Hugh O'Kane, an illegal immigrant from Ireland, built the magnificent O'Kane Building, regarded as the finest example of the Chicago Mercantile Style in Bend and still the largest commercial structure in downtown Bend. O'Kane's role as a saloon keeper, hotelier, and builder suited him perfectly. He regaled his guests with colorful stories of his past adventures and exploits. By the time his masterpiece was completed, O'Kane weighed three hundred pounds and spent his afternoons sleeping in a chair propped against the building.