Cactus Hotel

The Cactus Hotel, previously known as the Hilton Hotel, is a historic hotel in downtown San Angelo, Texas. The hotel was built in 1929 and added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 20, 1984.

Hilton Hotel
Cactus Hotel from the southeast
Cactus Hotel is located in Texas
Cactus Hotel
Location in Texas and the United States
Cactus Hotel is located in the United States
Cactus Hotel
Cactus Hotel (the United States)
LocationSan Angelo, Texas
Coordinates31°27′42.7″N 100°26′5.1″W
Built1928
ArchitectAnton F. Korn
Websitewww.cactushotel.net
NRHP reference No.84001999
Added to NRHPSeptember 20, 1984

Site

The hotel stands at 36 E. Twohig, on the northwest corner of Twohig and Oakes,[1] in downtown San Angelo, Texas.[2]

History

In 1919, entrepreneur Conrad Hilton established a hotel chain that he began rapidly expanding across Texas in the 1920s. He constructed the Dallas Hilton in 1924–25,[3][4] then identified several West Texas cities, including San Angelo, to open hotels in.[5] The construction of the Dallas Hilton had exceeded Hilton's budget, however, and he sought partnerships to limit future expenses in the construction of future hotels.[6]

On March 5, 1928, the West Texas Lumber Company (WTLC) accounted that it had signed a 15-year lease with Hilton to build a hotel on the site of its offices. The WTLC began to move out of its offices to a new location in San Angelo,[7][8] and delayed the start of construction of the San Angelo Hilton until the completion of their new office.[9] Dallas-based architect Anton F. Korn was selected to design the hotel;[8] his plans were made public on April 22, 1928.[10] A test pit was dug at the site on April 5, to ascertain the quality of the hotel's future foundations.[11] The construction and furnishing of the San Angelo Hilton was expected to cost $750,000 (equivalent to $12,781,977 in 2022).[7][8]

To construct the hotel, Belvedere B. Hail, the president of the WTLC, formed the B. B. Hail Building Corporation (B. B. Hail) on June 19, 1928.[12][13] The WTLC announced on June 5 that bids for contracts would open on June 20,[14] for which contractors from six states began arriving by June 6.[15] B. B. Hail received its charter on June 20 and began to hear bids.[16] Robert E. McKee was awarded the general construction contract,[17] the A. T. Cheaney Plumbing and Heating Company was awarded the contract for plumbing, heating, and ventilation, the Sun Electric Company was contracted to supply the hotel's wiring, and the Otis Elevator Company would supply its elevators.[18][19] Theodore Montgomery was awarded the contract to demolish the WTLC's offices and began work on the site on July 6.[20][21]

Excavations for the basement of the hotel began on July 23, 1928,[22] and was largely completed by August 30.[23] The excavation produced 8,000 cubic yards (6,100 m3) of spoil that was disposed of by creating an athletic field at a nearby campground.[24][25] After bedrock was reached digging continued with explosives, which resulted in rocks striking the O. C. Fisher Federal Building across the street.[26] Construction had begun by September 16, when the San Angelo Standard-Times reported that the concrete pours for the hotel's first floor were almost complete.[27] Pours for the uppermost portions of the hotel began on January 1, 1929, as did the erection of a steel frame for the roof and bricklaying,[28] both completed on February 3.[29] Interior work was mostly completed by April 14.[30]

San Angelo Hilton

The San Angelo Hilton had its grand opening on May 31, 1929.[31] The day started with tours of the hotel from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM (CST) and concluded that night with a ball,[31] and a wedding hosted within the hotel,[32] which were broadcast on the radio station KGKL.[33][34] Guests included Hilton, Hail, Houston Harte, the owner of the San Angelo Standard-Times, and W. H. Holcombe, the mayor of San Angelo.[35] To manage the San Angelo Hilton, Hilton had first selected the manager of the Dallas Hilton, A. H. Hilton,[36] who died of influenza on April 28, 1929, before he could assume the office.[37] In his place, Hilton selected Sidney Abbott, the manager of the Waco Hilton. Much of the administrative staff were brought to the San Angelo from other Hilton hotels, while locals were hired for service positions; African-Americans were only hired for positions Abbott described as "heavy work".[38]

Preservation

The Cactus Hotel was nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places on April 5, 1984, and surveyed by the Texas Historical Commission that August. The Keeper of the Register accepted the nomination and added the hotel to the National Register on September 20, 1984.[39]

Architecture

The Cactus Hotel contains 14 stories,[40] with a mezzanine above the first floor, and stands 165 feet (50 m) tall. The exterior of the building is composed of a classical base, column, and capital,[41] with an attached northern wing that simultaneously provides a ballroom and isolates the guest rooms from other buildings on the block.[40]

The basement, first floor, and mezzanine together have a floor space of 16,875 square feet (1,567.7 m2) and the other floors altogether have a floor space of about 6,250 square feet (581 m2).[41]

The building was designed in the Italian Renaissance style by Anton F. Korn, who had also designed the Tom Green County Courthouse and the San Angelo National Bank Building.[42] Its skyscraper-like appearance was typical of hotels constructed in Texas in the first decades of the 20th century.[43]

Reception

In Architecture in Texas: 1895-1945, historian Jay C. Henry called the composition of the Cactus Hotel's exterior "rather weak and unconvincing."[40]

References
  1. Noelke 1996, p. 1.
  2. National Park Service 1984, p. 1.
  3. Ingham 1983, p. 587.
  4. Noelke 1996, pp. 2–3.
  5. Hilton 1994, p. 144.
  6. Noelke 1996, pp. 5–6.
  7. "Hilton leases a structure with 225 rooms here". San Angelo Evening Standard. March 5, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Name architect for new hotel building here". San Angelo Morning Times. March 6, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Plan to rush work on hotel". San Angelo Morning Times. March 16, 1928. p. 10. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Hilton Hotel plans rushed". San Angelo Standard-Times. April 22, 1928. pp. 1, 4. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Test base for new hotel here". San Angelo Evening Standard. April 5, 1928. p. 14. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Noelke 1996, p. 6.
  13. "B B HAIL BUILDING CORPORATION". OpenCorporates. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  14. "Bids on Hilton open June 20". San Angelo Evening Standard. June 5, 1928. p. 13. Retrieved December 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Contractors of many states ask for hotel work". San Angelo Morning Times. June 6, 1928. p. 13. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Charter given hotel builders". San Angelo Morning Times. June 20, 1928. p. 10. Retrieved December 9, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "El Pasoan will build 12-story Hilton edifice". San Angelo Morning Times. June 22, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "More contracts let for work on hotel building". San Angelo Morning Times. June 23, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "New Hilton hotel to be 14 stories". San Angelo Standard-Times. June 24, 1928. p. 35. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Work started on hotel site". San Angelo Evening Standard. July 6, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. "Clearing off hotel site". San Angelo Standard-Times. July 8, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Start July 23 on new Hilton". San Angelo Standard-Times. July 15, 1928. p. 19. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "Excavation for hotel finished". San Angelo Morning Times. August 30, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. "Work on new Hilton begun". San Angelo Evening Standard. July 25, 1928. p. 8. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "Dan Moody may speak Wednesday". San Angelo Evening Standard. July 24, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "Rocks into postoffice". San Angelo Evening Standard. September 18, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. "Hilton Hotel progressing". San Angelo Standard-Times. September 16, 1928. p. 31. Retrieved December 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. "Pouring forms on Hilton top". San Angelo Evening Standard. January 2, 1929. p. 9. Retrieved December 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. "Lay roof on Hilton soon". San Angelo Standard-Times. February 3, 1929. p. 25. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. "Hilton Hotel open June 1". San Angelo Standard-Times. April 14, 1929. p. 30. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. Noelke 1996, p. 13.
  32. "Radio wedding to be performed over KGKL Friday night". San Angelo Evening Times. May 31, 1929. p. 13. Retrieved December 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. "To broadcast Hilton affair". San Angelo Evening Times. May 30, 1929. p. 15. Retrieved December 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. "To broadcast banquet". San Angelo Evening Times. May 31, 1929. p. 17. Retrieved December 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. Noelke 1996, pp. 13–14.
  36. "A. H. Hilton to run hotel here". San Angelo Morning Times. February 13, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. "A. H. Hilton is victim of flu". San Angelo Morning Times. April 30, 1929. p. 1. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. Noelke 1996, pp. 14–16.
  39. National Park Service 1984, p. 6.
  40. Henry 1993, p. 129.
  41. National Park Service 1984, p. 2.
  42. Noelke 1996, pp. 4, 7.
  43. Henry 1993, p. 128.

References
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