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− | {{Infobox Building
| + | [[Image:MerchantsHotel.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Illustration of the Merchants' Hotel from the [[Wellge map]].]] |
− | |image=GilbertHotel1939.jpg
| + | The '''Merchants' Hotel''' was a hotel on the southwest corner of [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Government Street]]s (currently a parking lot). It is noted with illustration on the [[Wellge map]] of [[1885]]. [[M. Kryger]] was the proprietor. |
− | |caption=The hotel, by then named the Gilbert Hotel, in 1939 | |
− | |name=Merchants' Hotel
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− | |location=Southwest corner of [[Government Street|Government]] and [[Palafox Street]]s
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− | |architect=
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− | |client=
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− | |engineer=
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− | |owner=[[Jacob Kryger]]
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− | |construction_start_date=
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− | |completion_date=c. [[1882]]
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− | |renovations=
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− | |date_demolished=[[1970]]
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− | |cost=
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− | |structural_system=
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− | |style=
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− | |size=Three stories
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− | |mapcode=
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− | }}
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− | '''Merchants' Hotel''', also known as the '''Gilbert Hotel''' and the '''DeSoto Building''', was a commercial building located on the southwest corner of [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Government Street]]s, on [[Plaza Ferdinand VII]]. For most of its life, the building was home to a hotel. | |
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− | ==Merchants' Hotel era==
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− | The hotel was opened by [[Jacob Kryger]] circa [[1882]] as Merchants' Hotel. It is noted with illustration on the [[Wellge map]] of [[1885]].
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− | In 1892, Kryger added the [[Bijou Saloon]] on the ground floor of the hotel.
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− | A [[1905]] business directory indicates that the hotel was in operation beginning in at least [[1882]]:
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− | :''MERCHANTS HOTEL – Has a capacity of 42 guests. Rooms rent at the rates of $2.50 and $3.00 per day. Mr. [[Jacob Kryger|Jacob KRYGER]] has conducted the house for over 23 years and is assisted by his chief clerk, Mr. [[Clifford J. Bell|C. J. BELL]].''
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− | In the years before the [[San Carlos Hotel]] was constructed, Merchants' Hotel was one of the preeminent hotels in the city. Famous guests included [[Wikipedia:Sarah Bernhardt|Sarah Bernhardt]], [[Wikipedia:John Drew Jr.|John Drew Jr.]], and [[Wikipedia:Richard Mansfield|Richard Mansfield]].<ref name="demo">[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32237332/desotomerchant_hotel_demolition/ "Historic DeSoto Will Be Destroyed"]. ''The Pensacola News''. October 30, 1970. p. 14. Retrieved June 4, 2019 – via [[Wikipedia:Newspapers.com|Newspapers.com]]</ref>
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− | ==Gilbert Hotel era==
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− | The hotel's name was changed to the Gilbert Hotel in 1934 after it was sold.
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− | ==DeSoto Building era==
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− | Sometime between 1939 and 1944, the hotel was closed and the Gilbert Hotel name was shifted to another hotel owned by the company on East [[Wright Street]]. By 1950, the building had been converted to office space and rechristened the DeSoto Building.
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− | ==Demolition==
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− | The building was demolished beginning on [[October 31]], [[1970]]. City officials had condemned the building, by then in a state of disrepair, after owner Ollie Delchamps refused to renovate it.<ref name="demo" />
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− | The site is currently occupied by a parking lot.
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− | ==Other images==
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− | <gallery>
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− | File:MerchantsHotel.jpg|Illustration of the Merchants' Hotel from the [[Wellge map]].
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− | File:GilbertHotel.jpg|Building as the Gilbert Hotel
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− | </gallery>
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− | ==References==
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− | {{reflist}}
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| {{arch-stub}} | | {{arch-stub}} |
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− | [[Category:Palafox Street buildings]] [[Category:Demolished structures]] [[Category:Hotels]] | + | [[Category:Palafox Street buildings]] |
| + | [[Category:Demolished structures]] |
| + | [[Category:Hotels]] |