Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-25
HISTORY OF HARPER HOUSE
is FULL OF REAL INTEREST

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business proposition, there is . great
deal of beautiful sentiment stored
away in the Harper's history. Built in
the first place in fulfillment of the
ideals of Mr.. Harper and in further
ance of his public spirited purpose to
DO something Cor Rock Island OF which
it might be proud, it was the subject,
too. of his personal pride. In it from
grew to manhood and to middle life
the managing lessee. Charles McHugh,
who turns over his trust July l. next,
in order to embark in other enter
prises in the Motel line.
Built Forty Years Ago.
The Harper was built in 1870, and
was Normally and brilliantly opened,
February %, the following year While
under Mr.. Harper's regime. it was i'm
proved from time to time, being in
fact the first hotel in the west pro
v.ded with fire escapes. it was not I'M
til 10 years ago that the first great
transformation occurred. Then the
Office was moved to the ground floor.
and the present still magnificent lobby
put in and the house improved and
,efurnished throughout. Twenty years
ago ]. Z. Montrose, now in charge of
the Hotel Montrose at Cedar Rapids,
became the lessee. In the me antime,
Mr.. McHugh had grown along with the
hotel. From bell boy he had risen To
the position of night clerk, and so be.
fore the expiration of Mr.. Montrose's
first lease he purchased a halt interest
in the proprietorship, which he retains
to this day the Harper house company
having again leased the prog erty 10
years ago. So that in severing his con.
Eection in the near future with the
house, Mr. McHugh parts with lis first
love in the world of business.
MIR .WIllertOn's Long Service.
Another pretty story that is en-
| twined in the hotels history circles
about the long and faithful service OF
the chief clerk, r. C. Willertun. Mr.
I WillertOn came to the hotel in the
capacity mentioned soon after the
fotel opened. He served Throughout
all the years that Mr.. Harper was il
charge, under all the proprietors since
and today occupies the same position
indeed, the Harper without Bob, would
be much like unto the Shakespearial
masterpiece without the stellar role
But it is of the new Harper house
: hat the people want to know. TIL,
Plans have been already outlined il
The Argus. The transformation is t.
be almost as notable as thai of tn,
short 10 years that have passed
The scope of the improvement
extends from basement floor t,
roof, Stuart and Fay Harper stat
that nothing will be omitted tina
money can provide to make tie note
which their father founded once NOR
the best. The improvements includ
the taking in of the building to tn
south so long occupied by the Roc
Island sanitarium. A couple of stol
les will be added to this annex Their
may be roof garden on top of thi
pun idSAAS lhS pain AZ any .ult
ground floor will contain the cafe. TIL
storeroOm on Second avenue no,
vacant, will be thrown into girl
room. The barber shop will be move
up front. The writing rooms will G
into an annex back of the present fire
place in the lobby. The ornaments
skylight will be dropped down fror
the third to the second floor i'll orde
to afford more light for the secon
floor rooms facing the court TIL
dining room on the second floor wi
be split up into parlor chambers. TIL
rarlors themselves will all be rea
ranged. On all the upper floor
changes will be made. New heatin
and plumbing plants will be installed
A telephone system will be put in wit
phones in every room. The hous
will be redecorated and refu,nishe
throughout. There will be nothing III
done to make it all that it should be-
still the pride of Rock Island.
VIII BE European.
And it will be strictly European.
, plan toward which Mr.. McHugh ha
been working during the past fe
| years, realizing as he has through e,