Casey's Bar
(Block 35; Lot 18)
| | Historical Walking Tour of Whitefish, Montana | |
This is the site of one of the oldest buildings in Whitefish. It opened as the Spraque Saloon in 1905, and. under a succession of ownerships, the building has catered to thirsty local residents for over 110 years.
In 1911, it was known as the Spraque-Danhisser Saloon, run by Fred Spraque and Henry Dashisser. Henry eventually opened his own billiard parlor across the street which returned the building back to the singularly named Spraque Saloon. In the early 1930s William N. Parent established his own billiard hall here. Billiards were a popular pastime for Whitefish folks in those days. By 1934, with prohibition having ended, the building was back to being a Pub. It was then named the Darnall and Schafer Saloon.
A long period of family ownership began in 1940, when Bill Murr bought the saloon and renamed it the Club Bar for the next 27 years.
Pat Casey, who was Murr's stepson, took over ownership in 1967 and changed the name to Casey's. For 36 years Pat continued to run it as a working folk's watering place also serving food from a small kitchen.
When Richard Kramer bought the colorful town landmark in 2003, he retained the name of Casey's. The aged building had been spruced up from time to time but was still the original structure that Mr. Spraque opened over 100 years ago.
Michael Goguen purchased Casey's in January 20ll. With the building being too irreparable for modern building codes, and wanting to honor its heritage as the oldest bar in Whitefish, construction of a new Casey's began in August of 2011. It reopened as a far more modern building in time for Labor Day weekend 2012.
It still stands on the same corner, and as its sign proclaims, it is still Casey's Bar.
Erected by Stumptown
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is January 20, 1905.
Location. 48° 24.691′ N, 114° 20.197′ W. Marker is in Whitefish, Montana, in Flathead County. It is at the intersection of Central Avenue and East 1st Street, on the right when traveling north on Central Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 Central Avenue, Whitefish MT 59937, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana and in Glacier Country. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Palace Bar (within shouting distance of this marker); Hori Cafe Building (within shouting distance of this marker);
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,317 times since then and 137 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
