The St. Francis Hotel building was designed and built by Albany architect Charles Burggraf in 1912. Burggraf is well known for school buildings throughout Oregon. Burggraf designed several buildings in Albany including; Albany Civic Theater, Central Elementary School, SE Young & Son Building, 1st Savings Bank, and The JC Penney’s Building.

Not only was the hotel a place where travelers could stop and get a room, and a bath, but for decades it served as a center of social activity. The St. Francis’ restaurant was said to be a “Sunday ritual” for many locals. Traveling salesmen would set up their wares in the hotel’s Samples Room where local merchants could peruse the latest goods to carry in their shops.

The Ground floor of the building is used as a print shop. This part of the building has had many renovations done over the last fifty years. However, the original layout can still be discerned. Look up from the sidewalk and the significance of this building begins to show. The St. Francis is largely still intact. The woodwork on the second, third and fourth floors is for the most part still in pristine condition. The bathrooms still have their original fixtures and the central atrium carries light to the inside rooms.

Even the original sign is still on the premises, awaiting a time when it can be restored and put back into service.

The building is available for purchase.