Historic Hotel Serving As ‘The Depot’ During Q125

With current and former residents and visitors descending upon Elgin beginning Thursday night, there will be a lot of needs that need to be met.  Food? Check. Entertainment? Check. Family & Fellowship? Check. A Q125 headquarters for memorabilia? Check.
It is only fitting that the former Logan Hotel building should come to house the headquarters for Elgin’s Q125 celebration. Located at 112 North 2nd Street (Highway 14), the land and that old hotel building have a storied history.
The land was patented on June 28, 1872 to the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. It was sold several times before being purchased by an individual. That individual who then owned the hotel lot was the man responsible for Elgin’s name, Postmaster William Eggleston.
Eggleston purchased the property on June 30, 1887 – the “birth” year of Elgin. After several more sales, sometime shortly before 1911, the building on that lot was officially recognized as a hotel.
Years passed, the original building burned in the fire of 1909, ownership of the land and new building continued to change.  Then with its sale to Raymond and LaVerne Seier in 1978, it was first run as a ceramics shop and in 1980 changed into a residence for the Seier family to accommodate all their children and grandchildren when they came to visit.
Following the passing of the Seiers, the building eventually came up for auction in 1992. Mike and Connie Dvorak of Elgin purchased the building. According to Connie, the building needed some work.
“We took the top story off. The windows were falling out,” she said. They also blocked off the back entrance and other windows. After that work was done, the building was in fairly good shape. “It had a working bathroom, a new roof,” Connie added. “It was in pretty good repair.”
It became a business again for a while but then sat empty — until recent months, that is. Mike said they had an idea and arranged a visit with the Elgin Q125 committee.
“We approached them last fall,” he said. The Dvoraks suggested the committee utilize the building and its central location as a headquarters. Earlier this year, the committee decided to take them up on their offer.
For the last couple of months, committee members (with some help from the Dvoraks) have been cleaning and decorating the interior. The exterior received some decorating several weeks ago and just last Friday morning, Mike Dvorak and Merle Moser hung the new sign, “The Depot”.
Items that may be purchased include commemorative T-shirts, Elginopoly board game, travel mugs, batter bowls, salt & pepper shakers, plates, Young-N-Lively cookbooks, belt buckles and much more!  Please be advised that they will accept checks and cash only — no credit or debit cards.
The headquarters will be manned by volunteers beginning Friday morning, June 20.
Hours will be 8 am – 9 pm EXCEPT the building will be closed during the parade on Sunday (1-4 pm).