Kenmore Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kenmore Hotel |
|
|---|---|
Kenmore Hotel in 2009
|
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Victorian and Queen Anne |
| Location | Albany, New York |
| Address | 74 North Pearl Street |
| Completed | 1878 |
| Renovated | 1986 |
| Owner | Historic Redevelopment Associates |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 6 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Edward Ogden |
The Kenmore Hotel is a historic building in Albany, New York. It is located at 74 North Pearl Street. This building was completed in 1878. It was once a famous hotel and is now used as an office building.
Contents
The Kenmore Hotel: A Historic Building
The Kenmore Hotel is an important landmark in Albany, New York. It stands on North Pearl Street. This building has a long and interesting history. It was built in 1878 and has changed over the years.
Built by a Visionary
The Kenmore Hotel was built by African-American businessman Adam Blake. He was born in 1830 and passed away in 1881. Adam Blake was a very respected person in Albany. Many people called him a "first-class caterer for the public." He was also known as a successful businessman.
Blake's father had been a slave of General Stephen Van Rensselaer III. Adam Blake, Jr. became a free and successful man. Before the Kenmore, Blake owned another hotel called Congress Hall. This hotel was torn down in 1878. It made way for the new New York State Capitol building. After that, Blake built the Kenmore Hotel. It was located at the corner of North Pearl Street and Columbia Street.
A Place for Famous Stories
In the 1940s, the Kenmore Hotel had a very popular nightclub. It was called the Rain-Bo Room. This name was inspired by the famous Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center in New York City.
The hotel is also mentioned in many books by author William Kennedy. For example, his novel Legs features the hotel. The Kenmore Hotel can also be seen in the 1969 film The Honeymoon Killers.
From Hotel to Offices
The Kenmore Hotel building was renovated in 1986. It was changed from a hotel into an office building. This work was done by Walter Uccellini Enterprises. Today, this company is known as Historic Redevelopment Associates.
After the renovation, the building had a lot of office space. The Healthcare Association of New York State was a main tenant for many years. They used a large part of the building from 1986 to 1999. In 2008, there was a plan to open a new nightclub. It was going to be called The Terrace Lounge at The Kenmore. This new club would have been on the ground floor.
