The building at #801-809 Main Street, the former Waranoke Inn, was built circa 1904 in the Colonial Revival style. The building was in the Downtown Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It had a restaurant, hotel rooms, and a saloon � although there were many in Town who opposed a liquor license for the owner, Mr. James E. O'Brien (1861-1911). Speaking in favor of a license before the State commissioners, were Mr. O'Brien, Judge Herbert Bowers, F. Ernest Watkins, Captain William Cheney, and Elwood Ela, publisher of the Manchester Herald. Speaking against were the Rev. George Reynolds pastor of Center Congregational Church, the Rev. William J. McGurk, pastor of St. James Roman Catholic Church, and F.A. Verplanck, principal of the schools in South Manchester. Also opposing was W.C. Tucker, manager of the Orford Hotel (which we know as the "Marlows" building), who had bought out Mr. O'Brien's interest for $6,500, not knowing that Mr. O'Brien intended to open another establishment nearby. Pastor McGurk was reported as asserting that the "hotel was built mainly for the barroom," according to a November 4, 1904 Hartford Courant article. A license was granted in February, 1905, and Mr. O'Brien continued to manage the Inn until his death, except for a couple of years when his nephew, Michael Boyle, was in charge. The Courant reports a gas explosion in November 1910 and a fire in April 1930, neither of which substantially damaged the building.

Quoting from the "Historical and Architectural Resource Survey" of Manchester the "former hotel has a central entry and symmetrical fa�ade, with classically inspired details such as pilasters and flat arches, with keystone motif. The parapet, decorated with brick corbelling and brick dentils, runs across the fa�ade and features a stepped parapet at the center." (The surveys that describe architectural and historic features of Manchester buildings are available at the Town Hall planning department, Manchester Historical Society, and public library.)

Until the terrible fire of October 12, 2013, the building served many uses, as listed in the Town directories, published annually:

• Directories from 1906 through 1917, the Waranoke Inn.
• The 1922 directory lists it as the Waranoke Restaurant and Bakery and that name is used until 1932.
• In 1934, it's the location of the Silbros Clothing Company and J. C. Edwards Furniture Rooms.
• From 1933 through 1938 the name Waranoke does not appear in the city directories.
• In 1939, it's the location of the Waranoke Apartments, and is known by that name until 1975 when it is called the Waranoke Rooming House, the name used until 1981. After that, the building isn't listed as one name, and only the individual tenants are listed.
• In 2013, Connecticut Valley Coin Company and the Great Harvest Bread Company occupied the street level, with residences above. Joe Tully of Manchester owned the building at the time of the tragic fire.

The fire broke out about 9:22 p.m. Saturday, October 12, 2013, and continued to burn until 2:00 a.m. Sunday, when it was brought under control. Fire Chief Robert Bycholski said the fire broke out high in the basement of the bread shop. Natural gas lines in the basement fed the flames, causing the lower floors to "burn fiercely" and extending the flames quickly to the upper floors. No one was injured. What little was left of the brick and metal skeleton was razed.

The Historical Society is saddened by the loss of this historic building, and by the losses sustained by its owner, businesses and residents.

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