Sherman House IV
Life Span: 1910-1973
Location: NW corner of N Clark & W Randolph streets
Architect: Holabird and Roche
INTRO
In 1911, at a cost of several million dollars, a 15-story beaux arts palace was built in the same place, using the firm of Holabird and Roche to design the 757-room hotel.
The new Sherman House maintained its reputation as one of the city’s finest hotels right up into the 1950’s when the luster began to fade. The 1910 building was razed in the early 1950’s, and the annex of 1925 lasted until 1973, when it, too, was demolished to make way for Helmut Jahn’s State of Illinois Building, now the James R. Thompson Center.
Inter Ocean, January 24, 1911
If Francis Cornwall Sherman could have come to life last night and witnessed the opening of the new Hotel Sherman, erected on the site where in 1837 he built the first Sherman house, it would be hard to describe his amazement. Complete in every detail this new hostelry stands among the better class of American hotels, and the popularity o! its management was displayed by the crowds which flocked to its opening.
The lobby of the hotel was a mass of palms, interspersed with floral tributes wishing success to the new venture. An orchestra played in the balcony. while the sightseers wandered through every nook and cranny of the building. In viewing the Italian room, which is the, main dining-room, the visitor would scarcely believe that this finished room was a mass of dirt and refuse a few hours before. Every one worked bard to have things in shape for last night, and while at one time it looked impossible, the result was gratifying to both management and visitor.
Miss Frances McLean, 16 years old, of Covington, Ky., was the first guest to register at the new hotel. She was accompanied by her father. and was given the best suite in the house. The first man to register was Joseph P. Schaeffer of Milwaukee, Wis. The former presidents of the Illinois Bankers’ association, who were entertained by August Bloom, were the first guests to use the $25,000 gold service, the only one of its kind in Chicago. This service is a duplicate of the one made for George Gould of New York.
The staff of the hotel consists of many old employes, among whom are Frank W. Bering, manager: E. J. Denahy, assistant manager, and Ernest N. Ruel, chief clerk.
Joseph Belteld, president of the company, said:
- The time is past when a hotel can be supported entirely by the so-called four hundred, and with this end in view, I sent out a general invitation to the people to attend the opening; I like to see a crowd. We have as fine a hotel as there is in Chicago, and yet we are not asking fancy prices for accommodations.
Among the many persons of Rialto tame who make the Hotel Sherman their home when in Chicago and are now registered there are Joe Welch, Annebelle Whitford, Francis Dooley and Messrs. Le Monte and Sheridan.
Sherman House IV
1911-1952/1973
The Inter Ocean, December 26, 1910
Hotel Sherman
Grand Opening Announcement
January 23, 1911
1915 Buying Convention
Hotel Sherman
The Hotel Sherman, including its most recent addition, occupying the historic site of the original City Hotel and the succeeding Sherman Houses.