Originally built in 1861 at the height of Gold Rush, the original building was called Condon’s Saloon. It was one of 27 saloons just on Main Street! The saloon burned down only two years later, and the Empire Hotel was built on the lot. The Empire last burned to the ground in 1880. Another fire gutted the second floor in 1910, the burn marks from that fire still visible on the stairs. Ghosts? Probably a few I could name, including a 15-year-old granddaughter of former Irish American owners, John and Margaret Bergin. Mary Bergin came for a visit some time before 1900 and died in the hotel of typhoid. The story goes that she was a well-liked young woman whose death inspired the town to fill in the defunct 20 foot deep, water-filled placer mine located where the Band Stand is now. Ownership changed again in 1914 to a goldsmith and entrepreneur, A.J. Fetzer. The upstairs was restored, and the hotel resumed full services. The original lobby was at the front of what is now the hotel shop, and at the back of the existing shop
was the dining room at the time. The hidden stairs to the left of the fireplace were the way to get to the second floor. You can still see the stairs from the current fitting room ceiling. The saloon was accessed through a door from the restaurant and also via a dirt path along the side of the hotel, an optional access to the saloon. In the 1930’s the new parlor and the manager’s quarters above it were added, and the “Gold Nugget Jewelers” moved into the saloon space. Steam heating, modern plumbing, neon HOTEL sign, and electricity were all added between 1914 and 1947. The second story porch which ran along the Court Street side was also enclosed in order to have showers and toilets for several of the rooms on that side. Brian and Jeanne Muir bought the 14-room hotel in 2002, converted it to 7 rooms all with private baths, and re-opened in 2004 after extensive renovation.