The Hotel Realty Co. was incorporated on the 24th of January 1903 with the goal to build a new hotel in St. Louis, in preparation for the upcoming World’s Fair which was to be held there the following year. It was incorporated with a capital stock of $600,000 divided into 600 shares of $100. The largest shareholder was Festus J. Wade who was appointed as its President, a self-made Irish immigrant who had arrived in Kerry’s Patch as an infant. Festus J. Wade was also President of the Mercantile Trust Co. and had been President of numerous Real estate businesses in St. Louis. Festus had also been appointed as one of the Directors of the World’s Fair, so was keenly aware of the requirement to have a luxury first class hotel in the city to host the numerous delegates who would be visiting the World’s Fair.
(Festus J. Wade, President of the Hotel Realty Co.)
Within a month of its incorporation, the Hotel Realty Co. secured a 99-year lease agreement for the proposed site on the south side of Twelfth Street (now Tucker Blvd), between Locust and St. Charles Streets for an annual rent of $22,000. The condition for the ground lease was that Hotel Realty Co. construct, at its own expense, ‘a new modern, substantial, and commodious fireproof Hotel Building not less than ten stories in height composed of stone, brick, and iron or steel at a net cost to the lessee of not less than one million dollars. The proposed hotel would be named after the third President of the Unites States and Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson.
St. Louis based architectural firm; Barnett Haynes & Barnett were appointed for the project to build Hotel Jefferson. Many of the buildings they designed would go onto be listed on the US National Register of Historical Places. Their greatest achievement included The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis which was built next to the home of Festus J. Wade on Lindell Boulevard.
(Cathedral Basilica of St Louis. Festus' Home on right of image with car outside)
In preparation of designing the Jefferson Hotel, Festus J. Wade and the architects visited hotels across America for inspiration, where they aimed to design a hotel which offered the apotheosis of luxury to rival the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. The plans created by Barnett Haynes & Barnett for Hotel Jefferson would consist of 425 guest rooms, over 300 baths, and large halls to host conventions.
With a deadline of a year to complete the hotel for the opening of the 1904 World’s Fair, Festus J. Wade met with labour unions to reach agreements which ensured no strike actions by workers would cause any delay in its construction. The workers began construction in the March of 1903, working 16-hour shifts to meet the tight deadline. Hotel Jefferson was completed in April of 1904 and was open to overnight guests on the eve of the opening of the World’s Fair. The total cost of building Hotel Jefferson amounted to $1,257,316.80 with an addition cost of around $300,000 to furnish the building.
Early the following morning trumpets proclaimed the start of a procession from the Hotel Jefferson, of the United States Senate party as it departed for the opening of the World’s Fair at Forest Park. They were preceded by members of the Fourth Cavalry. Six carriages were occupied by Senators and their family’s as they followed the route to take up their seats of honour on the stand at the Louisiana Purchase monument.
At the opening of the World’s Fair the Secretary of War, and Future President of the United States, William H. Taft, gave the principal speech during the proceedings in front of over 150,000 people. The following morning William H. Taft was entertained for breakfast at Hotel Jefferson. Festus J. Wade would form a close personal friendship with President Taft, staying at his Taft’s home on several visits to Washington.
(Liberty Bell outside Hotel Jefferson 1904)
(Festus J. Wade at the closing ceremony of the 1904 World’s Fair)
During the World’s Fair, St. Louis received almost 20 million visitors to the city, with Hotel Jefferson hosting notable dignitaries and celebrities from around the world. In 1904 and 1916 Hotel Jefferson was used to host the Democratic National Convention. There were further Presidential visits including a 1907 meeting of the Business Men’s League of St. Louis for President Theodore Roosevelt. President Taft visited St. Louis in 1910 and 1910 where he stayed and dined at Hotel Jefferson, Festus J. Wade being honoured with a seat at his table. In 1916 it was President Woodrow Wilson’s turn to visit. In 1906 there was a visit from Dr. Douglas Hyde, the President of the Gaelic League in Ireland. Festus J. Wade was present during his visit and attended one of his speeches. 30 years later Dr Hyde would go onto to become the first President of Ireland.
(Hotel Jefferson 1910’s)
(1907 meeting of the Business Men’s League of St. Louis for President Theodore Roosevelt.)
In 1919, Festus J. Wade arranged plans for a 12-story annex to Hotel Jefferson, which would be twice the size of its original. These plans did not materialise until the hotel was sold in 1927 and the annex and remodelling of the hotel was completed by the new owners. Festus J. Wade died on the 28th of September 1927 and was buried at Calvary Cemetary, St. Louis. Hotel Jefferson was just one example of his numerous, significant contributions to St. Louis.
(Wade/Anderson monument at Calvary Cemetary, St. Louis)
(Hotel Jefferson 1930’s with annex completed)
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