Rebirth of the Grand Lady of Hamilton Street NANCY DERBY, DIRECTOR OF SALES, ANTHONY CASTELLUCCIO, GENERAL MANAGER FACTS FROM HISTORIAN FRANK WHELAN
The Historic Americus Hotel was born in the 1920s, which one author called the "era of wonderful nonsense." It was a time when downtown hotels were regarded as a sign that a city had gotten beyond the horse and buggy era Ritter and Shay, leading architects out of Philadelphia in the 1920s, won the bid and were contracted to design and construct the Americus Hotel. The architects perfected the Spanish Moorish style so popular in those times. The plan first called for 270 rooms but was raised to 328. This was planned in hopes of getting the convention business. The Kitchen was led by Chef Warner Klotzl, a native of Switzerland who had most recently had the same position in a hotel in Chicago. It was July 1926 that ground was broken for the Americus. Turning the first shovels were General Harry C Trexlor and Allentown mayor Malcolm W Gross. Originally it was planned
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