A bit of history about the three large brick residences on Pioneer Road in Weiser. (This information is from the book "Weiser Architecture").

To the west of Fifth Street on Pioneer Road are three large brick residences built for Isaac Leighton, J.M. Fisher and August Broderson. Set on spacious lawns with mature trees, these colonial revival houses created an imposing suburban oasis. Originally the Butterfield Live Stock Company's "town ranch" was located in this area, but in 1908 the firm outgrew this facility and relocated on 440 acres one-and-one half miles to the west. The town ranch was then platted as a residential area with Isaac Leighton purchasing thirty-three acres, James M. Fisher five acres and August Broderson ten acres plus a frame dwelling. J.M. Fisher immediately commissioned H.W. Bond to design the ten room residence at 562 Pioneer, which features a lovely stained glass window on its west side. In the following year, 1909, work began on Isaac Leighton's house at 642 Pioneer Road. With its sandstone porch, pedimented portico and larger dormer-like sleeping porch. August Broderson occupied a two-story, two room frame dwelling, which came with the land. In 1915 he had architect Bond design the eleven room residence at 502 Pioneer Road with the bay window centered in the second story.

All three neighbors were sheep ranchers. James Fisher was born in Scotland and migrated to Canada at the age of fourteen. He purchased a ranch in Paddock Valley in 1889, after raising sheep for six years in Oregon. He sold this spread in 1905 when he moved to town.

Isaac Leighton, who was born and raised in West Virginia, was nine years younger than Fisher. He came west in 1878 and operated a sheep ranch near Pendleton. In 1886 he located on Crane Creek, where he remained until he became a resident of Weiser in 1898.

August Broderson, a native of Germany, was the youngest of the three, migrating to America in 1892. He secured a job with the Butterfield Livestock Company in 1897, and several years later started his own herd on homestead property in the Seven Devils Country. While in this area he cut all the lumber which eventually went into his house on Pioneer Road.

In 2005, Bart and Rosa Bowling moved to Weiser from southern California and purchased this house.

In renovating this beautiful old home we originally thought of the opportunity we had to share that beauty with others, but our greatest joy now comes from sharing the rich history of Weiser through the story of the house, the architect and its owners at 502 Pioneer Road. We invite you to stop by and share the story with us.

About the Innkeepers -

• Innkeeper(s): Rosa and Bart Bowling
  Our hobbies include the restoration of this wonderful house. We also enjoy gardening and visiting with friends...old and new! We look forward to your visit.
• The innkeepers speak: English, Spanish
• There are 2 dogs on the property