Caldwell Hotel: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
Line 4: Line 4:
The hotel was incorporated, with $100,000 in capital, on [[February 3]], [[1886]] by officers of the [[Elyton Land Company]]. They named it for their president, [[Henry Caldwell]], who agreed to allow his own residence to be moved to [[4th Avenue North]] to make way for construction. Architect [[Edouard Sidel]] was commissioned to create the design, and [[Henry M. Allen]] hired to oversee construction, at a projected cost of $250,000.
The hotel was incorporated, with $100,000 in capital, on [[February 3]], [[1886]] by officers of the [[Elyton Land Company]]. They named it for their president, [[Henry Caldwell]], who agreed to allow his own residence to be moved to [[4th Avenue North]] to make way for construction. Architect [[Edouard Sidel]] was commissioned to create the design, and [[Henry M. Allen]] hired to oversee construction, at a projected cost of $250,000.


Before the hotel was completed, however, the property was sold for a loss, with Dr Caldwell and [[John Boddie]] entering the sole bid of $54,849.82 and assuming the outstanding bond debt of $118,000. Immediately afterward, Caldwell ordered furnishings from a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan whose agent was on-hand, and made plans to open the doors as soon as possible. When it did open in [[1889]], the hotel's 165-foot height distinguished it as Alabama's second "high-rise" building (after the Moses Building, constructed in Montgomery in [[1887]]).
The Renaissance revival-styled building was clad in stone, terra cotta and Philadephia pressed brick and gave the impression of being one of the city's most durable monuments, and was even billed as being of fireproof construction. It occupied a 150-foot square plot with an open courtyard in the center giving light to each room.


The Caldwell, a square block 150 feet to a side with an open court in the center, succeeded the [[Florence Hotel]] as the young city's most luxurious accommodations. Its parlors and ballrooms hosted the annual balls of the [[Fortnight Club|Fortnight]], [[Monogram Club|Monogram]] and [[Cosmos Club]]s as well as numerous other meetings and events. The hotel hosted a luncheon for [[List of Presidential visits|President Benjamin Harrison]] in [[1891]], served as headquarters for the [[1892 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama team]] for the [[1893 Iron Bowl|first Iron Bowl]] and played host for the proceedings of the [[1894 Confederate Veterans Reunion]], which drew more than 10,000 visitors to the city. The two-story dining room held a massive chandelier and the lobby boasted hand-carved furnishings and fine oil paintings, as well as a marble bust of Caldwell, placed in front of a gilt Alabama coat-of-arms. A salon under the hotel's gilded dome hosted frequent high-stakes poker games.
Before the hotel was completed, the property was sold for a loss, with Dr Caldwell and [[John Boddie]] entering the sole bid of $54,849.82 and assuming the outstanding bond debt of $118,000. Immediately afterward, Caldwell ordered furnishings from a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan whose agent was on-hand, and made plans to open the doors as soon as possible. When it did open in [[1889]], the hotel's 165-foot height distinguished it as Alabama's second "high-rise" building (after the Moses Building, constructed in Montgomery in [[1887]]).


[[Image:Caldwell Hotel after fire.jpg|left|thumb|225px|The Caldwell Hotel after the July 21, 1894 fire]]
[[Image:Caldwell Hotel after fire.jpg|left|thumb|225px|The Caldwell Hotel after the July 21, 1894 fire]]
The Renaissance reviva-styled building was clad in stone, terra cotta and Philadephia pressed brick and gave the impression of being one of the city's most durable monuments, and was even billed as being of fireproof construction. Nevertheless, a massive fire that broke out at the [[Stowers Furniture Company]] late in the evening of July 20 spread to the hotel, leaving its brick walls standing as a smoldering ruin. No lives were lost in the blaze, which was controlled during the night from spreading to the rest of the business district.  
The Caldwell succeeded the [[Florence Hotel]] as the young city's most luxurious accommodations. Its parlors and ballrooms hosted the annual balls of the [[Fortnight Club|Fortnight]], [[Monogram Club|Monogram]] and [[Cosmos Club]]s as well as numerous other meetings and events. The hotel hosted a luncheon for [[List of Presidential visits|President Benjamin Harrison]] in [[1891]], served as headquarters for the [[1892 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|Alabama team]] for the [[1893 Iron Bowl|first Iron Bowl]] and played host for the proceedings of the [[1894 Confederate Veterans Reunion]], which drew more than 10,000 visitors to the city. The two-story dining room held a massive chandelier and the lobby boasted hand-carved furnishings and fine oil paintings, as well as a marble bust of Caldwell, placed in front of a gilt Alabama coat-of-arms. A salon under the hotel's gilded dome hosted frequent high-stakes poker games.  


Following the demise of the Caldwell, the [[Morris Hotel]], which had previously included office floors, was expanded.
Despite the claim that the building was "fireproof", a [[1894 downtown fire|massive fire]] that broke out at the [[Stowers Furniture Company]] late in the evening of July 20 spread to the hotel, leaving only its brick walls standing as smoldering ruins the next morning. No lives were lost in the blaze, which was controlled during the night from spreading to the rest of the business district.  


Although the hotel was billed as being fireproof, it was destroyed by [[1894 downtown fire|massive fire]] on [[July 21]], [[1894]]. The ruined walls remained standing until [[1905]], when the site was acquired by the [[Goodall-Brown Dry Goods Company]] for its offices and warehouse, recently renovated as the [[Goodall-Brown Lofts]].
Following the demise of the Caldwell, the [[Morris Hotel]], which had previously included office floors, was expanded into a full-service hotel. The ruined walls of the Caldwell remained standing until [[1905]], when the site was acquired by the [[Goodall-Brown Dry Goods Company]] for its offices and warehouse, recently renovated as the [[Goodall-Brown Lofts]].


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 20:12, 19 October 2010

Drawing of the Caldwell Hotel. courtesy BPL Archives

The Caldwell Hotel, completed in 1889, was a six-story, 100-room hotel located on the northeast corner of 22nd Street and 1st Avenue North in downtown Birmingham. The hotel was destroyed in a fire on July 21, 1894.

The hotel was incorporated, with $100,000 in capital, on February 3, 1886 by officers of the Elyton Land Company. They named it for their president, Henry Caldwell, who agreed to allow his own residence to be moved to 4th Avenue North to make way for construction. Architect Edouard Sidel was commissioned to create the design, and Henry M. Allen hired to oversee construction, at a projected cost of $250,000.

The Renaissance revival-styled building was clad in stone, terra cotta and Philadephia pressed brick and gave the impression of being one of the city's most durable monuments, and was even billed as being of fireproof construction. It occupied a 150-foot square plot with an open courtyard in the center giving light to each room.

Before the hotel was completed, the property was sold for a loss, with Dr Caldwell and John Boddie entering the sole bid of $54,849.82 and assuming the outstanding bond debt of $118,000. Immediately afterward, Caldwell ordered furnishings from a company in Grand Rapids, Michigan whose agent was on-hand, and made plans to open the doors as soon as possible. When it did open in 1889, the hotel's 165-foot height distinguished it as Alabama's second "high-rise" building (after the Moses Building, constructed in Montgomery in 1887).

The Caldwell Hotel after the July 21, 1894 fire

The Caldwell succeeded the Florence Hotel as the young city's most luxurious accommodations. Its parlors and ballrooms hosted the annual balls of the Fortnight, Monogram and Cosmos Clubs as well as numerous other meetings and events. The hotel hosted a luncheon for President Benjamin Harrison in 1891, served as headquarters for the Alabama team for the first Iron Bowl and played host for the proceedings of the 1894 Confederate Veterans Reunion, which drew more than 10,000 visitors to the city. The two-story dining room held a massive chandelier and the lobby boasted hand-carved furnishings and fine oil paintings, as well as a marble bust of Caldwell, placed in front of a gilt Alabama coat-of-arms. A salon under the hotel's gilded dome hosted frequent high-stakes poker games.

Despite the claim that the building was "fireproof", a massive fire that broke out at the Stowers Furniture Company late in the evening of July 20 spread to the hotel, leaving only its brick walls standing as smoldering ruins the next morning. No lives were lost in the blaze, which was controlled during the night from spreading to the rest of the business district.

Following the demise of the Caldwell, the Morris Hotel, which had previously included office floors, was expanded into a full-service hotel. The ruined walls of the Caldwell remained standing until 1905, when the site was acquired by the Goodall-Brown Dry Goods Company for its offices and warehouse, recently renovated as the Goodall-Brown Lofts.

References

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Caldwell_Hotel&oldid=68065"