Hotel Fontenelle

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The Hotel Fontenelle, formerly located in downtown Omaha.
The Hotel Fontenelle, formerly located in downtown Omaha.

Hotel Fontenelle was an upscale commercial hotel once located at 1806 Douglas Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Designed by noted architect Thomas Rogers Kimball in the Late Gothic Revival style, it was built in 1914 and demolished in 1983. It was named for Logan Fontenelle, a well-known chief of the Omaha Tribe.[1]

For many years it was the flagship of hotel magnate Gene Eppley's Eppley Hotel Company, which was the largest privately held hotel company in the United States at the time operating 22 units in six states. Eppley lived in the hotel, and died there in 1958, after having sold his hotel empire to the Sheraton corporation, for thirty million dollars. The hotel remained in operation as the Sheraton-Fontenelle until 1970. That year it was abruptly closed due to changing economic conditions in Downtown Omaha. It remained empty until is was demolished in 1988, when the site became a parking lot.[2]

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[edit] History

The Fontenelle was opened in 1915. Costing $1,000,000 to build, the building was designed by Kimball for the Douglas Hotel Company and its president, Gurdon W. Wattles. Originally fifteen stories, it was later expanded to 18, with a main entrance on Douglas Street. The building had 350 guest rooms decorated in an English style, with marble floors, mahogany paneling and richly decorated lobbies, dining rooms and hallways throughout. The main banquet room featured five crystal chandeliers, lighting seating for as many as 500 seats.[3]

It was operated by the Douglas Hotel Company until 1920, after which it was acquired by Eppley. The center of Omaha society, the hotel hosted numerous civic events, weddings and conventions. The Girl Scout movement in Omaha was founded there,[4] a national women's bowling tournament was held there,[5] Willa Cather and other authors spoke there,[6] and many other events.

Its restaurants included the Bombay Room, Black Mirror Room and King Cole Room.

After the acquisition by Sheraton the Fontenelle continued to be a popular destination for social events. However, as the city grew westward the hotel faded in popularity, and was closed in 1970. Over the next twenty years the hotel stood empty while a variety of proposals for renovating it were proposed. It was demolished in 1988.[7]

[edit] Notable guests

The Fontenelle hosted many celebrities and politicians through the years, including President Harry S. Truman,[8] who was a personal friend of Gene Eppley. Senator John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy stayed there while they campaigned for the 1960 Presidential election.[9]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gerber, K. and Spencer, J.S. (2003) Architecture for the Ages. Landmarks, Inc. p. 35.
  2. ^ Dalstrom, H.A. (1969) Eugene C. Eppley: His Life and Legacy. Johnsen Press.
  3. ^ Gerber, K. and Spencer, J.S. (2003) Architecture for the Ages. Landmarks, Inc. p. 35.
  4. ^ History, Great Plains Girl Scouts Council. Retrieved 2/2/08.
  5. ^ Congress, Inc. Time magazine. May 13, 1936. Retrieved 2/2/08.
  6. ^ 1921 Interview, University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Retrieved 2/2/08.
  7. ^ The Hotel Fontenelle. Retrieved 2/2/08.
  8. ^ Truman Library photographs, Truman Library. Retrieved 2/2/08.
  9. ^ Dalstrom, H.A. (1969) Eugene C. Eppley: His Life and Legacy. Johnsen Press.

[edit] External links