Telegram-herald., 1891-07-05
In 1HL NIV SWEETS
The Many Changes IN Grand Rap
ids Popular Hotel.
IHua6ucHLYREsEWED THROUGHOUT
Asu FsrsssAin2A Nsw Dissertations asa
Additional Bath hsoms-Ia tes New
OEs.s With . New fropIie-
Tor L. is Gsm.


traveller passed along Ms way. Ii Is a
peculiar trade, hls tavern keeping, and
even today the expeetant guest not
only thinks of . coy room. . bright
fireside, bat also q genial host or land
lord. The old resident was wont to
look upon Sweets hotel as tavern,
for the reason, perhaps. that its owner.
Hon. Martin L. Sweet. was pioneer in
this country and built 1t for the purpose
of betterng and improving the sxperi-
ences that he had encountered in the
backwoods in Western Michigan in the
early days when everybody struggled.
This hotel, which is really land
mark, 10 not 30 IN tue sense that
age involves decay unpopular
ity. Ii has for years been
the trysting spot for prominent citi-
lens, men OF means, and within its
walls has been concocted many n
scheme which has operated to the bene-
mt of Grand Rapids and Western Michi-
gan. The popularity of this hotel IS
sure to last, no matter who controls its
destlnies in the capacity OF proprietor.
The recent change, that OF Frank
Riseley succeeding Norman c. John
son, has been frequently noted i'll the
daily papers. No idea, however, of the
intimated. The new proprietor, Mr..
Riseley. is n born hotel man. He is u
descendant of hotel family. his cousin
being the noted Frank Riseley, of Bos-
ton. The family homestead in New
York State has been in the possession
of the family for over two hundred
years. Mr.. Riseley has been in the
MOTEL business all of his life, and in es-
cortlng representative of tho TELE-
GRAMHERALD through the hotel
yesterday, began at the top
hoor and worked downwards.
There Is on the south end of the hotel
hall running from Canal and Pearl.
ste. "a hall which is continuously 100 feet
long and nine feet wide. An inspec-
ton of the rooms on this floor demon
strates that Mr.. Risely has determined
not 10 show an partiality as far as con-
venience or comfort is concerned, and
the occupant of the upper floor is
housed in as much luxury, and sur.
rounded with as rich furnishings as the
guest on the parlor floor. Each room
10 furnished with mahogony and an
tique oak bed room suites, and the
floors and Railways are fitted with old
English antique carpets. Rich Axmin-
lister carpets, Smiths best graie
of velvets, and upholstery in the rich
est woods, prevail in the halls and in a
majority OF the rooms. The blinds have
been removed and in their place are
seen rich lace curtains and haDginSs.
As Mr.. Risely expressed it, the
hotel 10 universally furnished,
that 10 the humblest guest
who may be on the sky floor is on par
as far as comfort IS concerned with
the person who may occupy the draw
ing room on the parlor floor. The beds
are clean, the furniture new and of the
latest designs and finish in antique oak
which has been adopted as the theme
color in the refurnishing Of this house.
The beds are equipped with the most
improved devices in the way Of mat
tresses. the long drawn hair Baeder
and Adams mattresses being used,
which were furnished by the Ives com.
pany Of this city. The furniture on
the top floor, which has been described
was furnished by the Nelson Matter
Co., the Phoenix and the Berkey 4
Gay firms, too well known in America
as hotel furnlshcrs TO require extended
comment here. The chairs and MANY
of the suits. rich and attractive, having
been constructed out of quarter sawed
oak, were bought of the Grand Rapids
Char Company. All of the Railways
have been repapcred IN cheerful and
bright tints, and also recarpeted
The carpets are velvet and upholstor d
if such a word may be put, IN mall.
ner that the foot sinks nearly out {, !
sight. The decorations are clean, new
and CONSISTENT IN design, and have
been executed with the purpose OF
blending IN color and light with the
furniture and carpets.
An improvement that will be appre-
GATED is the new bath rooms which are
being constructed. There are six bath
rooms on every floor. There are ALEC
three on each floor on Pearl-st., and
three on every floor III the interior
making in all eighteen, each being
made of porcelain and supplied with
hot and cold water and steam. There
are twenty-five rooms on the second
and third floors which are furnished
identical with the choice rooms IN the
Auditorium Hotel, Chicago, which was
provided by leading Grand Rapids
concern. In fact, as Mr. RIseley states
no device or modern improvement has
been overlooked IN the reftting Of tins
hotel. The sample rooms on the Pearl.
ST. side are large. roomy and beautifully
furnished and will certainly commend
themselves to- every knight OF the grip.
The dining room, and that IS one Of the
first place. one thinks of when we make
connection with hotel, will not bc
recognized by the old patrons. IL has
been repainted and retnted with sky
blue colors, the ceiling beng tastefully
relieved with golden stars. The billiard
room has also been repalnted and newly
decorated. The new bar, which vii
stand on Fearl-st. adjoining the reading
room, was placed in position yesterday.
1t conforms to the popular theme OF
furnishing and IL of antique oak. The
room is furnished to correspond. The
ceiling 10 patterned after the Hoffman
House. New York. The new bar IL con
uected with the old billiard room by a
neat archvsy In the latter room are
Ave new billiard and pool tables, which
are of oak. They are models of the
best effort of Brunswick, Rake & Co.
These are few OF the changes IN the
msrnificently rrfi,ted hosiery which
has for years been endeared to the
travelling pubic as we'll az citizens OF
Grand Rsplds. In a short time the
Office viii be enlarged. the Western
Union telegraph company seekine
quarters elsewhere. In word Sweet.
hotel will be equal 10 the best IN Mich.
lgan. such - the ambition of its new