Matchbook cover. Julius Roesch built the Sacajawea Hotel (also
known as the “Sac”) and adjacent Roesch Building which was popularly known as
the Sacajawea Annex or “Sac Annex.”
And, note nameplate from a 1948 edition of
the La Grande Evening Observer daily newspaper. Both the matchbook cover and
nameplate identify La Grande as a “hub.” Matchbook cover says, “The hub city of
Eastern Oregon.” Nameplate says “Hub of Northeastern Oregon” with “Union and
Wallowa Counties” text beneath the hub slogan.
::::
Daily newspaper stories from 1948 (La Grande Evening Observer)
and 1960 (La Grande Observer) about La Grande’s Julius Roesch.
PIONEER BUILDER JULIUS
ROESCH FATALLY STRICKEN AT AGE OF 98
...Front page of La Grande Observer, Friday, 22 April 1960 (See photo
of clipping)
Julius Roesch, pioneer La Grande construction man who
came to this country from Germany at the age of 14 to seek his fortune, died
late last night at the age of 98.
Builder of the Sacajawea Hotel and adjacent Roesch
Building which is popularly known as the Sacajawea Annex, he resided at 1005
Penn Ave., the house he constructed for his bride in 1888.
Born in 1862. He was believed to have been the oldest
resident of Union County at the time of his death. Last February, a birthday
party was given in his honor at the hotel.
Born in 1862 at Cannstatt, Germany, he came to America in
1876, migrated to this area in his teens and built a brewery in La Grande
before he reached his 20th birthday. That was back in 1880, and his first
building was constructed across from the present Union Pacific Depot, then the
crossroads of La Grande.
In 1888, young Roesch, then getting ahead in the
construction business, married the former Anna Gangloff. She passed away here
in June 1955.
He sold his first building, the brewery, in 1921 and six
years later, began building the Sacajawea Inn, now the present hotel. Three
years later–1930–he built the Roesch addition.
Many other buildings in the city and county were built by
the hardy German-American who successfully weathered the great depression years
of the 1930’s.
Active in all phases of community life, including his
church, he served for several years as a city commissioner here. He and his
wife shunned public life despite their influence and leading position in the
community, but in 1927 they made a trip around the world.
He was a longtime member of the local Rotary and Elks as
well as engaging in many civic enterprises.
A Rosary will be recited Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Don
Dempsey’s Funeral Chapel, and requiem Mass will celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday
at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, with Msgr. Matthew Crotty the
celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.
Survivors are one son, Marcus L Roesch; a daughter, Mrs.
Louise R. Fitzgerald; Herman Roesch, a nephew, all of La Grande, and three
grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
ROESCHES CELEBRATE 60th ANNIVERSARY; FOUR HUNDRED
GUESTS AT SUNDAY FETE
...Front page of La Grande Evening Observer,
Monday 22 November 1948 (See photo of
clipping.)
... Page 8 of La Grande Evening Observer, Friday, 24 February 1956
