The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-21
LAWLOR GETS RICE HOTEL
HIS BID FOR A FIVE YEARS LEASE
ACCEPTED.
viii Take Charge on October I, When
the Lease of MIR. F. A, Hsrvey
viii Expire.

While 1t has been known for several days
among those who have taken sufficient in
terest In the matter to inquire about it,,
that the bid OF Captain James Lawlor for
the lease of the Rice hotel in this city was
the best offered that had been received
aud that the lease would likely he turned
over to him, the matter was not finally
contaminated until yesterday, when the
award was made to captain Lawlor at
a meeting Of the trustees OF the William
NJ. Rice institute, held at II a. M
There were in all seven or eight com
petitors, bids being received from Hous-
ton. Galveston. Dallas. san Antonio, New
York city and California. OF these Cap
tain Lawlor's bid was considered the most
favorable and the result is that he will
take possession of this splendid hotel prop
erty on October /, at which time the
lease Of Captain f, A. Hervey, the present
proprietor, expires. Captain Hervey has
run this house for the past several years 50
successfully that his retirement win cause
feeling of very general regret, com
peusated for, however. particularly among
the travelling public, by the fact that this
popular hotel In passing into the hands of
Captain Lawlor goes under the management
of one who has never failed 10 make every
hotel which his name has been connected
extremely popular Captain Lawlor in fact.
is one of the best known hotel men In
Texas. His entire life has been devoted
to hotel work from the position OF bell boy
10 manager. Coming 20 this country In
1870 ms young lad from Limerick, Cap
tain Iawlor's hrst hotel experience was at
that time to thlS he has been connected
with hotels throughout every section OF tho
country, from the eilete East TO the wild
and woolly West From Boston he went
10 Chicago. where he worked IN different
hotels for three years. then to St Louis,
working at the Iindell and old southern,
then to Cincinnati, whore he worked In
hotels from 1876 10 1878, then hack to the
fremont hotel In Chicago when II was uu-
der the management Of John \. Rice. From
there Captain LaWlor went TO Colorado
prospecting and IL was IN Pueblo that he
married, He was steward In Numa House
in 1852 After this he came to Texas aud
at its opening In 1856. He then went 10
the Beach hotel AT Galveston. where he
served as steward in 1881 After this Cap
tain Lawlor came Go Houston ana took
charge Of the dining hail and lunch stand
when the Grand Central depot was opened,
which he has continued 10 run, except the
dining hall which was moved out when
the depot was remodeled. Mr., John Finne,
gan built the Grand Central hotel for Cap
tain Lawlor which he first took charge OF
In 1892 stu holding lease on the prop
erty and running the IAwlor hotel there.
In 1898 he leased larger building erected
lust across the street from the Grand Cen
trail depot by Or. Logan OF ST. Joseph, No.,
and removing from the Grand Central Into
the new building he called II the r.awlor.
lie held this property till 1901, when his
lease expired and lie moved back into the
old Grand Central carrying back to that
building the name THE Lawlor," and he
VIII continue to run this hotel In connection
with the Rice. Of which he will assume
charge on October I.
With his lifetime experience and his
popularity and knowledge of catering TO
the wants Of the people there Is no reason
why CAPTAIN LawlOr should not make the
Rice hotel the most popular hosiery In
Texas.