Del Puerto Hotel demolished

by Claude Delphia 10/13/99 (revised 12-9-01)

The fire damaged Del Puerto Hotel was demolished in May of 1998.

Several last minute efforts to save it failed, in part, because the City of Patterson did not favor saving it and discouraged at least two businesses who wanted to restore it.

An auction of parts of the Hotel was held in the weeks prior to the demolition.  This raised a large sum for the Patterson Township Historical Society thanks to Vee Hooper.

As yet, that money has not been designated for any specific purpose nor has the board followed through with the Committee's plan to erect a memorial plaque to those who specifically donated to the Restoration Fund Drive in memory of relatives and old timers who otherwise will have little recognition other than in the written record of Patterson.

No pictures of the demolition will appear here.  While there may be a certain curiosity in the demolition process, it is still too painful a process to handle those photos.  I have not personally seen any of those photos nor did I see any of the demolition process.  I also have not seen the vacant Hotel site.  All by choice.

This subject and the loss are still painful for many long time Pattersonites 5 years later. (12-9-01)

The vacant property has now been partially paved for parking and landscaped, but there are no other plans in process for the development of the city owned property.

Feel free to send questions via email to: contact@patterson-ca.com