Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-26

was taken into partnership and the
lease was extended Ave years.
This change marked the first re-.
modelling or the hotel. Bath rooms
were Installed in connection with many
rooms and the Office was removed 10
the first floor. The marble was placed
in the lobby and Il was repaired to
practically it's present shape. 4 can
Opy and sky lights were placed over the
court, n boiler room erected in the
back. and a wall put up on the side
the court opened.
In July, 1909, the remodeling of the
hotel the second time was completed
and a reopening was held. Carl J.
Mueller and A l. Anderson were the
new owners. and Incorporated under
the name the New Harper Hotel com
pany. Mr.. Mueller has since been
manager OF the hotel
II IS today one of the finest hotels
dOwnstate. II has 10 rooms. 20 of
which are with bath. The rooms are
all nicely furnished and all have hot
and cold running water. and the hotel
IS electrically lighted throughout
Lobby Handsome.
The lobby of the hotel is handsome
~ - AANEAN utCoTdltu WIFI TIE HOOI.
pillars and marble wainscoting In
the lobby is nlanicurist, cigar stand
and pubic stenographer. a fire place
al the west end gives a coy homelike|
air to the place and a bar is conducted
in conjunction with the hotel
Since Mr.. Mueller has had charge
OF il the hotel has gained in popularity
The service has been made more
prompt and better through the employ
ment Of n large corps of help.
The cafe is conducted along the
same lines as the hotel and 1t safely
can be said that none I'm this section
excels that of the New Harper. The
cabaret feature has been added under
the present regime and there are al
ways first class entertainers at the
place The culinary service is of the
best The cafe is the most recent ad-
dition TO the hotel and is fitted in the
most modern style.
On the second floor. the room con-
Quoted as the dining room when the
hotel was conducted on the American
plan solely. has been converted into
a parlor. where conventions, teas and
banquets are held.
Both NIr. Mueller and Mr.. Anderson
have manifested that they are pro-
gressive hotel men since they have had
charge OF the hosiery, for they have
given Rock Island hotel noted by all
of the travelling public.
With Hotel 20 Years
In giving a history OF the New Har-
per Il would be incomplete should
there not be mentioned therein the
name OF Robert Willerton. For 80
years he has been stationed back of
the desk in the Harper and has done
much towards giving it its present
standing among the leading hostelries
Of the state.
in 1874, three years after il was
opened by Mr. Harper, Mr.. Willerton
became connected with the institution
and since that time has been back of
the desk continually. except for the
vacations he has enjoyed each year.
When he first entered the employment
tns hotel Office was on the second floor
and ne watched the hosiery grow in
size and in popularity. He enjoys a
large acquaintanceship not only with
the travelling public but in people in
this city as well, and IL can be read
fly seen that his long service makes
him Invaluable to the success of the
place.
The Harper has been a big institu-
ton in Rock Island for the past 43
years and it will continue to be so, as
its fine record OF previous years will
no doubt be duplicated In future ones. /
Following upon the ruling OF the
Prussian minister OF public instruc-