A large old Victorian rooming house was razed in July 1954 in the name of “progress” to make way for business property. The house had been the home of Urban and Minnie Alguire, both were considered to be true “pioneers” of Riverside.

Urban Alguire was born in 1859 in Canada, and Minnie in 1863 in Michigan. Minnie came to Riverside first, arriving in 1873 with her parents. Urban came in 1883, and began a career in the carriage and carriage implement business, first with Stewart and Lett, and then on his own. The two were married in 1886. They had no children.

The carriage business must have been good for Urban Alguire, because in the 1890s he was able to purchase lots at the northeast corner of 8th and Chestnut streets in downtown Riverside and build a spacious home. The Alguires called t

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