The Royal Palm

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Royal Palm, Bennett House
Life Span: 1872-1905
Location: 71 Monroe (old)
16 W. Monroe (current)
Architect: TBD

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874

Durr & Dorr

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Bennett House, Charles E. Bennett, prop, 71 Monroe

The Royal Palm, also known as the Bennett House, was a four-story building and was a favorite resort, where a large variety of palms were on exhibition. The North American building includes this site.

The Land Owner, January, 1873

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The rebuilding of Chicago’s mercantile and business structures, government buildings, hotels and railroad depots has been followed closely by the re-opening of many of the old popular resorts of the city. This is most noticeable in the opening of The Royal Palm, at 71 Monroe street, near State, an illustration of which we present herewith. In the windows of this sumptuous establishment are seen living specimens of the royal palm, from which it takes its name. These superb plants flourish here in all their glory, and are an attractive feature of the room, well worth a call to see. Others are on their from the South.

Messr. John Garrick and S. L. Cather, the proprietors of The Royal Palm, have taken a decided departure from the old sample room style in fitting up this place, and have inaugurated a new era in interior decorations. The woodwork is pure white, with mirror settings throughout, presenting a most dazzling, and, at the same time, unique appearance. Under the light of the heavy chandeliers and reflectors, these rooms present an appearance of almost oriental splendor, reminding one of the state apartments in some of the old palaces of Europe. Paris, before the war, in the palmy and gorgeous days of the Empire never boasted of such apartments, and even the famous Cafe Hidare and Cafe de l’Europe were tame beside it.

Above the sample room is an elegant billiard parlor and reading room, fast becoming a favorite among the patrons of the gentleman’s game.

The Palm, according to Webster, is the symbol of superiority or victory, a token of great success or triumph, and surely this institution has attained both surely this institution has attained both success and victory, in its appointments, its sideboards and its customers.

Chicago Tribune, January 5, 1873

A Model Establishment.
One of the best conducted establishments of the kind in existence—a place where gentlemen may congregate without fear of coming in contact with loafers—is the Royal Palm, on Monroe street, between Dearborn and State streets, of which Messrs. Garrick & Cather are the proprietors. Up stairs will bo found an elegantly-furnished billiard hall, containing eight of the finest tables to be found in Chicago, and with no liquors sold in the room. On the first floor is the cigar stand, with its magnificent furnishings and its beautiful collection of growing hot-house plants. The plan of the entire establishment is peculiarly novel and elegant, and it is a model place of the kind. Not the least among its agreeable features in the warm lunch, with a fine bill of fare, which is set every day.

Chicago Evening Post, May 17, 1893

Magnificent New Billiard Saloon—
Grand Opening ‘To-Night.
The opening to-night of Durr & Dorr’s magnificent new billiard hall, No. 71 Monroe street, adjoining Meyers’ Opera House, promises to be an occasion of uncommon interest.
A number of well known masters of the popular game, including Messre. Rhines, Snyder, Bessunger, Ver Mulen and others, whose names are prominently associated with billiards, will be on hand and lend additional interest to the entertainment by the exhibition of genuine “science” in the manipulation of the balls. Mesers. Durr & Dorr have been at a liberal outlay of money and pains to get up one of the handsomest and most attractive billiard halls in the United States, and undoubtedly the finest in the West in cost and character of furniture and tables, fixtures, ceiling and size decorations, etc., etc.

The nine superb improved Phelan combination cushioned tables from “The J. M. Brunswick & Balke Co.,” (northeast corner of Lake and State streets) which stand in fair array at convenient and comfortable distances the whole length of the hall, are regarded by billiard critics as the most perfect models in style, form, finish, and quality of manufacture. Among the most attractive features in the general decoration of the hall are eleven gorgeous verde bronze chandeliers, of superb models and rarest elegance of style and finish from the old reliable establishment of Mr. E. Baggot (gas fixtures, parlor lights, and chandeliers), No. 132 Fifth avenue. This part of the general adornment of the hall is the subject of common praise and admiration among visitors and the artist merchant is certainly entitled to a public compliment in this connection. Mr. Baggot has been eighteen year among us in the same strait line of trade, and the evidences of his genius and faithful labor are seen in the decoration of a very large proportion of our fine dwellings and business palaces. It is gratifying to know that his business bas reached such proportions as to compel him to add a new building (No. 125 Fifth avenue) for its accommodation, and it is stated that he is now completing negotiations with Eastern manufacturers with a view to the location here, at an early day, of an extensive manufactory designed turn out everything in the line of gas fixtures, improved parlor lights, ornamental, chandeliers, etc., equal to the most renowned productions of New York and Philadelphia. It is on this errand that Mr. Baggot is about starting East.

The beautiful paintings and sketches which ornament the walle were done by the Metropolitan Sign Painting Company of No. 28 Market street. They add an expréssion of dignity and taste to the general adornment of the hall. The side-board, near the main en-trance, is gorgeously equipped—counter of rosewood, black walnut, all very creditable to Mr. H. Curtis, No. 748 State street, who had the contract. The great French mirror which forms the background is a costly and magnificent ornament. Mr. Richard Yates will have charge of this department, and Mr. George Jewett will run the fifteen ball pool table. Messrs. Durr and Dorr will extend a hearty welcome to the public at their grand opening this evening, and a first class good time may be relied upon.

Chicago Tribune, September 18, 1903

LEASE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY MADE TO THE BOOMER HEIRS.
Fireproof Building, to Cost Not Less than $150,000, to Be Erected on the Premises at 71 Monroe Street by 1908.
The board of education has leased the property at 71 Monroe street to the heirs at law of Catherine Boomer, John Boomer, trustee; and J. H. Van Vlissingen, trustee for Benjamin Boomer, for ninety-nine years from May 8, 1902, at a rental of $6,600 a year from May 8, 1902, to May 8, 1905, and $9,000 a year for the remainder of the term. The heirs agree to erect a fireproof building by 1908 at a cost of not less than $150,000.

The premises are occupied by a four story building. leased to Thayer & Jackson, and one lot is east of that occupied by Chapin & Gore.

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