Alonzo Ward Hotel
The Alonzo Ward Hotel is a historic hotel in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a contributing property to the Aberdeen Commercial Historic District.
Alonzo Ward Hotel | |
 Building in 2015 | |
   | |
| Location | 104 South Main Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota[1] |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 45°27′50″N 98°29′18″W |
| Built | 1927–1928 |
| Architect | Ellerbe & Co. |
| Part of | Aberdeen Commercial Historic District (ID88000586) |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003915 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | June 17, 1982 |
| Designated CP | May 23, 1988 |
History
Businessman Alonzo Ward first built a hotel on the site in 1894.[2][3] In November 1926, this first structure was destroyed in a fire. Work began on a replacement building in 1927 with the new hotel opening in May 1928.[3]
The first radio station in Aberdeen, KABR, began operations on the sixth floor in 1935.[2][4]
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 17, 1982.[5] The building is also listed on the National Register as a key contributing property of the Aberdeen Commercial Historic District;[6] the district was listed on May 23, 1988.[7]
From 2002 through 2004, 90 of the original hotel rooms on floors 3–6 were converted into 15 condominiums and the second-floor ballroom was restored.[8] In mid-2017, however, plans were made to convert the ballroom into apartments because it was used too infrequently to be economically viable.[8] In October 2017, a semi-truck struck an overhang on the hotel's north side, cracking one corner of it.[9][10]
Architecture
The hotel is a six-story building made of steel-reinforced concrete with a brick facade.[11] It was designed by architecture firm Ellerbe & Co.[12] The building features a mix of architectural styles, including English vernacular revival and Art Deco.[11]
The facade is visually composed of three layers. The first and second floors form the base, divided from the upper floors by a belt course of vertically laid bricks. Floors 3–6 form the middle layer. At the top is a cornice of brick laid diagonally in an Art Deco zig-zag pattern.[11]
References
- Zemlicka 1982, p. 1.
- Zemlicka 1982, p. 3.
- Artz 1991, p. 21.
- Artz 1991, p. 22.
- Zemlicka 1982, p. 4.
- Long 1988, pp. 6–7.
- Long 1988, p. 1.
- "Ward Hotel ballroom to be converted into apartments". AberdeenNews.com. July 28, 2017. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- "Photo Gallery: Damage after Ward Hotel hit by semi-truck". AberdeenNews.com. October 5, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- Varin, Elizabeth (October 5, 2017). "Semi-truck hits Ward Hotel, damages overhang". AberdeenNews.com. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- Zemlicka 1982, p. 2.
- Long 1988, p. 7.
Bibliography
- Zemlicka, Mae (June 17, 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Alonzo Ward Hotel" (PDF). National Park Service.
- "Accompanying 10 photos, from 1981" (PDF). National Park Service.
- Long, Barbara Beving (May 23, 1988). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Aberdeen Commercial Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service.
- "Accompanying 12 photos, from 1987" (PDF). National Park Service.
- Artz, Don (1991). The Town in the Frog Pond: Stories of Builders, Buildings and Business in Aberdeen's Commercial Historic District (PDF). Memories.
External links
- 360° video of Alonzo Ward Hotel ballroom in 2017, by Aberdeen American News / AberdeenNews.com