Margaret J. Anderson facts for kids
Margaret Jane Anderson (1859–1930) was a smart American businesswoman. She owned and developed two famous hotels in Los Angeles County, California. These were The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hollywood Hotel. She was known for her great business skills and for being a socialite, which means she was well-known in society.
Contents
The Early Life of Margaret Anderson
Margaret Jane Boag was born in 1859 in Iowa. Her family moved to California in 1874. Her parents were from Scotland and Ireland. On December 5, 1889, she married Lewis C. Anderson in Alhambra, California. Lewis Anderson had a large orange farm nearby.
Managing the Hollywood Hotel
By 1903, Margaret and her son, Stanley, started managing the Hollywood Hotel. The owner was Almira Hershey. Margaret and Almira knew each other because both were from Iowa. Margaret had also worked at Almira's other hotels before.
Under Margaret's management, the Hollywood Hotel grew a lot. It started with only 16 rooms and expanded to 250 rooms. It became one of the most famous hotels in the area.
However, Margaret and Almira often disagreed. Their relationship became difficult. By 1909, their disagreements led to legal problems. Almira claimed Margaret owed her money from managing the hotel. Margaret, in turn, said Almira owed her money for living in suites at the hotel. These legal issues continued for more than two years.
Building The Beverly Hills Hotel
Because of the public disagreements, a company called Rodeo Land and Water Company offered Margaret a chance to own her own hotel. This company wanted a main hotel to help develop a new area. Margaret wanted to own the land for her hotel, which she could not get from Almira Hershey.
In 1911, Margaret and her son, Stanley, announced plans to build a new hotel. It was going to cost $500,000. When the new hotel was almost ready, Margaret made a big announcement. She told guests at the Hollywood Hotel that it was closing because she was leaving. She offered jobs to all the staff. She also offered rooms at her new hotel, The Beverly Hills Hotel, to all the guests.
The staff and guests moved with her. The Beverly Hills Hotel officially opened on April 30, 1912.
Success and Retirement
Margaret Anderson was very good at business. She knew how to make a hotel successful. She started marketing The Beverly Hills Hotel to people in Hollywood. By 1914, famous movie stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford were staying there. They were a very popular couple at the time.
The hotel became a favorite place for celebrities. It was known for treating guests very well. It also had a strict rule about keeping guests' privacy safe. In 1928, Margaret Anderson sold the hotel and retired from her work.
