History Through Architecture: 25th Street Then and Now
Once a part of a bustling Wild West frontier town, Ogden’s Historic 25th Street is now a hub for local businesses, artists, and foodies alike.
What found its beginnings as a small, quiet agricultural town, the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad in Ogden turned the community into a melting pot and brought diversity to a historically non-diverse town. With numerous stops being made in Ogden a day, the constant commotion of the trains aided in giving Ogden the nickname “The Junction City.”
Ogden’s Historic 25th Street has seen many eras since its founding in 1889 and, the individuals who frequented it then may not even recognize it now, despite its façade undergoing only minor changes. Although brothels, speakeasies, and bootleggers engulfed the street over a hundred years ago, 25th Street is now a beloved avenue filled with creative enterprises, each teeming with life.
From Farming Community to Junction City
Union Station
The anchor of 25th Street, Union Station, is an iconic symbol of Ogden’s long history. The Transcontinental Railroad brought countless individuals into Ogden and ultimately allowed it to gain traction as a town that some say was “much too rough” for even Al Capone.
The original structure was built in 1870 but was almost entirely burnt to the ground in 1923. With a hasty turnaround, the station was rebuilt in 1924 and became the beloved Union Station that locals know and love today.
Today, the station has been repurposed and is home to the Railroad Museum, the Browning Firearms Museum, the Browning-Kimball Car Museum, the Cowboy Museum and two art galleries.
Vintage Architecture Meets Pop Culture
Porter Block
The Porter Block is an architectural landmark on 25th Street. Built in 1898, the structure is a rare example of Victorian Commercial architecture, and its brick exterior is covered in a metal façade. While its name implies otherwise, Porter Block is a single building rather than a full city block.
Before it was sold to its current owners, the building served as a bakery, the Lewis Weinberger tailor shop, and the Lawrence Barsotti Confectionery.
Today, Porter Block is home to The City Club, a Beatles-themed bar filled to the brim with an extensive, one-million-dollar Beatles memorabilia collection. The bar is a local hotspot known for its Beatles-themed cocktails and delicious food.
A Cultural Icon of 25th Street is Reborn
Neon Dragon Sign
Locals and visitors alike may recognize the neon dragon sign that hangs above what is now O-Town Eats and Stella’s as an icon of Ogden. In 1948, the Ryujin family opened the Star Noodle, welcoming guests to savor cuisine still remembered decades later.
The Star Noodle was a consistent symbol of diversity until its closure in 2007. When the restaurant closed, the beloved sign disappeared with it. But after years of absence, the neon dragon made its reemergence after relentless inquiries from locals. Thain Fischer, a managing partner of Fischer Regan Enterprises- the building's owners who restored it- says that now that the sign is back in place, he plans to continue lighting the dragon at dusk every evening.
While the building is best known for being the home to the Star Noodle, its history dates back to 1912, serving as a beloved movie theater before the Star Noodle took over the building.
Famed Brothel Turned Bar
Alleged
Aligning with the rough past of the city, modern-day Alleged gained fame in the 1940s when it housed The Rose Room, one of Ogden’s most famed brothels.
The Rose Room was run by Rosette Davie, more commonly referred to as Rose Davie, whose business dominated the prostitution game for nearly two decades. The success of her brothel brought in nearly $30,000 monthly, making Rose one of the most notorious madams in the region. Rose could be identified in town by her signature pink Cadillac and a pet ocelot that always accompanied her. Like her own lavish lifestyle, the brothel’s parlor was decorated in pink and animal prints.
Today, it is home to Ogden’s first roof deck bar and is a local hotspot. The industrial-style building hosts visitors looking to enjoy craft cocktails and dancing in the heart of the city. Individuals can even rent out the rooms in the building as an upscale VRBO!
A Century-Old Icon
The Bigelow
While it may be known as an apartment complex now, the tall structure on the corner of 25th Street and Washington Avenue was once a crown jewel hotel not only in Ogden but in all of Utah.
Built in 1927, the beloved hotel was built in an Italian Renaissance Revival style, which was popular at the time but rare in Utah. In 1933, it was named the Ben Lomond Hotel, functioning primarily as a hotel until 2019, when it was renamed The Bigelow and converted into the apartment complex many know it for today.
Despite the changes to the business model, the structure itself has hardly been touched in almost a century, still rising above Washington Avenue with its distinctive facade.
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