Historic Joss House sold, will be razed

Feb. 14--After more than six months of legal maneuvering, the former owner of the Joss House in downtown Lewiston was finally able to close the sale of the property this week.

"It's kind of bittersweet for me," said David Walk, who acquired the dilapidated former Chinese temple at a 2010 tax sale. "I'm happy it sold, but I bought it because I'm a history buff."

The buyer, Bill Behrens of Lewiston, could not be reached this week to discuss his plans for the property. But Walk said he knows the concrete block building will be demolished because his contract with Behrens stipulates that he will get 150 of the blocks. Walk wants them for a landscaping project at his home.

"That way I'll always have a piece of Lewiston history," he said.

The sale took so long because Walk couldn't secure title insurance. Nez Perce County Deputy Prosecutor Nance Ceccarelli said that was probably because tax-foreclosed properties are typically sold at auction without a warranty title because heirs or others could conceivably come forward with a claim to ownership.

"I was stuck between a rock and a hard place," Walk said.

Walk decided to pursue a quiet title action, which took three months. But it ensured that no one else claimed ownership of the building. With a free-and-clear title, Walk was able to close the deal Monday.

Walk and his uncle bought the 5,387-square-foot lot and building on the 500 block of Capital Street at auction for $8,000 with hopes of restoring the Joss House, or tearing it down and building a small warehouse for Walk's wholesaling business. But those plans proved too costly, so he sold it to Behrens' limited liability company for $21,000. Its assessed value is $19,355.

Lewiston's once-strong Chinese population housed its Beuk Aie Temple in various locations, and moved it into the Joss House in 1959. The temple's relics were moved into the Lewis-Clark State College Center for Arts & History in 1991 after the building fell into disrepair. The temple altar and associated religious items recently underwent a complete restoration, and are on display at the center.

Mills may be contacted at [email protected] or (208) 848-2266.

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