Star Hotel, which was destroyed in the 2015 fire, rededicated
A new building now occupies the site where the Star Hotel used to stand in Fortuna, constructed after the historic building was destroyed in a 2015 fire. During a recent visit by Native Sons of the Golden West Grand President Joe Castillo, a ceremony was held to rededicate the Star Hotel.
The original dedication and unveiling of a bronze plaque on the side of the new building was in February 2000 and was re-dedicated on March 27, 2021.
Castillo read the wording on the plaque to those gathered for the rededication.
“Built in 1876 by W. J. McKenna, numerous owners operated the hotel with various innkeepers for many years,” Castillo said. “It was a welcome stop for travelers, having 55 rooms, fine dining and room rates starting at $2 per night.”
The plaque says that over the years the hotel housed many shops such as music, barber, saloon, shoe, variety, men’s and ladies clothing, card and gift, sporting goods, candy and ice cream, liquor, café, carpet, and the county library.
When the Star Hotel burned it was home to Green’s Pharmacy and other businesses. Green’s Pharmacy owners Robert and Mary Johnson owned the building, and immediately began planning for and completed rebuilding on the same site, re-opening for business there in April 2018.
At the Native Sons of the Golden West ceremony, Robert Johnson said, “It is an honor to have this building re-dedicated,” and he added, “the best way to memorialize the old building was to repaint the mural,” referring to the mural that had been on the side of the Star Hotel building and is currently on the side of the new building.
The mural on the new building was painted by local artist Helen Rust, who in 1997, painted the original mural on the Star Hotel building. Both the old and the new murals were and are titled Main Street Memories.
The Native Sons of the Golden West rededication ceremony included the mixing of sand, gravel, and water to create a small amount of mortar to be applied to the corner of the bronze plaque. Castillo said it was the mission of the organization to preserve California history.
Humboldt County 1st District Supervisor Rex Bohn said at the ceremony, “Robert and Mary didn’t have to make this commitment to Fortuna, but they did, and they will always be a big part of the Fortuna community.”