Travelers Hotel Explained

Travelers Hotel
Location:115 E. Fourth St., East Liverpool, Ohio
Coordinates:40.6181°N -80.58°W
Built:1908
Architect:Metsch, Cassius
Added:July 15, 1986
Area:less than one acre
Refnum:86001718

The Travelers Hotel, in East Liverpool, Ohio, was built in 1907 and had 105 rooms. Located at 117 East Fourth Street, on the banks of the Ohio River, it is one of the few remaining river town hotels that faces the river. The original name of the hotel is the Landora.[1]

History

The hotel, which opened in 1908, was designed by Cassius Metsch, a local architect who also designed the YMCA building in East Liverpool. The hotel's entrance was originally on the corner of Crook Alley and East Fourth Street.[2]

In 1910, a banquet room and kitchen were added. A rear wing of the building was added in 1915. In 1927, a kitchen and the 'Jigger' room were constructed. The hotel also maintained a "Sample Room". In this area, traveling salesmen could display samples of their products. The Sample Room is now a small banquet room.

Notable guests

The Ceramic Theater was across the street from the hotel and performers at the theater would often stay at the hotel while in town. The hotel hosted Blackstone the magician, Paul Whiteman, the Marine Band, and the Roger Wagner Chorale.

In 1934, during the hunt for Pretty Boy Floyd (who was killed in nearby Clarkson, Ohio), FBI Special Agent Melvin Purvis used the Travelers Hotel as his headquarters.[3] [4] [5]

Renovation

The hotel was renovated in the 1980s. As part of the historical renovation of the hotel, items from a number of local buildings were used. The lobby lights were from the Moore building and the brass door guards and handles were taken from the King-Ealls Hardware building.

The hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 1986.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Travelers Hotel. East Liverpool Historical Society. 2 October 2011.
  2. Book: Ohio Places Dictionary. 2008. North American Book Dist LLC. 9781878592705. 167.
  3. Book: The Face of Death. 2003. Trafford Publishing. 9781553957300. 195. Sours, Omus. Bishop, Mark . 19 May 2012.
  4. Book: The Vendett: Special Agent Melvin Purvis, John Dillinger, and Hoover's FBI in the Age of Gangsters. 2010. ReadHowYouWant.com. 9781458760234. 366. Purvis, Alston. Tresniowski, Alex .
  5. Web site: City Fact. East Liverpool Area Chamber of Commerce. E. L. Chamber of Commerce. 19 May 2012.