History of Lafayette Commons
One of the important first structures of the historic downtown of Lafayette, 400 E Simpson is the location of the original bank, the Lafayette Bank, founded by Mary Miller and her sons in 1900. Mary Miller was the first known woman bank president in the US. The bank failed in 1914 during the long strike, and the Farmers State Bank moved into the space in 1920, and merged with the First National Bank before the building caught on fire in 1922. The original storefront next door remained intact. Rebuilt after the fire that destroyed most of the buildings in the 400 block of E Simpson St, the Rocky Mountain Store was the company store for miners between 1900-35. Located upstairs were both lodging rooms, medical offices, and the Odd Fellows Hall. The structure was originally addressed 404 and 406 E Simpson Street, but now is 400 E Simpson Street.
The east portion of the north elevation is the last remaining two-story structure of the historic downtown, thus it is of great significance to the E Simpson neighborhood. The building originally held the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company with a controlling interest held by Josephine Roche (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4h8eXF4deU).
Some information on the IOOF who resided in the building in the early 1900’s written by Karen Westover: “According to the Treeless Plain to Thriving City book p. 78, The Independent Order of Odd Fellows #91 was issued their charter on April 25, 1890. The first meeting was held on the second floor of the old brick school house on the north side of Baseline Road. They moved to the north side of Simpson Street in the 400 block in the Noble and Faull building. On January 24,1900 the Noble and Faull building burned so they moved back into the school house until Mr. Faull rebuilt his building with a hall above and the Odd fellows moved back in. Later the Odd Fellows built a Hall above the stores at the southeast corner of Simpson and Michigan. On June 21, 1914 this building burned so they moved to the Rocky Mountain Hall but later moved to the Webber Hall above the Webber Livery Stable.
In the 1930’s the Webber Hall was converted into apartments so the Odd Fellows moved back to the Rocky Mountain Hall. Shortly after the Rocky Mountain Coal Company gave all the Lodges notice to move because the Coal Company was going to sell to demolish the building because the hall was unsafe and it would cost 
too much to repair. The Odd Fellows then moved to the basement of the Baptist Church where there decided to buy the Rocky Mountain Coal Company building and saved it from destruction. The ground floor was rented to 2 stores and the library. There was an apartment on the south side of the upstairs and the hall was used for several lodges and churches and many dances were held there.
The Lodge’s popularity declined in the 40’s and in 1946 they sold the building to Fred Stone for $7,000 and moved to the mason’s lodge at 701 W Baseline until they surrendered their charter on March 20, 1978.”
At some point we are told that the building help lodging rooms as well. If you are reading this and have any additional history, photos or insights you would like to share, please send them our way.
