Finest Hotel in Iowa

SOURCE: The Clinton Daily Herald Saturday December 16, 1905 p. 19 submitted by Mike Kearney (I believe they are referring to the Lafayette.)

WILL BE FINEST HOTEL IN IOWA

WORK ON CLINTON’S NEW HOTEL BUILDING PROGRESSING RAPIDLY – WILL BE FINISHED IN MAY, 1906

FIRE PROOF BUILDING WILL HAVE EVERY CONVENIENCE

WILL BE A MODEL OF CONVENIENCE – EVERY SLEEPING ROOM TO HAVE A PHONE.

- MARBLE ART AND CEMENT FLOORS THROUGHOUT – FACTS OF INTEREST

Clinton will have every reason to be proud of the new hotel which is in course of construction at the corner of Sixth avenue and Second street, and which will be ready for occupancy in April or May, 1906, a cut of which is herewith presented.  Since the building was enclosed several weeks ago a large force of artisans and laborers have been constantly employed in its interior, and the work is progressing in a satisfactory manner.  In a few months the traveling public will be accommodated in Clinton in what will undoubtedly be the finest hotel in Iowa, and in fact the middle west. 

No expense has been spared in the construction of the new Clinton hotel; nor will expense be spared in the interior department.  The building will be as fireproof as it is possible to make a building in this age of stone and steel.  Particular attention was given to this feature, in order that danger from fire might be reduced to the minimum, if not entirely eliminated.  The hotel is five stories in height, and is built of white brick, manufactured in Clinton, and steel.  It presents a splendid appearance, especially from the Second street and Sixth avenue sides, where the principal entrances are located.   

At this early date, when the work on the interior may be said to be only beginning, it is not possible to give more than an idea of the convenience of arrangement, and the elegance of Clinton’s new hotel, which is the object of this article.  There will be 110 sleeping rooms in the house, and forty-one bath rooms communicating with these after the most convenient arrangement possible to devise.  Every sleeping room in the hotel will be provided with a telephone, with long distance equipment, so that the guest will be able to telephone to points at a distance without leaving his room.  Of course to make this arrangement possible the hotel will be provided with a special exchange and operators.  These rooms will have hot and cold water, and will all be heated by steam. 

In planning the arrangement of the first floor of the hotel, some handsome vistas were arranged.  Thus the observer at the Second street entrance will see through the main lobby of the building, into the dining room, separated from it by plate glass partitions, and raised between two and three feet above it.  Great roof lights will make the  dining room brilliant in daylight hours, while a clever arrangement of electric lights will reflect the rays from the great mirrors arranged in the upper stories of the northeast corner of the lower floor, and the dining room will be a mezzanine floor for the musicians'’gallery.  The cafe will be finished in dark Mission oak. 

The office, in the main lobby, will be so situated that it commands a view of the entire first floor of the building, and the galleries of the second floor.  The lobby and dining room will be floored with beautiful art marble, and will have mahogany finish.  Tile and cement floors will be laid throughout the entire building.  The only wood used in the structure will be in the doors and door and window casements. 

The handsomest of the public rooms on the first floor of the hotel building will be the lounging room, a spacious apartment in the northwest corner of the building.  This room will be handsomely and luxuriantly furnished.  The bar will be on the first floor, in the southwest corner of the building.  Adjoining it will be the barber shop.  Several office rooms for renting purposes will be included in the first floor, facing Second street. 

A set of sample rooms, finely lighted, will be built in the basement, along the north side of the building.  All heavy baggage will be taken into the basement, through a trunk chute in the rear. 

A feature of the construction of the hotel is the arrangement of the suite of parlors on the second floor, along the Sixth avenue side of the building.  These parlors communicate with each other by large arches, equipped with folding doors; so that they may be converted into a single large parlor, extending the full length of the building. 

Two large elevators will be built, for the convenience of the guests and employees, and the transportation of baggage to the upper floors.  The kitchen is large and commodious, and its arrangement and communication with the dining room and the servants’ apartments is a model of convenience.  The sleeping apartments of course are arranged in the upper stories of the building.  Their furnishing will be in harmony with the elegance of the public apartments.   

All the rooms will be lighted and easy of access from the elevators and stairs. 

A visit to the new structure and inspection serves no other purpose at its present stage, than to give an idea of the size of the building.  It is noticed, however, that the public apartments are unusually large for a building of its size, and cannot be other than light and airy.  Handsome furnishings, marble pillars, tile floors, beautiful wall and ceiling ornamentation, mirrors, fresco, and the other effects which will be employed in finishing the interior of the hotel will complete the building, and make it what it was originally designed to be, the finest public building in Iowa.  

The hotel has not yet been leased, nor has a name been selected for it.  The duty of naming the handsome building, will no doubt rest upon the lessee.