The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-05
Distinguishing Differences.


Another striking difference between
the new and the old hotel Is that the
court separating the two south wings |
of the building runs northwardly from |
Main Street, instead OF westwara!y
from the alley on the east, in the old |
plan. The court is above the two |
story main entrance, which includes |
the grand salon and above this the
great diningr room. With this eXcep- |
ton, the reproduction is much the |
same general design as the original. |
The entire building is of massive steel |
and concrete construction of the most |
modern type. The contractor for the !
work was Mr.. John Il. Wilson, of this
city, who built the Mutual Assurance |
Society's great nine-story office build |
ing at Ninth and Main streets, and who |
has executed many large contracts in |
various States.
The hotel as originally constructed !
was of composite type of architec- |
ture, combining the Louis Seize and the
Italian and Colonial Renaissance.
The massiVeiand the ornate are blend
ed with lIosF" admirable results, max
ing the structure an architectural or
nament as well as u magnificent public
building. The structure is OF white
brick. stone and marble with the mar
BILE effect carried out in all the details
of interior finishing All its floors are
of marble or thing in most attractive
designs. The general plan of the older
portion of the structure is carried out
I in the new, hut in many respects the
new is an Improvement over the old,
The site was admirably adapted TO the
purposes of a hotel such as this. giving
1t entrances on both Main and Franklin
Streets. The Franklin Street level is
sufficiently higher than the Main Street
grade, about seventeen feet, making it
easy and natural 10 separate the social
.T~@, u
cial portion. The main public entrance
IS through the Main street front by
means Of large double doors opening
into n spacious lobby or grand salon of
about the same dimensions as that of
the old hotel. The grand staircase, as
cending from the Main Street level TO
the Franklin Street level, Is not arched
as was the old but is more open, af-
fording an unobstructed view from the
palm court on the Franklin Street level
across the salon to the main dining
room, which is on the second floor, run
ming almost the entire length of the
Main Street frontage. Taken together
with its large private dining-room
which occupied the southwestern cor
ner Of the second floor, and the two
smaller dining-rooms and Intervening
corridor connecting with the adjoining
auditorium, the entire frontage may be
said TO be the dinins-rooms.
Elegant furnishings.
Around the salon and overlooking Il
on all four sides is u broad gallery by
means of which the dining room |:
reached. This affords an excellent view
of the scene in the main salon below
This grand salon is finished in marble
with massive columns, which add VERY
much TO the handsome effect. on thu
western side OF the salon are the Of
fees very much as in the origina
structurs save they are more spacious
and better adapted 10 the uses de
signed To the eastward on the Mail
Street level are the billiard and pool
rooms ana to the extreme eastward
opening upon Muin Street is the bar
the llandsomest in the city, The sailor
and other rooms on the first floor ar
lighted by numerous ground glas
globes. inelosing clusters Of incandes
cent bulbs and surrounded by circl
of ineandesecnts without the groun
glass These are very handsome an
afford a briliianoy, yet softness OF il
EXAMINATIONS. very pleasing and cffectiv,
The ceiling and walls are artistioull
finished and complete the handsome ci
feet produced by the ensemble.
on Friday night the partition while
had separated the palm court from til
rebuilt portion of the hotel was RI
az moved, and many who happened to Wis
rns hote. inspected the newer PORTO
though 1t had not then been prepare