Details
Creator Taylor, Frank H. (Frank Hamilton), 1846-1927
Title The Franklin House, Later the St. Louis Hotel
Date ca. 1922
Description Image of a large five-story hotel with a second-floor balcony on a busy street. There is a sign above the porch that says, "Franklin House."
Notes Franklin Court was opened through to Chestnut street in 1825. At that period a three-story house stood at the northeast corner of Chestnut street and the Court, in which the Post Office was located. The Franklin House was built upon the ground now covered by the First National Bank, in 1842, by David Winebrenner. It was opened by Joseph M. Sanderson & Son, who formerly managed the Merchants' Coffee House and the City Tavern. It was conducted upon the European plan. The restaurant and an elaborate bar were here in the forwarding letters at 6 1/4 cents postage until suppressed by the Government as illegal. In 1853 the first meeting of citizens was held in the parlor of the hotel for the object of the consolidation of the city. The property was bought in 1860 by Charles Petry, famous among "good livers" of the time, who renamed the house the St. Louis Hotel. Two years later he sold to Henry Neill and James Devoe. The St. Louis Hotel surrendered to finance in 1866, when it was displaced by the modern structure of the First National Bank.
Taylor Catalog Number: 123
Is part of Frank H. Taylor Collection
Identifier Taylor - Case 9-5 [2717.F]