Local History Walking Tour | Historic Downtown Harrison

The Harrison Commercial District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

--To see map locations, please click on the building names--
Click on business names for websites or Facebook pages of current occupants
​Revised 2/24/16
1 - GRANT MILL / GATEWAY MARINA
250 W Harrison St, Harrison, ID  83833 | 208-689-9800
Access: Business & Public. Lakeside Bar and Grill at Gateway Marina, C-Store, and HI Water Adventures boat rentals. Public docks.
Lakeside Bar & Grill and Gateway Marina boat slips
Lakeside Bar & Grill and Gateway Marina boat slips
Site of the former Grant Lumber Co. There was a boat launch and small dock here in the 1950s. A large crowd gathered in 1961, to watch old pilings dynamited and cleared in preparation for hydro-plane races and the Old Time Picnic...read more
2 - E.C. HAY & SONS GRAIN ELEVATOR 
National Register of Historic Places
107 N. Lake Ave. between Pine St. and Garfield St., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Private
E.C. Hay & Sons grain elevator in Harrison, Idaho overlooks the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
E.C. Hay & Sons grain elevator in Harrison, Idaho overlooks the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes
Harrison Elevator #775 was built by E.C. Hay and Sons of Tekoa, WA, with the help of local laborers. Watching the progress of the wood crib structure rising ever higher was an intriguing pastime for the townspeople during the spring of 1955...read more
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3 - THEATER / HARRISON HEATING
National Register of Historic Places
103 N. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Harrison Heating
Picture
Harrison Heating is the former Liberty Theater building. Grain elevator in background
The original opera house, called the Princess Theater, owned and managed by B. S. Laferty, had a 25" x 20' stage and seated 400. In 1916, the theater heralded the arrival of spectacular and educational talking movies, and a large crowd showed up...read more
4 - MASONIC LODGE / GRANT BUILDING
National Register of Historic Places
Access: Businesses. The Company Store, Bird's Nest , Laundromat, Commercial Storage Units.
The Company Store and Bird's Nest in Grant Building, Harrison, Idaho
The Company Store and Bird's Nest are in the Grant Building
The original brick structure was built by the Masons in 1912, who had their meeting hall upstairs. Groceries were sold on the street level at the Davis N. Shuster Store. The building was destroyed in the 1917 fire...read more
5 - BUSINESS BLOCK / CITY PARK
National Register of Historic Places
Access: Public. Harrison City Park
Playground in the city park overlooks Lake Coeur d'Alene, Harrison Idaho
Playground in Harrison City Park
The City Park encompasses all of Block 2 of the original town plat. Prior to the 1917 fire the block contained ten wood frame commercial structures. None of them were ever rebuilt. Various lots passed to the county for unpaid taxes in the 1920s and 30s...read more
6 - I.O.O.F HALL / HARRISON BUILDING
National Register of Historic Places
200 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Businesses & Private. One Shot Charlie's saloon and The Cafe on the lower level. The Gallery in Harrison, O'Susanna's Design Studio, Grubby Girls Soap, and Tin Cup Coffee Shop are on the mid level. Residence upstairs.
One Shot Charlie's on the northwest corner of the Harrison Building
One Shot Charlie's on the northwest corner of the Harrison Building
The International Order of Odd Fellows building was the first substantial one erected after the 1917 fire. The main street level has held a mercantile, meat locker, post office, barbershop, hardware store, cafe, and a sewing machine manufacturer. The upper level, with its high ceilings, hardwood
floors, and large windows, has housed a theater, dentist office, and restaurant...read more
7 - FISHER'S JEWELRY
202 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833. Vacant lot between the Harrison Building and Gig's Landing.
Access: Private Property. (Empty Lot)
Fisher's Jewelry stood here in the 1920s. It later became a real estate office. In 2003 the building was destroyed by fire during the Old Time Picnic weekend.
8 - STAR LODGING / GIG'S LANDING
204 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business & Private. Gig's Landing restaurant. Residence upstairs.
Gig's Landing, Harrison Idaho
Gig's Landing
Built in 1917 as Star Lodging, the building changed hands in 1943 when the Rose family relocated the Rose Cafe from the I.O.O.F. building. There were three gas pumps in front and auto repair was offered in the basement...read more
9 - FIRST BANK OF HARRISON / CREAMERY
206 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. The Harrison Creamery & Fudge Factory. 
Harrison Creamery and Fudge Factory, Harrison ID
Harrison Creamery and Fudge Factory
The locally-owned First Bank of Harrison was housed here until the business moved to St. Maries in 1923...read more
10 - BUSBY HOME
307 S. Lakefront Dr.
Access: Private Property. Baptist parsonage.
The Busby House in Harrison Idaho
The Busby House
Dr. John Busby built this grand Victorian home in 1904. He sold it, presumably to finance building the Harrison Hospital on Garfield St., and a floating hospital, with which he served patients in the St. Joe River country...read more
11 - HOTEL HARRISON
401 S. Lakefront Dr.
Access: Private Property. (Empty Lot)
The old Hotel Harrison overlooks Lake Coeur d'Alene
The old Hotel Harrison
Guests from around the world stayed at the Hotel Harrison, built by J.W. Jamison in 1905 on Lakefront, between Dr. Busby's home and the old Laundry building...read more
12 - LAUNDRY BUILDING
413 S. Lakefront Dr.
Access: Private Property
Old Laundry building in Harrison IDOld Laundry building
Built by Mr. Burton, c. 1901, to house the Steam Laundry. The walls are 20" thick concrete and steel bars covered the windows. The laundry was only in operation for a short time. After Mr. Burton died the building stood empty until the mid 1940s when Russ Vetter had a plumbing business here. Ownership transferred to Howard Russell, who used it for storage. Recently, the property changed hands and some items that had been stored there for many years were transferred to The Company Store on Coeur d'Alene Ave.

Looking west toward the lake, notice the path that leads to the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes from Lakefront Drive. This was once a wooden walkway to the train depot and steamboat stop.
13 - CRANE HOUSE MUSEUM
National Register of Historic Places
201 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Public. Museum
The Crane House Museum in Harrison Idaho
The Crane House Museum
When Harrison's first family arrived they lived in a crude log structure with a dirt floor along the waterfront. Harrison's first framed house was built by Silas W. Crane in 1891 with assistance from R. M. Wark...read more
14 - HARRISON JAIL
Crane House Museum. 201 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Public. Open during museum hours
Old Harrison Jail at the Crane House Museum
Old Harrison Jail at the Crane House Museum
Two-cell jail house was built in 1925 entirely of 2x4 lumber and sided with clapboard. A small slit window with metal bars is cut into the front. This jail was built after the first one burned down while Claude Knaggs was constable. It once stood immediately south of the Grant building.
15 - BURLEIGH'S STORE / GRANGE
National Register of Historic Places
109 S.Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Organization. Harrison Grange #422. Open to public during events.
Grange #442, Harrison, Idaho
Harrison Grange #442
Burleigh's store, with its Rip Proof Overalls mural on the outer south wall, survived the 1917 fire. Anna Sala used the building to store salt and feed for livestock and sold groceries and meat in the adjoining building...read more
16 - MARLER & BRASS / COUNTRY FAIR
National Register of Historic Places
105 S.Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Country Fair store.
Country Fair, Harrison Idaho
Country Fair
This building housed The Paulsen Grocery Store and F.E. Marler and Gustav Brass' meat market and sausage factory. More recently, attorney offices and The Creamery ice cream shop have leased the space. Currently Country Fair, a resort shop.
 17 - CORSKIE BUILDING / USPS
National Register of Historic Places
103 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Public. US Post Office
United States Post Office 83833
United States Post Office
John A. Corskie, one of Idaho's first pharmacists, provided an array of services and products here, from first aid and candy, to Captain Billy's White Bang risque' magazine. By 1903 there were several druggists in town...read more
18 - BRIDGEMAN BUILDING / HARRISON TRADING POST
National Register of Historic Places
101 S. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Harrison Trading Post
Harrison Trading Post, Harrison ID
Harrison Trading Post
Wayne Bridgeman operated a hardware and furniture store here until he sold to H. D. Brownawell in 1938. Brownawell added groceries and operated the store four more years...read more
(In 1910 this block had: Ribstein Hardware, Telephone Office, Jimmie Jones's Gilt Edge Restaurant, Ed Harris Barbershop, Corskie Drug, and the Jensen brothers building, which included Rasmus Jensen's furniture and casket shop, and August Jensen's grocery store.)
19 - PEDAL PUSHERS BIKE SHOP
101 N. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Pedal Pushers Bike Rental & Repair
Pedal Pushers bike rental and repair shop in Harrison Idaho
Pedal Pushers
Date of building unknown. In early times it was a hardware store. A mechanic named Mr. Schneider had a garage here, dates uncertain. In 1946 the building was used for storing tires. During the 40s and early 50s, Jerry Chenoweth ran a blacksmith shop in the back portion. He was the last blacksmith in town...read more
20 - TOM COLLIER'S BARBER SHOP / SHEPPARD FRUIT WINES
102 N. Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Sheppard Fruit Wines tasting room.
Sheppard Fruit Wines tasting room, Harrison ID
Sheppard Fruit Wines tasting room
This shop was built by Tom Collier with wood salvaged from the old train depot and served as a barber shop. Date is uncertain. After that, a local teacher used it as a residence. Beginning in 1966, it housed the popular Jewel Box gem shop owned by Al & Glenna Ross. It had a glass case from the Corskie store. The case is now in the museum. For a short while it was a gift shop called the Crow's Nest.
21 - COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH
100 Pine St., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Public. Church.
Baptist Church of Harrison, Idaho
Harrison's Baptist Church
The first Baptist Church burned in the 1917 fire. It was rebuilt in 1921 with exceptionally good acoustics and natural cedar exterior. Beautiful stained glass windows add to the warmth and charm. The piano downstairs was rescued from the fire.
22 - ADDISON CRANE HOMESTEAD / LAKEVIEW LODGE
110 N Coeur d'Alene Ave, Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Lakeview Lodge
The Lakeview Lodge in Harrison, Idaho
The Lakeview Lodge
This is the site of Addison Crane's home- stead. The old city hall and library occupied the spot for many years.  Mr. and Mrs. Albert Mault built the Gateway Apartment Motel in the winter of 1961 at an estimated cost of $100,000. The motel is now owned by Paul and Suzanne Hoskinson, who have provided major renovation. 
23 - CORSKIE HOUSE
114 Coeur d'Alene Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Corskie House Bed & Breakfast
Corskie House B&B in Harrison ID
Corskie House belonged to one of Idaho's first druggists
This house was built in 1918  for pharmacist John Corskie, after the 1917 fire destroyed his home. In addition to operating a drugstore for more than 50 years, Corskie served as bank president and city treasurer. Owned by Russ Wilbur.
24 - MILL BOARDING HOUSE / OSPREY INN B&B
134 N. Frederick Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Business. Osprey Inn B&B
The Osprey Inn B&B, Harrison ID
The Osprey Inn B&B
Originally built in 1915 by the Export Lumber Company as a boarding house for lumberjacks, the ground floor served as a hospital for a short time in the 50s. It sat empty for a long time. Jim and Arleen Woodside turned it into a B & B. The property was purchased in 2015 by the Skardas who operate it as a boutique hotel/B&B.
25 - HARRISON SCHOOL & GYM
Frederick Ave. and Park Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Private & Pubic. School - Private Property. Gym, basketball court, and parking lot are public, owned by City of Harrison.
Old brick school in Harrison, ID
The old Harrison school served the community for more than forty years
Old Harrison school gym
Old Harrison school gym has a stage for performances
Edwin Crane lived in a house here on his homestead. He sold the property to the school district in 1907 and moved to Spokane. The brick school was built in 1909 for grades one through twelve. The gymnasium was added between 1923-29 for  basketball, boxing, and drama events. It has served as a venue for dances, community theater, and other community events since 1952. These days the Chamber's annual Boot Scootin' Boogie fundraiser takes place here in May. 
26 - SENIOR CENTER
Pine St. and Frederick Ave., Harrison, Idaho, 83833
Access: Organization. Open to the public for certain events.
Senior Center, Harrison, Idaho
Harrison's Senior Center
This building was originally uphill from the Crane House as the First Presbyterian Church, a school, and library. Later it was skidded by teams down the hill to serve as a hall for the Odd Fellows. In 1975 it became the Senior Citizens Center
27 - OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Pine St. and Frederick Ave., Harrison, ID  83833
Access: Church. Public.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Harrison ID
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The original Catholic Church burned in the 1917 fire. This one was built in 1961, largely through the efforts and generosity of Joseph Kroetsch. Before that, mass was held in a residence that was converted to a chapel.
28 - SECOND MASONIC TEMPLE
101 Garfield, Harrison, ID, 83833
Access: Private Property.
George Carslon Private Art Studio in Harrison Idaho is former Freemason Lodge
George Carslon Private Art Studio
The Masons came on hard times and were unable to keep up with taxes. Event-ually they bought this build-ing from the Methodist Church. It is currently a private art studio. Closed to the public.
29 - BASTI MONTI CONFECTIONARY
Garfield St., behind Harrison Trading Post, Harrison, Idaho, 83833
Access: Private.
Mr. and Mrs. Monte ran a grocery store here. It was later a confectionery, then was used by the Emanuel Mission Church during the 1940s. The Jean Blancs used it as a welding shop.

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Note: Historical photos on this page are courtesy of the Crane Historical Society. The photos are available for purchase from the society. Please drop them a line or stop by the Crane House Museum during visitor hours.
Harrison Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 222
Harrison, ID 83833
E-mail:  harrison.id.info@gmail.com