Location: [[115 UNITY]] ST Description: [[THIEL & WELTER]] Warehouse aka “[[Thiel & Welter Warehouse|Unity building]]”. Era: 1912/[[Standing in 2026]] Style: 3-story Modern ___ ([[2014 NRHP Registration form “Downtown Bellingham Historic District”]]: Description: [[115 UNITY]] St. was built in 1912 (according to [[Jeff Jewell]], Historian) in the Commercial style. The three-story [[reinforced concrete]] building is rectangular in plan, stands on a poured concrete foundation, has a flat roof with a parapet, and features painted concrete walls. Small window openings provide day lighting along the side facades. A massive stone blocks the alley behind the building, with the building built up to and partially around the stone, which stands one story tall. A small added wood frame balcony projects out over the stone. Paired one-over-one windows provide day lighting at the front and rear facades for the upper floors. The original plan and cladding are intact. There are extensive alterations to the original storefronts and windows. Cultural: The building is named for Henry Thiel and Joseph Welter, who were in the business of furniture, carpets, draperies, stoves and ranges. The company was the listed tenant in the 1930s to ca. 1940. In 1947, the tenant was the Cascade Candy Company. In 1950 and 1955, it was Johnson-McCall Restaurant Supplies. In 1960, the occupants were the Union Printing Warehouse and Reliable Paint Contractors. In 1963, the former tenants were still there, but Roberson Roofing was also at the address. The building was also used as a paint store, and in earlier times, as a warehouse to store brown sugar. Above the retail space on the ground floor were two floors of warehouse space, each 110 ft. x 55 ft., connected by a set of stairs, and an old-fashioned freight elevator with wood-slat doors. The rear of the building abuts directly onto a large, 15' tall sandstone rock outcropping, a remnant from the early landscape that somehow evaded the backhoe.) [[1912 Sandison Aerial Series]] shows excavation already completed for the foundation. “The new [[THIEL & WELTER]] warehouse, just off Champion Street, between sylvan and Dock, is assuming proportions. The building is three stories high and…” (The Bellingham Herald Sat, Sep 21, 1912 • Page 1) [[Sanborn 1913]]: present (113-115) [[DAYLIGHT PROPERTIES]] refurbished this building. ___ [[©2026 NEW WHATCOM PRESS]]