Hotel Baker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hotel Baker
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 W. Main Street, St. Charles, Illinois |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1928 (opened June 2) |
| Built by | Max A. Lehmann and Sons |
| Architect | Wolf, Sexton, Harper & Trueax, Inc. |
| Architectural style | Spanish Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001157 |
| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1978 |
The Hotel Baker is a famous building in St. Charles, Illinois. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Since 1928, it has been a hotel, though it has changed hands and purposes over the years.
Discovering the Hotel Baker's Past
The story of Hotel Baker began in 1926. Construction started on what was once an old, unused piece of land near the Main Street bridge. Colonel Edward J. Baker had a big dream. He wanted to build a fancy hotel, a special place for people in St. Charles to visit and relax. He also wanted it to be a symbol of how great things were happening in the town.
Who Was Colonel Edward J. Baker?
Colonel Baker was a farmer who lived at the Hotel Baker. He and his niece, Dellora Norris, inherited a lot of money. This money came from the founder of Texaco Oil, who was Colonel Baker's brother-in-law, John Gates. Colonel Baker and Dellora used their wealth to help their town. They gave many gifts quietly and kindly. Colonel Baker spent a lot of his own money to keep the Hotel Baker running. He wanted everyone to enjoy beauty and luxury, no matter where they came from. He told the architects to build their best work. After losing family members, he moved into the Hotel. He was always there to welcome guests.
Building the "World's Finest Small Hotel"
The Hotel Baker was built where an old mill once stood. The mill burned down in 1918, and the land became a dumping ground for seven years. Colonel Baker thought this spot should be beautiful, not a dump. So, he bought the land, and construction began. He called it "the World's finest small hotel." It cost about $1,250,000 to build.
The Hotel Baker was very modern for its time. It had its own power plant using water, which was very advanced. It also had the first lighted dance floor of its kind. A radio station even broadcast from the Hotel's tower, which is now a fancy "Penthouse Suite." The Hotel Baker Gardens were larger back then. They included a fishing pond and a miniature golf course.
Early Days and Unique Features
The Hotel Baker opened on June 2, 1928, with a big dinner for 301 guests. Rooms cost $2.50 a night. Each room was decorated differently, so no two rooms looked the same.
Colonel Baker saw himself as a farmer first. He owned nine farms nearby. These farms provided fresh food for the Hotel Baker's kitchens.
The Famous Rainbow Room
The Rainbow Room was the Hotel's most famous spot. It was originally the main restaurant and ballroom. Many famous performers played there, like Louis Armstrong, Lawrence Welk, Tommy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, and Eddie Duchin. The dance floor was special, with 2,620 lights that could change colors. It could even show patterns like stars or an American flag. At night, the dam outside was also lit up with rainbow colors. A large pipe organ played music for guests to enjoy.
Music Across the Valley
The radio studio in the Hotel's tower broadcast music from the Rainbow Room. A special wire connected it to the Municipal Building. This made the Municipal Building a "singing tower," playing the Hotel's music through loudspeakers across the valley.
Colonel Baker's Horse Racing Passion
Colonel Baker developed a great interest in horse racing. He created the Hotel Baker Stables, which had many winning harness horses. In 1933, he bought his famous horse, Greyhound. Greyhound went on to win 25 international records in racing. In 1935, Colonel Baker was honored as a Kentucky Colonel. This was for his help to his hometown and his success with horses.
The Hotel's lounge became known as the Trophy Room. Colonel Baker displayed all his racing trophies there as his horses won more awards.
Colonel Baker paid for the Hotel Baker himself. For its first 31 years, the Hotel never had to make a profit. As long as he was alive, he kept the Hotel luxurious and affordable for everyone.
Changes Over the Years
Colonel Baker passed away in 1959. He left most of his money to his niece, Dellora Norris.
Dellora Norris ran the Hotel until 1970. Then, she gave the building to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Mrs. Norris was getting older and no one in her family wanted to take over the Hotel. By this time, the Hotel was not as popular. Newer places like the Pheasant Run Resort made the Hotel Baker seem old-fashioned. The Hotel was then turned into a home for older people. Its public areas stayed open, and it became more of a place for banquets and events.
Over the years, the Hotel started to show its age. The retirement home found it too expensive to keep up. They began selling furniture and art from the Hotel. Eventually, they sold the Hotel in an auction.
Bringing the Hotel Back to Life
In 1996, two local businessmen, Craig Frank and Neil Johnson, bought the Hotel. They spent about $9,000,000 to fix it up. They wanted to make it a grand hotel again. For two years, they cleaned, furnished, and updated the building. Many of the original furniture pieces were brought back. Craig Frank had just helped restore the Arcada Theatre. He thought it would be wonderful to have both the Hotel and the Arcada Theatre looking their best again. Even after the restoration, it was still very expensive to run the Hotel.
In 2003, the Hotel was sold again in an auction for about $3,000,000. Rowena and Joe Salas bought the Hotel that year. They had stayed there in 2001. What they thought would be a quick investment turned into a long adventure. They kept investing in the Hotel, constantly updating it and keeping it open. The Hotel Baker is still a popular place for community events and family gatherings in St. Charles.
Awards and Recognition
The Hotel Baker is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It also helped St. Charles earn the title of "1 Great Place in Illinois." The town also received the Great American Main Street Award in 2000, partly because of the Hotel's importance.
