Career
Trade attempt in Washington, and San Diego investments
In 1884, William joined his brother Charles in Whatcom, Washington (later Bellingham), becoming one of the pioneers of the city. The brothers started their career as wholesale and retail merchants after purchasing a stock of alcohol in San Francisco.[3][7][2]
At the time the Roehls developed their business, Whatcom was growing rapidly, primarily due to the plans to connect its railroad line to Canada in Sumas, Washington. The connection was later declined by the Canadian government, and Whatcom experienced an economic depression. The Roehls were forced to close their business, and decided to wait out the crisis. They left the city separately.[3]
In 1886, William Roehl went to Vancouver, British Columbia, and worked there for a year. In 1887, he re-joined his brother in San Diego, California. They started making investments into the city's development, but were unsuccessful.[3][5]
Trading business restart in Whatcom, Washington
In 1889, the Roehl brothers returned to Whatcom and reopened their business as wine, liquor and cigar merchants. They became leading industry figures of their city, well-known for handling high quality whisky.[7][2][8]
For four years, the brothers conducted a liquor house (at the time in Washington State, typically a point of wholesale for alcohol[9]) in the Lighthouse Block, at the corner of Holly and Dock Streets. In 1900, they sold it to the Capital Brewing Co. Meanwhile, they had already started the process of establishing a new, "up to date and modern" liquor house in the Byron House. This establishment contained a bar, billiard hall, and private card room; the whole property's size was 27 ft × 110 ft (8.2 m × 33.5 m).[8]
In 1902, trade disagreements between the U.S. and Canada led to stronger enforcement of the tariff act of July 24, 1897. The new rulings resulted in confiscation of liquor shipments. Among others, one of Roehls' shipments, going from Victoria, British Columbia to Whatcom, was seized.[10]
Real estate dealings
In 1902, the Roehl brothers retired from liquor business, dedicating all of their time to their real estate dealings.[7] They actively purchased, sold, and rented "some of the best property in the town," earning good profit.[3][11]
The brothers erected a two-story brick building sized 50 ft × 70 ft (15 m × 21 m) on Dock Street for rental purposes, rented two brick buildings on Holly street, owned a Knights of Pythias Building in Fairhaven, Washington and much residential property around Whatcom city.[8]
Among the Roehl brothers' real estate deals were the selling of the Hotel Byron (later the Leopold Hotel), to businessmen Charles Wright and M. C. Dickinson,[12] and the Lighthouse Block purchase in 1902.[13] Under the Roehl's management, the Lighthouse Block was modified into an office building and equipped with steam heat and a magnetic elevator, the first in the city. They owned the building for six years, until it was sold to the First National Bank of Bellingham in 1908.[14]
William Roehl retired from active business in 1906, but continued to supervise his investments[6] and make occasional real estate deals until at least 1929.[15]
Other activity
Besides his business activity, Roehl was an active citizen and a member of the Bellingham Bay Society.[4]
In 1898, Roehl participated in the Klondike Gold Rush. He traveled by the steamship Queen to the gold digger's departure point, Dyea, Alaska.[16] He travelled to Dawson City, Yukon, the center of gold fields. The situation, accommodations, and spirits there were deplorable, as described by one of the Roehl's companions in a letter.[17]
