Okanogan in Okanogan County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
1919- Baines Building
Historic Okanogan
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 16, 2017
1. 1919- Baines Building Marker
Inscription.
1919- Baines Building. Historic Okanogan. Started in 1919, construction of this building was finished in 1920. The building was praised as one of the most modem and up-to-date bank buildings in eastern Washington. Featuring two stories and a full basement, the building is faced with red pressed brick and relieved with terra cotta sills, belt course, comices, and coping. The Commercial Bank occupied the first floor, with offices on the second floor and the original Okanogan County Abstract Office in the basement., The Commercial bank building was purchased in June of 1951 by Bill Baines "other grandfather" Harley Heath and has been owned by the family since then. Harley was the owner and publisher of the Okanogan Independent, which was located across Pine Street from the Commercial Bank. It is not known why Harley purchased the building at that time. Bill and Jack Baines first operated Baines Title Company out of the basement of the building in the early 1950's., In May of 1960 Bill and Bonnie Baines purchased the building and moved Baines Title to its current location on the main floor. The upstairs offices were leased first to the Forest Service and then to attorneys RE Mansfield, James Thomas and Pat Morrissey. Today most of the upstairs offices are used for storage of growing collection of title files. Kirk Hopkins who is the grandson of Bill Baines occupies two of the offices as Hopkins Appraisal Service., Today, Baines Title Company occupies the entire first floor of the old Commercial Bank and has been expanded into several adjacent building. The business is now owned and operated by Anita Hopkins and is managed by her daughter, Kelly Townsend, who represents the fifth generation of the Baines family to work in the title company., This Plaque was developed by the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce and the City of Okanogan Planning Commission with assistance from the Okanogan Historical Society to celebrate the History of Okanogan
Started in 1919, construction of this building was finished in 1920. The
building was praised as one of the most modem and up-to-date bank
buildings in eastern Washington. Featuring two stories and a full
basement, the building is faced with red pressed brick and relieved
with terra cotta sills, belt course, comices, and coping. The
Commercial Bank occupied the first floor, with offices on the second
floor and the original Okanogan County Abstract Office in the
basement.
The Commercial bank building was purchased in June of 1951 by Bill
Baines "other grandfather" Harley Heath and has been owned by the
family since then. Harley was the owner and publisher of the
Okanogan Independent, which was located across Pine Street from the
Commercial Bank. It is not known why Harley purchased the building
at that time. Bill and Jack Baines first operated Baines Title Company
out of the basement of the building in the early 1950's.
In May of 1960 Bill and Bonnie Baines purchased the building and
moved Baines Title to its current location on the main floor. The
upstairs offices were leased first to the Forest Service
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and then to
attorneys RE Mansfield, James Thomas and Pat Morrissey. Today
most of the upstairs offices are used for storage of growing collection
of title files. Kirk Hopkins who is the grandson of Bill Baines occupies
two of the offices as Hopkins Appraisal Service.
Today, Baines Title Company occupies the entire first floor of the old
Commercial Bank and has been expanded into several adjacent
building. The business is now owned and operated by Anita Hopkins
and is managed by her daughter, Kelly Townsend, who represents the
fifth generation of the Baines family to work in the title company.
This Plaque was developed by the Okanogan Chamber of Commerce and the City of
Okanogan Planning Commission with assistance from the Okanogan Historical
Society to celebrate the History of Okanogan
Erected by Okanogan Chamber of Commerce, City of Okanogan Planning Commission with assistance from the Okanogan Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 48° 21.843′ N, 119° 34.844′ W. Marker
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, June 16, 2017
2. Baines Building & Marker
is in Okanogan, Washington, in Okanogan County. It is at the intersection of 2nd Avenue North and Pine Street, on the left when traveling north on 2nd Avenue North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 2nd Ave N, Okanogan WA 98840, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Okanogan Highlands. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Cascade Range, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 21, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
