William H. McELROY was born in Keokuk, Iowa, of Irish immigrants. Raised on a farm, he left Ringgold County, Iowa, at age 17. After apprenticing three years as a carpenter, he took a job in the bridge department of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, rising to the position of foreman of bridge construction. In 1888, McELROY migrated to California. After working as a carpenter in Merced and Fresno, he established his own construction firm in Merced in 1892. During the 1890s, he engaged in a short-lived partnership with pioneer contractor and builder Frank REHORN (1862-1916) of Fresno. It is noted that the 1905 REHORN Residence (Frank REHORN, builder; Alexander Culbertson SWARTZ, architect) is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1914, McELROY relocated his business to Eureka, but later returned to Merced. McELROY's expertise in bridge construction led to countless contracts to erect bridges throughout the central valley. He was also a leading manufacturer of brick in the region. He built many of Merced's finest older homes, Merced City Hall, Merced County Jail, the General Hospital and numerous commercial buildings, including the 1903 Pedreira Building located at Main and K Streets and the 1905 Merced Security Savings Bank (Goodwill Store) at 435 West Main Street.

W. H. McELROY was a member of the Merced Elks Lodge No. 1240, the Fresno Builders Exchange, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World.

NOTE: In 1900, D. M. BRUSCHI let a contract to W. H. McELROY to build a first-class hotel. A newspaper editorial commented that it would be "a sadness" to see the old landmark Hunter building removed. This was an early expression of preservation sentiment for the then 21-year-old building.

SOURCE:

POWELL, John Edward. "The Central Hotel, Merced CA 1879-1999" 120 Years of Architectural History 2006.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2009