This one story Italianate building was built in two phases by Jeremiah DeSpain, a very early settler in Pendleton. The South half of the building was completed in 1884 and the North half was completed in 1889. The building uses iron pilasters and an oversize parapet. The Club Cigar Saloon was located here in the early days and operated through the 1950's. It had one of the first phones in the city and the Club's phone number was "7," a number that it kept until the new phone system was put in place in the 1960's. Jeremiah DeSpain was a member of the first City Council, served as a volunteer of the first fire department, and served on the school board. He had made his money in the sheep industry and invested his profits in property in Pendleton. Jeremiah DeSpain and his wife Nancy DeSpain arrived in Umatilla County in 1866 and settled on Birch Creek. In 1872, they moved into the village of Pendleton when the town had a population of 250. They had a house built on the corner of S.E. 3rd and Court Streets. Over the years, Mr. DeSpain built and owned several properties in Pendleton. By 1890, the year that Jeremiah died, Pendleton had a population of 2500. Despain Avenue is named in his honor.
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