Car 19
Built in the early 1900's, this building originally
served as a candy and sporting goods store. By the 1940's it was known as the
Orange Blossom Confectionary, and was a popular gathering place during the war
time years. Ice cream and soda water were served in the front, and alcoholic
beverages and dancing were provided in the rear. Second floor was living
quarters. A change in ownership in the 1950's resulted in a new restaurant
which operated for only a brief tenure. The building was vacant for many years,
except for a small notions shop occupying the north section. In the late
1960's, when Park City's transition from a mining town to ski town was
beginning to congeal, the late Bob Murphey urged renovation of the historic
Main Street buildings. This structure was one of the earliest efforts, and was
remodeled to accommodate a bar and restaurant. The basement was cleared of
decades of debris and dirt to expose the stonework which is part of the lower
restaurant's decor today. Compared to the typical, very simple mining town
architecture of early Park City, this Victorian commercial structure is unusual
in its elaborate detailing. The stamped metal front was readily available by
mail order catalogue at the turn of the century. The pressed metal detailing on
this building is Main Street's last example of this once common facade
treatment. Remodeling undertaken in the late 1970's emphasized the Victorian
detailing, and added the wooden canopy which is a dominant feature of the
building today.