Hotel Racine

Hotel Racine

Hotel Racine ca. 1910 by Racine photographer Bishop

Hotel Racine ca. 1910 by Racine photographer Bishop

This building is too interesting just to have a few postcards on the site!

The first Hotel Racine was built in 1893 and torn down in 1925.

Here is a short biography of a Hotel Racine manager, George Hopper.

I found this very vivid account of a society ball at the Hotel Racine on January 2, 1895.

Hotel Racine and post office, 1911

Hotel Racine and post office, 1911

Hotel Racine and the post office, 1911, reverse

Hotel Racine and the post office, 1911, reverse

Hotel Racine, 1905

Hotel Racine, 1905

Hotel Racine, 1905, reverse, addressed to Miss Cecile Tavernia, Chronic Insane Asy., Wauwatosa, Wis., Aug. 16, 1905

Hotel Racine, 1905, reverse, addressed to Miss Cecile Tavernia, Chronic Insane Asy., Wauwatosa, Wis., Aug. 16, 1905

Racine Daily Journal, May 26, 1893
“Is this Racine?” exclaims the visitor as he walks up Main street and gazes at the electric cars whizzing past. Farther on a magnificent structure of stone and brick meets his eye and still he wonders if this is the Racine of five years ago. This is the Hotel Racine and the building is certainly a credit to the city; to the gentleman whose enterprise so successfully brought the plan to completion; to the architects, to the contractor and the able officers who have managed the affairs of the hotel association. Today the Journal presents a cut of the hotel, showing the Sixth street front. It was taken from a recent photograph by Billings and it is a splendid likeness, though not showing the building complete. Within two weeks the hotel will be finished and ready to turn over to the directors. Hugh Edwards, the contractor, has performed his part of the work to the satisfaction of all who had an interest in the building. From the picture a view of the outside appearance can be obtained, but the visitor should open the massive doors and take a look upon the inside if he desires to see one of the best modern hotels in the country. The handsome office, lobby, corridors and lounging rooms, finished in quarter sawn oak, with marble floors, are indeed inviting. But the crowning feature of the hotel is the spacious dining room, with its lofty ceiling and magnificent view of blue Lake Michigan. From the large windows you can see the light house at North Point, and the harbor studded with vessels of every description; then turning to the south the smoke from the factories at Kenosha meets your vision. Stepping out onto the verandah’s, which rise tier above tier on the southside, you find one of those ideal spots to spend a summer’s afternoon when the mercury hovers about the nineties.

The spacious rooms inside are arranged singly or en suite. There is not a dark room in the hotel and nearly every one over looks the lake and the city. No mere writing can give the hotel its just praise; it must be tried and it will not be found wanting.

This clipping is from 1908:

Dr. Marshall Dies in West

Former Proprietor of Hotel Racine Succumbs to Lingering Illness in Redlands, Cal — Survived by Wife and Daughters

Dr. John M. Marshall, former proprietor of the Hotel Racine, died on the evening of November 19, at his home on Brookside avenue, Redlands, California.

Mr. Marshall was one of the most successful hotel men in the country, and when he had charge of the Hotel Racine he conducted it in a first class and business like manner, and sold out at a profit of about $8,000. He was a man upright and honorable in every transaction, and with the guests of the house was popular, never losing an opportunity to make them comfortable.

He sold the hotel here to Mr. Solloway and went to Richmond, Indiana, where he conducted a hotel; thence to Butte, Montana, and came back east again. Last spring he went to Redlands, where he bought the Rev. D. H. Gillan ranch and residence at Brookside, expecting to make that his home.

With Mrs. Marshall he spent last summer in Europe and returned to Redlands late last September. Soon after he was taken ill and his decline was rapid.

Dr. Marshall was a native of Ohio, and at the time of his demise was 64 years of age. Deceased is survived by Mrs. Marshall and two daughters, Mrs. S. B. Williams of Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs. W. S. Longford of Atlanta. Ga.

 

Look at this building I saw in Dallas! I was taking a cab from the airport to the convention center and all of a sudden, I thought I was dreaming — it looks just like the first Hotel Racine, right down to the different stone used in the first story. Apparently it is called the Old Red Courthouse.

 

Lake Avenue side of the first Hotel Racine

Lake Avenue side of the first Hotel Racine

Dennis Tully: This view looking South, is the “Lake Avenue Side” of the first Racine Hotel in the late 1800’s. There was a large porch for the hotel guests with a view of Lake Michigan (far left). The stone wall left of center runs along the South side of 6th St. (now the parking area in the rear of the Post Office Building). The buildings at upper left would be about the present location of Memorial Hall. The building behind the nearest post would be the location of McMynn School. It appears by the gathering of people in the background that there was some activity going on across Lake Avenue towards the lake.

Clem Larrin-Krivich‎:
The back of this photo says barber shop in Hotel Racine. Typical barber shop of the time. Probably early 1900teens. Spittoons on the floor. Embossed tin metal ceiling panels. Could be gas or electric ceiling light fixtures .
25 cents might have been the price of a haircut.

 
THE HOTEL RACINE. The Journal Presents a View of the Sixth Street Front to its Thousands of Patrons. ADVANTAGES OF THE BELLE CITY A City Where the Weary Traveler can Find Rest, Where the Sparks fly Upward the Year Round, a Home for the Wealthy and Unhealthy and Those Seeking Employment. “Is this Racine” exclaims the visitor as he walks up Main street and gazes at the electric cars whizzing past. Father on a magnificent structure of stone and brick meets his eye and still he wonders if this is the Racine of five years ago. This is the Hotel Racine and the building is certainly a credit to the city; to the gentleman whose enterprise so successfully brought the plan to a completion; to the architects, to the contractor and the able officers who have managed the affairs of the hotel association. Today the JOURNAL presents a cut of the hotel, showing the Sixth street front. It was taken from a recent photograph by Billings and it is a splendid likeness, though not showing the building complete. Within two weeks the hotel will be finished and ready to turn over to the directors. Hugh Edwards, the contractor, has performed his part of the work to the satisfaction of all who had an interest in the building. From the picture a view of the outside appearance can be obtained, but the visitor should open the massive doors and take a look upon the inside if he desires to see one of the best modern hotels in the country. The handsome office, lobby, corridors and lounging rooms, finished in quarter sawed oak, with marble floors, are indeed inviting. But the crowning feature of the hotel is the spacious dining room, with its lofty ceiling and magnificent view of blue Lake Michigan. From the large windows you can see the light house at North Point, and the harbor studded with vessels of every description; then turning to the south the smoke from the factories at Kenosha meets your vision. Stepping out onto the verandahs, which rise tier above tier on the southside, you find one of those ideal spots to spend a summer’s afternoon when the mercury hovers about the nineties. The spacious rooms inside are arranged singly or en suite. There is not a dark room in the hotel and nearly every one over looks the lake and the city. No mere writing can give the hotel its just praise; it must be tried and it will not be found wanting. Racine, the city itself, is no “Sleepy Hollow” either, it may well be understood. But few cities, if any, of its size in this great and glorious country will stand the test of parallel comparisons with this so-called and justly, “Belle City of the Lakes.” Racine is situated upon the elevated shores of Lake Michigan at the mouth of Root River, and at the extremity of a point of land extending some three miles into the lake. Its elevation of about thirty feet above the waters of the lake gives it excellent drainage and absolute freedom from malaria, and its extension into the lake, giving it a succession of lake breezes in the summer, renders its climate most delightful in that oppressive part of the year, and at the same time mitigates the severity of winter’s cold. It is a city of from twenty-five to thirty thousand population, as estimated upon the basis of the school census just completed, and has increased at least 25 per cent. in population since the census of 1890. Its harbor is one of the most beautiful upon the lakes, and with its three and one-half miles of dockage, and practically unlimited opportunity for additional harbor, gives easy and cheap facilities for the receipt and shipment of merchandise to all points accessible by water, either fresh or salt. As a place of residence Racine is unexcelled; its mild weather and most delightful summer climate making the extremes of heat and cold almost unknown; its elevated bluffs giving a charming view of the lake; its long lines of residence streets, and two parks shaded by elms, maple and oaks of magnificent growth, being unexcelled for beauty; its many people of wealth and refinement, assuring social advantages the highest and most pleasant; its magnificent supply of pure water from Lake Michigan, the purest and best of the great lakes, being taken from a point seven thousand feet beyond the shore, in deep water and free from possible impurities; besides which may be noted its many artesian wells drawing water from about thirteen hundred feet below the surface, of the most absolute purity from organic matter and highly impregnated with health-giving mineral properties. A landlord has not yet been secured. THE HOTEL RACINE. (caption under the photograph) (Note: This is a transcription of the main article text from the Racine Journal clipping, May 31, 1893. Partial text from adjacent columns is visible on the edges but not fully included here.)
The Racine Journal, May 31, 1893. The Hotel Racine.The Journal Presents a View of the
Sixth Street Front to its Thousands of Patrons.
THE HOTEL RACINE Stockholders of the Lakeside Hotel Company Hold a Meeting. THE DIRECTORS ARE ELECTED Capital of the Company Was Increased to $50,000—Authorized to Issue a Corporate Mortgage—To Secure Bonds to the Amount of $55,000. A meeting of the stockholders of the Lakeside Hotel company was held at the library room of the Hotel Racine last Saturday evening. A board of directors consisting of R. T. Robinson, Joseph Schroeder, B. Hinrichs, H. J. Smith and T. M. Kearney, was elected for the ensuing year. Steps were taken at the meeting for acquiring the title to the Hotel Racine, purchased by Thomas M. Kearney at foreclosure sale a couple of weeks since. The capital of the Lakeside Hotel company was increased to $50,000, and the directors were authorized to issue a corporate mortgage on the hotel property, real and personal, to secure ten year bonds for the amount of $55,000. The appraisal of the hotel property, real and personal, as made by the American Appraisal company was presented to the directors, from which it appeared that the appraised value of the property was about $170,000. It is not the disposition of the Lakeside Hotel company to freeze out or exclude any person who has heretofore contributed to the building fund of Hotel Racine. Every one interested is to have an opportunity to become interested in the new company on the same basis as the Lakeside directors. The Journal has been authorized to publish the following notice: To the Stockholders of the Racine Hotel Company: The undersigned, the Lakeside Hotel company, has organized for the purchase of the Hotel Racine property and for the consolidation of the interests of what was formerly the Racine Hotel company and the Lakeside Hotel company under one management. The amount of capital to be issued, will be limited to fifty thousand ($50,000) dollars. The bonded indebtedness on the combined property will be reduced to fifty-five thousand ($55,000) dollars to be secured by a ten year mortgage. The combined property has recently been appraised by the American Appraisal company of Milwaukee for outside parties who contemplated purchasing it. The valuation placed on the property by the Appraisal company aggregates about one hundred seventy thousand (170,000) dollars. This appraisal and inventory referred to, is at the hotel office and subject to examination by anyone wishing to accept the invitation included herein. It is the desire of those interested in effecting this consolidation, that the persons who have contributed to the building fund of the Hotel Racine, should have an opportunity to become interested in the property under the new plan of management, on the same footing and at the same values as are employed by members of the Lakeside Hotel company. To that end you are notified that the subscription list for the stock of the new company will be open for signature at the office of the Hotel Racine from this day until the first day of July, 1898, when it will be closed. Persons desiring to subscribe for the stock will be accorded every opportunity for examining into the present condition of the Lakeside Hotel company, and becoming acquainted with its plans for the future. The shares of stock are one hundred (100) dollars each. Its value as property sufficiently appears from what has been said in this notice. The parties interested in the re-organization earnestly desire the co-operation of the people of the city of Racine in the placing of this most worthy business enterprise upon a solid and substantial footing for the future. (From The Racine Daily Journal, June 13, 1898.)
The first Hotel Racine opened in 1893, but by 1898, it had already gone through bankruptcy and reorganization under a group called the Lakeside Hotel Company. THE HOTEL RACINE. Stockholders of the Lakeside Hotel Company Hold a Meeting. THE DIRECTORS ARE ELECTED. Capital of the Company Was Increased to $50,000—Authorized to Issue a Corporate Mortgage—To Secure Bonds to the Amount of $55,000.
From Dennis Tully: I found this mounted photo of the Hotel Racine which has some curious features. You will notice at center right there is a “swing latch” or clasp that appears to hold closed a section of the photo that is “cut out”. I wonder what is behind that door? At lower right is printed “Patented Dec ’03”
Another fantastic view of the first Hotel Racine showing the east-facing porches where people could sit and admire Lake Michigan.
The building at right was the Hotel Racine. To its left was the "Baker Block" prior to the addition of a 5th floor. At left is a view to the north along Main St. Circa 1906.
Dennis Tully: The building at right was the Hotel Racine. To its left was the “Baker Block” prior to the addition of a 5th floor. At left is a view to the north along Main St. Circa 1906.
Dennis Tully: Found this photo postcard for sale which I do not think I have seen in the past. A nice view of the Hotel Racine with the Baker Block at left and the Post office at right. Great shot of a TMER&L Street Car passing the Hotel. Notice Carpenter Rowland Insurance Co. sign on the face of the Hotel and the awnings. My guess as to the photo date is about 1905 or so.
Dennis Tully: Hotel Racine being razed, 1925
Hotel Racine, 1919
Dennis Tully: Taken from the same location a few minutes apart in 1919, these 2 photos of the 500 Block of Main St. show the first Hotel Racine at right which would be razed 6 years later to make way for the new Hotel Racine. To the left of the hotel is the Rialto Theater which was located within the Baker Block Building. The Rialto was constructed a year earlier.
Notice the overhead electric streetcar lines that turned west onto 6th St.
Hotel Racine, 1919

The Second Hotel Racine

The second Hotel Racine was built after the first Hotel Racine was torn down in 1925.

The second Hotel Racine, ca. 1939
Dennis Tully: This northwesterly view of Monument Square was taken from the upper floor of the Post Office building at 6th and Main St.
The large building with the 6 columns was the First National Bank & Trust Co. To its right was Wiemann’s Dime Store and Hughs women’s wear store which were on the previous site of Racine County’s first 2 court houses.
At far right, behind the monument, you can see Zahn’s Department Store.
The red sign at far right is on the corner of the Hotel Racine building.
I am guessing that this photo dates to the early 1950’s or so.
Dennis Tully: The employees of Hotel Racine pose for a Christmas portrait in December of 1945 in the lobby of the hotel. The doors behind the group enter into the dining rooms and at the top of the photo you can see the mezzanine level which had a barber shop and offices.

The Third Hotel Racine — Racine Motor Inn

21 thoughts on “Hotel Racine”

  1. I was a bartender at the Hotel Racine, around 1962, when one evening Glenway Wescott and Gilbert Seldes walked in and sat at a booth. Glenway Wescott was Wisconsin’s most famous (and best) living writer, and at that time I had written very little—a few stories, a poem or two—still unpublished but determined to become a writer. After I recognized him they came at sat at the bar so we could talk. A correspondence would ensue and GW later came to see me at the bookstore I was working at in San Francisco. At that time there was no grander place in Racine to drink, eat, and converse—and meet famous writers.

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  2. I appreciate the interest and efforts Todd Wallace and others have invested in the history of Racine. They have encouraged me to read more and more history about the U.S. Europe is older but we have fascinating artifacts and stories here as well. Thanks so much.

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  3. Does anyone remember the Mandalay Lounge in the old Racine Hotel. there was a xylophone player there by the name of Kerry Wahls. Very talented guy.

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  4. I Recently found it all wood coat hanger with The name Racine hotel stamped on it I’m originally from Racine I was wondering where I can get a postcard a print of the Racine hotel so I can make a frame out of the hanger with the hotel as backdrop please let me know

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  5. I recently found a wine or champagne label and a receipt from the Hotel Racine dated May 29, 1935. This is where my parents spent their honeymoon. The cost of the room was $2.75 for the night. None of us kids ever saw the scrapbook before it resurfaced Does anyone know where I can find more information?

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  6. I love this, my ansester was said to have been “a maid in a big hotel in Racine,” around 1910- 1918. Where would the location of the hotel be today? I would love to know!

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  7. From the summer of 1927 until December 18 of 1937, the studios of Racine radio station WRJN were located on the third floor of the hotel. Engineers & equipment were on the roof. The transmitter was moved from atop the hotel to Victory Avenue in September 1936 while the studios remained, until moving to the third floor of the American Bank & Trust building September 19 of 1937. The radio station moved 20-years later to it’s current home at 4201 Victory Avenue.

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  8. Does anyone know the architect and contractor of the 2nd Hotel Racine?…looks very similar to The Brown Hotel in Louisville..The Brown still stands and is an elegant hotel.

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    • Yes — from the June 3, 1926 Racine Journal News reports that the architect for the second Hotel Racine are W. Scott Armstrong and Kenneth T. White from Chicago.

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  9. There are some photos of the original Hotel Racine in the North Shore Line archive at the Illinois Railway Museum. These were likely company photos taken for publicity purposes. Scanned versions of the photos along with a few other Racine photos are up at http://irm-cta.org/Pictures/NSL/MiscPhotos/1-35/22-Racine/22-Racine.html. The photos of the hotel appear to be looking North along 6th and Racine? When I first scanned them I zoomed in on the poster on the streetcar and noted they appeared to be taken in May 1919. These were likely originally large glass plate negatives so the quality is pretty clear.

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  10. I recently came across some shares of the “Racine Hotel Company,” dated December 1927. Do these have any value? Thank you for any information you may be able to provide.

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    • 1927 would have been when they were raising money for the second Hotel Racine on the same lot. These would definitely have historic value — we’d like to see them — but probably not monetary value.

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  11. My grandfather, Rudolph Becker was a barber at the hotel Racine for many years. My dad Vince Becker &I would pick him up on a Saturday after work. We would go into the lounge, there was a piano playing we would sit down for a drink, I had coke the boys had a beer,such fond memories.

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  12. My father stayed at the hotel Racine #2 in May of 1959. Room 717.

    When was it torn down?

    Do you have any interior photos?

    Sue

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  13. A great collection and many hours of research. Thanks for sharing it and making it available. From the 1908 Sanborn, sheet 35, it shows a Belle City Hotel across Clark street from the Pabst Saloon. I thought it was the Racine Hotel and do you have a photo of the Pabst Salloon (1300 16th St) from back in the day?

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