Stoddard Hotel Remodeling Materials,

Collection

Identifier: MSS 131

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Photocopied materials include personal correspondence between Virginia Baker, daughter of Stoddard Hotel owner Calvin Baker, and her future husband, John A. Elliott.

The bulk of the materials (all photocopied) relate to the 1929-1931 remodeling of the Stoddard Hotel, the premier hotel and conference center of the day. Materials include blueprints and specifications by La Crosse architects Parkinson and Dockendorff, general contractor notes and subcontractor's invoices. The general contractor was Peter Nelson and the plumbing contractor was Niebuhr Company. The modernization effort included new plumbing fixtures, interior decoration and furniture for the guest rooms which had the flavor of the Art Moderne style.

Dates

1918-1935
Majority of material found within 1929 - 1931

Creator

Virginia, (Baker) Elliott (Person)

Historical Note

The Stoddard Hotel was built in 1903 by a group of local businessmen who felt that La Crosse needed a center for conferences and business meetings. The Board of Trade (later the Chamber of Commerce) organized the building fund. Many residents subscribed and contributed money toward it.

The hotel served as the social center of La Crosse and many celebrities stayed overnight there. John A. Elliott owned it for many years, from 1927-1972, taking over from his father-in-law Calvin Baker. Heavily in debt, the landmark hotel was razed in 1982.

Extent

0.2 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Photocopied materials include personal correspondence between Virginia Baker, daughter of Stoddard Hotel owner Calvin Baker, and her future husband, John A. Elliott.

The bulk of the materials (all photocopied) relate to the 1929-1931 remodeling of the Stoddard Hotel. The modernization effort included new plumbing fixtures, interior decoration and furniture for the guest rooms which had the flavor of the Art Moderne style. An issue of The Wisconsin Restaurateur from October 1935 includes an article written by Louise Giancola titled "Keeping Up with the Times" on the $50,000 remodeling efforts of John Elliott.

Acquisitions Information

(Accession no. 2011.036) Materials loaned for photocopying by Debbie Servais, March 2011 (Accession no. 2016.146) Original issue of The Wisconsin Restaurateur from Octoberr 1935 was donated by Richard Granum, October 2016