PARK INN HOTEL, MASON CITY, IOWA (1909) (S.156) AND CITY NATIONAL BANK BUILDING (1909) (S.155)

(Note, due to the fact that the internet is constantly changing, and items that are posted change, I have copied the text, but give all the credits available.)     HISTORY OF THE PARK INN HOTEL AND CITY NATIONAL BANK Managed and designed by GlobeGazette.com  http://www.wrightiniowa.com/history.php   Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned by prominent Mason City attorneys, James.E.E. Markley and James E. Blythe to design a business block that would include a new building for their bank. It is recounted that Markley and Blythe intended to construct “quality” in lieu of “quantity” referring to a new building under construction by their competitor across the street, First National Bank. Markley made acquaintance with Wright through visits to his daughter during her term at Hillside Home School, run by Wright’s maternal aunts, Jane and Ellen C. Lloyd Jones. During 1907 and 1908 Wright was a frequent visitor at the Markley home in Mason City. Wright was commissioned to design both the City National Bank and Park Inn Hotel structures in early 1909 and construction began about April 1, 1909 as planned. Wright made regular visits to Mason City to supervise the construction; these visits caused little public notice. When Wright abruptly left his practice and went to Europe with Mrs. Edwin Cheney in late October 1909, his chief draughtsman, William Drummond, continued supervision of the construction which was substantially completed in August 1910. Total cost of the Park Inn building was $90,000. The Hotel was opened under the management of John Sundell. A September 10, 1910 Mason City Globe Gazette article praises Mr. Sundell in making Mason City famous for its splendid hostelry in just three short weeks. The Park Inn Hotel was described as a “model whether in the domain of eatery or sleepery, or perhaps to be more correct -- in cuisine and comfort.” A description of the Park Inn Hotel from the Globe article is as follows: It is a marvelously well planned hostelry, every room of that 61 rooms but one being an outside room with art glass French windows, mahogany furniture, Cadillac tables, brass beds with box mattresses, lavatories with hot and cold water, luxurious bath rooms - everything new and sanitary and comfort wooing, with double the fire escapes provided by law, and with equipment and service nowhere excelled in the newest and most modern taverns of the Big cities. In fact with the quaint ventillated doors, the French finish in hard pine with the bungalow effect in the Architecture, a guest feels that he is living in one of those delightful Craftsmen homes which is so restful because of its quiet and broad lines, harmonious proportions and well selected tints of walls and ceiling. A mezzanine room or balcony overlooking the office and café where the orchestra plays on special occasions, utilized for rest and writing room for the ladies parlor on the second floor that with French windows leads to a delicate balcony overlooking the park; and a spacious guest room for the gentlemen in the basement for reading and correspondence, well lighted and well ventilated are features which at once attract attention and elicit generous praise from the public. But boniface Sundell has taken especial pains with the other factor of a successful hotel -- the dining department. He has provided both café and lunch parlor to accommodate every taste and every pocket book. The café is a sumptuous nook with a number of private compartments for small dinner parties leading from the main room all artistically furnished with the parti colored art glass to give it the mellow tints by day and unique electric effects for brilliancy by night. A competent corps of waiters are on hand to tender the most deferential and prompt attention and chefs manufacture the cuisine not only tempting but satisfactory to the most critical bon vivant. There seems to be an erroneous idea that the café is only for the guests of the hotel, but it is for the service of the general public as much as the lunch parlor on the west of the office which has commanded a record patronage since the first day of the opening. The lunch parlor is delightful. The tables, chairs, counters, sideboards and serving tables are all in Flemmish on the Mission style, and one does not need to evoke his imagination to feel that he is in one of the famous Dutch or Flemmish rooms of a metropolitan tavern. The service is a la carte with a noon businessmen’s lunch for 35 cents for those who desire it and the service and cuisine are as tempting as in the more elaborate café. The lunch parlor is open all night but the café is closed at eight o’clock but banquets, and theatre parties are served later in latter by giving previous notice. Sunday music will be provided for the café patrons at noon and in the evening, the well known Gates’ orchestra having been secured. Their music will be a distinct addition to the gastronomic pleasures of the menu following. The Sunday dinner is table d’hote and served for the remarkably reasonable price of 50 cents. With its completion, the Park Inn symbolized the arrival of culture and tasteful opulence to “this exploding Prairie town.” Cultured citizens could take satisfaction in this building designed along lines equal to those in the most sophisticated areas of the world. The design of the City National Bank and Park Inn buildings through their publication in the Wasmuth Portfolio (a collection of Wright drawings) had a major impact on European architects after its publication in 1910. Created during Wright’s early years, the Park Inn is an excellent example of Prairie School design featuring open floor plans, low overhanging eaves and horizontal planes. This style was primarily used for private residence, but infrequently used for commercial buildings. Wright later used the unique style and elements of the Park Inn in conceptually designing six additional hotels, including the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. The Park Inn Hotel sits across the street south from Mason City’s Central Park. This park is one of only a few dedicated green spaces set within an urban environment in Iowa. It is obvious Wright utilized this natural resource when designing the Park Inn in the placement of windows to maximize the view of the park. The second floor originally held the legal offices of Blythe and Markley to the east and about 14 guest rooms to the west; 24 guest rooms made up the third floor. The Park Inn ceased operations as a hotel in 1972. In 1973, under new ownership, the upper floors were renovated into apartments although not drastically altered. At some point over the next 15 years, maintenance was neglected and by December 1988 the apartments were in such bad condition that the City white tagged them and relocated the tenants. The upper floors have since remained unoccupied. The upper floors were not drastically altered even during the 1973 renovations. The main floor of the building has suffered the most serious alterations over the years to accommodate the needs of various business occupants. Non-period improvements have been removed exposing several original architectural features. Significance The Park Inn Hotel was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most prominent Twentieth Century American architects. Its Prairie School design, which made Wright famous, is a significant presence in Mason City, Iowa. In the entire Midwest, Mason City possesses a notable inventory of structures designed by Wright and other renowned architects (Walter Burley Griffin, William Drummond and Barry Byrne) in the American architectural movement called the Prairie School. Mason City is the home of the Rock Glen/Rock Crest National Historic District, the largest grouping of Prairie School homes unified by a common natural setting in the United States. The City National Bank, adjoining the Park Inn Hotel, is noted to be the best of the two remaining Wright-designed banks. As the only remaining Wright-designed hotel, the Park Inn is internationally significant both architecturally and historically. The Park Inn Hotel and City National Bank buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Because of its deteriorated condition the Park Inn Hotel was listed on the ‘Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties’ by the Iowa Historic Preservation Alliance in 1999. The Park Inn Hotel gained national and international attention after being designated as a ‘Save America’s Treasures’ official project by the White House Millennium Committee in 2000.     BACK

 

HOME    ARTIFACTS    AUDIO    BOOKS    PERIODICALS    PHOTOS   POSTCARDS   POSTERS     STAMPS    STUDIES   ASSISTING   COLLECTING

 

^©Copyright 2009