
False ceilings were removed and the original 14-foot high pressed tin ceiling was restored. The
original tin panels and sections saved from demolished historic buildings in other communities were used for the restoration.
Over eight thousand square feet of solid oak flooring has been installed along with brass and copper chandeliers, wall sconces
and other exquisite Victorian lighting fixtures. Each fixture was disassembled, repaired, re-wired, polished and then fitted with original acid
etched and pressed glass shades.
On display throughout the historic building are thousands of artifacts including
juke boxes, an incredible collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia, political buttons, advertising trays, barbed wire displays,
mounted trophies, general store items, antique back bars, stained glass, tobacco tins, barber shop items, beer, beer bottles,
sleighs, photographs, and war memorabilia from the Civil War to the war in Vietnam. Today the Niles Hotel is a “ living museum” where the
public may dine, enjoy cocktails, attend social functions, or just browse through the Landmark building and enjoy a step back
in time.
Come enjoy the essence of days
past, linger while you savor the varied hues of historical vitality, faithfully restored and showcased throughout our second
floor rooms. Each room has been designed with
a pleasant blend of modern day amenities and a conscientious choice of unique and diverse antiques.
The third floor offers a hostel setting for those seeking modest accommodations
to rest for the night. The third floor features men’s’ and women’s’ dormitory style bathrooms,
a lounge with cable TV and VCR, a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities .
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