Today’s #tbt project from Hummel’s 125 Year History is the Alfred Eoff Building at 140 East Main Street in Boise.

This distinctive Queen Anne building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is distinguished by its pedimented wrap-around porch, second-story balcony, and third story mock gables. An impressive stone wall surrounds the property along Main and 2nd Street sides. It has served as a private home, the Governor’s Mansion, and most recently, as apartment housing.

“This dwelling was built in 1897 and designed by J.E. Tourtellotte for banker Alfred Eoff. The home was purchased in 1908 by James Brady, (Idaho Governor, 1909-11) and engaged Wayland and Fennel to supervise the remodeling, including converting the basement into a den. Now an apartment house, the structure still has the original oak paneling and woodwork.” (Quoted from Nine Walking Tours of Boise by Vicki Sharples Johnson and Patricia Stalcup Mickelson, 1979)

In 2018 Preservation Idaho recognized the Eoff Building as being slated for demolition by its private owner. The Boise City Council issued an emergency moratorium on all demolition permits for the property. This led to the Boise City Council establishing the East Main Street Historic district in 2019 to protect this historic building.