Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-28

Of his plans. the building contract was
awarded 10 the selden. Breck Construc-
tion company and WORK commenced. The
first excavating was done during March,
1914 and tho first steel put In place
April q OF the same year.
RuiIdinn Constructed Rapidly.
Never in the history OF the city has
building been rushed TO complication
with more rapIdity than has the new
hotel July H. 1914. the flag was broken
out from the top OF tho structure. In
dicating that on that date the last rivet
had been driven in the last piece of
structural steel.
While the steel was being put in place,
those who had the sub contracts, were
not idle. The brick layers were FOL
lowing closely on the heels of the steel
men and following them we're the plas-
terers, who in turn we're being followed
BY the carpenters, the plasterers and
the finishers. the result Of which meant
that there was no delay in any depart
ment OF the work.
The naming Of the hotel was something
that attracted attention far and wide.
None OF the officers. or stockholders OF
the hotel company felt willing 10 take tho
responsibility OF selecting name that
would stand during the ages, or one that
would give the hotel an individuality.
Consequently through the newspapers
they published notice Of their plans.
These plans proposed tho suggestion Of
names. the party offering the name H.
nally selected 10 be given prize.
Named for chief FontenelIe.
The idea OF suggesting names proved
popular. Thousands were offered, many
good and many bad. The time for maxi
ling the selection arrived and by unan
imous consent Il was voted to accept the
name Fontenelle. offered by Judge Willis
G. Sears Of the district court bench.
As everybody In Nebraska knows. Fon
tenelle n the name Of one OF the greal
chiefs OF the Omaha tribe OF Indians
/ indians who occupied this particular
locality long before the coming OF tn
J whites. A. history relates, not only wa
Logan Fonteneilo q great chief, but h
was q warm friend OF the pioneers. HI
and his people rendering them man!
| services during the early period OF Oh,
settlement OF Nebraska
The men at the head OF the Doukia
a Hotel company In continuing their aggres
, blve methods, as soon as the construction
4 OF the Fonteneile hotel was we'll unde
Z way. commenced to cast about for a MAJ
5 TO take charge of. and operate tho hotel
9 They had applications by the hundreds
: but knowing that they had propert
8 equal to the best in the land felt tina
e they need not be In a hurry In the seleC
d ton OF a landlord. They wanted ma
k who would m the bill and one who wopl
u be up-to-dste In every particular. FroI
!. the large list OF applicants they selecte
Is william r. Burbank. who had alread
- won a most enviable reputation by reaso
+ Of his conduct OF the Hotel onondago o
e Syracuse. N. Y.
70 Burbank organises Company.
% Mr.. Burbank came 20 Omaha. locke
= over the Fontenelle and the city and soc
as he had entered into lease with n
Douglas Hotel company. cast his lot wit
~ the people OF Omaha. organizing the Il
~ ter-state Hotel company. the operatir
~ corporation, OF which IL the active head.
During the construction OF the Font
nellie hotel. and In fact. ever since
erection became an assured fact, ever
thing In connection with It's building h
been looked after by a board OF directo
- and with two exceptions. the same me
- r. A. Nash and Charles T. KountEe. ha
been at the helm since the incorporate,
OF the company. These directors are:
Victor b. Caldwell. J II. Miuard. A.
smith. Casper A. Yost. A. d. Brande
60 John L. Mccague. John L. Kennel
o Charles Piekens. Victor Rosewat,
n a. /. Reed. Frank 7. Hamilton and G. '
" Wattles.
~ f. A. Nash having died. he was ~
- eeeded by q. II. Harries and Charles
"a kountze having resigned. he was 81
eeeded by Fred II Davis.