Endangered Since 2019: Waldron Brothers Drugstore
The Dalles, Oregon (1864)
The Waldron Brothers Drug store was added to our Oregon’s Most Endangered Places program back in 2019 when it was threatened with demolition. Today, the City is now on a much preferred path of preservation and reuse.
On May 17, 2024, a new art installation entitled Light Capsules #40 lit up and magically transformed the side of the historic Waldron Brothers’ Drugstore building in The Dalles. A rotating set of brilliantly colored digital images of historically accurate “ghost murals” were projected onto the side of the building as the large community crowd cheered as darkness fell. This is a permanent installation so anyone passing by from sunset to sunrise will get to experience one aspect of the beloved landmark’s history. Restore Oregon supported this art intervention that literally illuminates the value of the oldest commercial building in The Dalles and serves as a beacon of heritage and pride for the entire community.
Light Capsule #40 is the artistic vision of Craig and Jessica Winslow, the artists whose project is activating the building with this restorative and educational project. They worked in collaboration with the City of The Dalles and the Columbia Gateway Urban Renewal Agency, who funded the project.
The Waldron Brothers’ Drugstore, also known as the Gitchell Building, is the oldest intact commercial building in The Dalles. Constructed during the Civil War of local stone, it has served many purposes in its 155 years: a Post Office and drugstore, town newspaper office and Masonic Lodge, ticket office, and later as apartments, offices, and even a haunted house. Repair work was done in 2009 to address areas of deterioration, but now the building is threatened with demolition. A group of concerned citizens has formed to work with The Dalles Main Street program, city officials, and residents to develop a plan for the rehabilitation and reuse of the Drugstore. In the past year, they have succeeded in completing a feasibility study for its reuse and, along with Restore Oregon staff, appealed to City Council to place a stay on demolition. This provides much-needed time to explore relocation options and assess the resources and cost of rehabilitating this critically endangered landmark.