Lambros Sells Park Hotel – 1962
Hancock Becomes Park Hotel Owner
The Park Hotel at 600 N. Higgins Ave. was sold last week by Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Lambros, 511 E. Pine St., to Jerry J. Hancock, Evan Kelley Road, for $106,000. The transaction was handled by Farviews Development Co. headed by A. J. Mosby.
The property will be operated much as it has since last February when the Lambros family undertook its rejuvenation after retaking control following a lapse of many years. However, Hancock said, as time passes he expects to make further improvements.
Under management of George P. Lambros, a son, about $22,000 has been spent renovating and refurbishing the property since last winter, reported the father. He said the roof was restored; public rooms and all the 68 guest rooms were redecorated; new chairs and other equipment were purchased; other improvements were made and delinquent taxes were paid.
Mr. and Mrs. Lambros acquired the property Aug. 3, 1926, from Mrs. Barbara Redle, widow of a man who had owned the Missoula Brewing Co. The property was built as a two-story structure around the turn of the century by the late Edward Schilling and was named the Grand Pacific Hotel. This was at the time of construction of the present Northern Pacific passenger station.
The Lambros sold the hotel to Joseph P. Wieber and the late Clifford G. Hogan in 1946. Subsequently it changed hands several times.
Hancock came here from Tigard, Ore., to become superintendent for the Van-Evan Co. at its plywood plant, starting in May 1, 1961. Before moving to Missoula, he operated the Tigard Hardware for about four years. Before that he spent 15 years in plywood production in Oregon, mostly in management capacities. He is a native of Hillsboro, Ore.
The above article appeared in The Missoulian-Sentinel on December 25, 1962