The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-07-11
HOTEL DOWNING
Conducted by Helm Hotel Company
H HEN, Manager

The Hen Hotel Company succeed
ed the Birdsall Hotel Company De-
cember 5th, 1899. Mr.. j. H. HEN
. came to 0skaloosa in 1898 and pur-
chased q half interest in the hotel,
then known tas the "Birdsall," acting
as manager OF the same. In Decem-
Der, 1899, Mr.. j. O. Ferrall pur-
chased Mr.. H Birdsall's half inter-
est, and the firm name became Hen
Hotel Company, Mr.. HEN continuing
as half owner and manager and prac-
tical man. The name of the hotel at
the same time was changed to "The
Downing.o
Since taxing half interest in the
house, Mr.. Hen has papered and
painted the entire interior, built a
new kitchen, enlarged the dining
room, built new cold storage room
and built three new sample rooms.
He has re-furnished it entirely in
kitchen, dining-room and guest
chamber, with modern and hand
some new furniture, and laid over
1900 yards of melton and melton
velvet carpet, as we'll as making 9TH
er important improvements, until
now it is as complete, modern and
convenient a house as can be found
in the State. In all, several thous-
ands Of dollars have been spent, and
still plans are being laid for more ex-
tensive improvements.
The house now has fifty-four guest
chambers-all outside rooms-all of
which are handsomely furnished and
carpeted; there are baths on all the
floors, CHEEKY, pleasant dining
room, commodious reception rooms
and large, well-lighted and heated
sample rooms. The entire house is
steam heated and archaeological,
has sperfect modern system of cal,
aud return bells, hot and cold water,
ETC., and in fact there is no more
modern, pleasant'and up-to-date no
tel in this State, and few, indeed,
that can compare with it.
The table set by Mr.. Hen is re-
markable for ITS worth and quality,
and he serves the best on the mark.
ct, placing dollhouse vegetables and
fruits on the table long before they
appear in the local market. He en-
ploys a chef who is an artist in his
line, and the entire dining-room is
under management that is first
class in every respect. Mr.. Hen
makes a speciality of six O'Clock
Sunday dinner, with orchestra music
dinners that are not excelled by
any of the first-class hotels Of the
large cities, dinners that won tho ad-
miration and patronage of the trav-
cling public and that should be ap
preciated by the citizens of oska-
loosa.
Mr.. Hen is most affable and ac-
commodating host, and is very par
ticular in looking after the welfare
Of the "boys on the road" as he re-
Allies that they can obtain none too
much comfort while away from home,
consequently this hotel is always
filed with the better class of travel
ing public. He employs from TWEEN
ty-six to thirty people in taking care
of the house, and his help are palms.
taking and efficient in their services
to his guests.
Mr., Hen is a practical hotel man
of twenty-three years experience,
and has been connected with some
of the leading hotels and club houses
in the larger cities at various times.
He came here from New Orleans,
where he was assistant manager and
: steward at "The Grunewald'H for
nearly three years, a position he
fIled with credit to himself and his
employers; this house has capacity
of 900 rooms, and is one of the larg.
est European-plan houses in the Uni,
ted States.
Mr.. HEN has the distinction Of
serving the largest banquet ever
served at one sitting, when in Dav
export, December 2sth, 1887, he
served to 500 couples, or ! 900 plates
at one sitting. This is quite dis
tinction for a hotel man. He GER
tainly understands every line of thu
hotel business, and The Downing
under his efficient management, is |
pride to Oskaloosa.