The Royal Block sees new owners, lots of history, bright future

WAITSBURG-218 Main Street has contributed its fair share to Waitsburg's history. Built in 1888 by G.W Loundagin, the Royal Block has housed many businesses including a hotel, multiple pharmacies, apartments, restaurants, a craft store. According to a souvenir booklet printed by the Oregonian in 1904, the building was known as the Loundagin Block & Hotel Royal. In 1977, Sid's Pharmacy, Treasures in Tole, and 'apartments' were listed on a Historical Registration application that encompassed the entire Main Street.

In 2020, Tiina Jaatinen and Joe Roberts purchased the historical building, and have since been working to restore the historical storefront with visions of a wine bar and convertible gathering space on the main floor. Upstairs there will be lodging and a permanent living space for the new owners who plan on keeping the Royal Block name.

"We want it to be a space for events, big and small. We are designing in a way that it can be convertible, so we can accommodate bigger events," Jaatinen said.

Jaatinen, grew up in a village of roughly 500 in eastern Finland, and Roberts, grew up ranching near Odessa Washington. Both appreciate the small, rural town life, and have enjoyed friendly folks stopping by and asking questions about the work being done on the building.

"The excitement is contagious," Roberts shared, talking about the curious residents he has spoken with so far. "Without question, people have stopped, introduced themselves, asked 'what are you doing?'"Roberts shared that they have already had a couple of people stop by and share stories about the Royal Block. Phil Monfort, of Waitsburg, and Susie Stonecipher have both stopped in to share valuable tidbits of information and fun memories. As they continue to work on the building, hoping to open later this spring, they are asking for memories and stories from folks who may have visited one of the previous businesses, to help decode the building's past.

"We know that G.W Loundagin called the building the Royal Block, we don't yet know why, and we'd like to figure that out," Roberts said. "To bring that history back, to preserve it, and to continue that story, is where we want to be involved. We want to keep the history lights on."

During the remodel, the couple has found fun little glimpses into the building's past, like a wood-fired pizza oven, with charred wood left in it, and a coal shoot with a pile of coal still waiting to be burned. An old Carpenter & Sons Pharmacy sign sits on an aging chest in the front of the space, and two peculiar chairs were found in the basement. A locked safe in the basement is, perhaps, the most intriguing find yet, with Roberts and Jaatinen saying they hope to find someone who can help them open it.

"We are using a lot of care with the renovation," Roberts said, explaining that they are taking measures to stabilize the brick walls, installing energy-efficient windows, and are planning on cleaning the old timber floors, preserving many of the stains and scars. "All of these scars are evidence of history. The last thing we want to do with old growth timber is paint it and make it go away."

Roberts and Jaantinen have started an Instagram page to document the work on the Royal Block and share the history as they uncover it, @theroyalblock. Give them a follow and stay up to date with new findings, opening dates, and more about the oldest-new building on Main Street!