St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-09
For the Accommodation OF
the Great Travelling
Public.
Refitting and Otherwise I'M
proving the Famous Metro
politan Hotel.
Made Two Unsuccessful At
temptS to End His Own
Life.
Rambles About the Sanity
City and the Results Ac-
complished.

The Metropolitan hotel, which has
been closed for the past two years, is
soon to be opened again and run in
grander shape than ever before. The
building is to be renovated, Overhauled
and refitted from top to bottom. and a
hotel metropolitan in equipment and
management as well as in name, will be
conducted at the old stand. Messrs.
Kalman and Oppenheim, the owners,
have employed the services of
Stevens. the well known architect, who
has already drawn up elaborate plans
and specifications. The contract will be
let at an early date. The hotel part of
the building will occupy the upper floors,
the lower floor being converted into
stores. The Office, barroom and billiard
room will be on the first floor. The
kitchen and dining room will be on the
top floor. This is according to the
modern idea, the object being to
relieve the guests from the
nauSeOus vaporS which necessarily
arise from the culinary department.
The main entrance will be from Wash
ington street, and there will also be
another entrance from Fourth street.
The Third street entrance will be closed.
There will be large store at the angle
facing the park. The owners, Messrs.
Kalman & Oppenheim, have several
parties in view who want to rent the
whole building. The very desirable
situation of the Metropolitan has been
greatly enhanced of late by the public
improvements that have been and are
going to be
MADE IN ITS VICINITY.
Washington street is being paved
with cedar blocks and stone sidewalk
laid along its entire length. The easy
access to the cable line is also strong
point in favor of the new hotel. In less
than year the building of the new
custom house at the corner of Fifth and
Market streets will begin. When COM
pleted it will face the new
hotel, which win receive a boom
thereby. Taking everything into con-
SideratiOn, therefore. the prospects for
a successful future for the Metropolitan
are most fiattering. When in operation
it was always favorite resort both of
citizens and transients, and enjoyed
much the same reputation that the Mer-
chants does to-day. Its rooms were
large and airy, and its halls, twenty-five
feet in width, were the scene of many
gay promenade and festive hop.
The old hotel has had cneckered
career since its inception. The build
ing was commenced in 1869 by J. NJ.
Winslow, who, after completing the
walls, gave up the Job and allowed
William J. Cullen, George Culver and
John harrington, to whom he had sold
out, to finish the hotel. 1t was Mr..
Winslow's intention to name the hotel
after himself, and to this day the name
"Winslow" can be seen from the Fourth
street side. The new owners called the
hotel the MetropOlitOn, which name it
HAS RETAINED EVER SINCE.
The hotel was completed and opened
in June. 1870, under the management Of
Gilbert butcher, Of Chicago, who ran it
three years and half very successfully.
Upon his death his son-in-law, Edward
George, assumed control as the surviv-
| ing partner and in the interest of the
| heirs. Hard times came on, and this,
along with poor management, forced
| an assignment to George Culver,
who managed the hotel until
March, 1879, when he died.
At the advice of Culyer's attorney the
house was then closed. Shortly after
wards the owners entered into lease
with G. A. Lindsey, of Utica, n. Y, for
| a period of three years. He made money
in the hotel, but failing in his financial
arrangements he associated with him
self Col. Belote and John Harrington.
After a partnership lasting but few
months, Messrs. BelOte and Far
rington purchased Lindsey's interest
| and the hotel was run under their man
| agement until 1884, when it was rented
| to c. w. Mcintyre. He looked after the
| interests of the hotel until the day the
Ryan opened, when, without giving no
! tice to the owners, he closed its doors.
1t has remained in condition Of''innoc-
| uOus desuetude" ever since. A year
| ago it was sold to MessrS. Benz, Kalman
and Oppenheim, the two latter after
wards purchasing Mr.. BenZ's interest.