The original name of this building is" The De Vilbiss Hotel Building" named after a very prominent local rancher by the name of " John A. De Vilbiss ". Mr De Vilbiss hired an well known architect by the name of "Allen Aaron Cook" from Sacramento to design his building. When completed in 1889, the building was said to be one of the finest and most prominent commercial buildings in Winters !
The first floor had an office/ bar / dining room / kitchen & meeting rooms. On the second floor were 40 rooms and a parlor. The 2 story brick building survived the devestating Earthquake of 1892, but the 72 foot cupola as seen in the old photo of 1890 was destroyed in the fire of 1915.
The building was first sold to I.V. Hugh's in 1896 and again in 1917 to T. H. Fenley. This building became a place where Mr. Fenley conducted his groceries and hardware business. In 1930 the building was reaquired by a member of the De Vilbiss Family and remains in the family ever-since. . Melanie Bajakian-Pickerel did a magnificent job restoring the interior to its original architectural charm and splendor .
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