Metropolitian Hotel vs. Howard Hotel

[genealogynut]

Aren't the two named above, two different facilities?  It seems to us, that the Howard Hotel is on North Wabash on the west side of the street.  According to the obituary of Henry Pries, he built and operated that hotel.  It puzzles me, when Andy stated a letter had been found that was written by his daughter, Edith, using the letterhead of Metropolitian Hotel, which was on the corner of Wabash and Randolph (where the First National Bank is now)  Could Henry Pries have been the proprietor of the Metropolitian Hotel before moving to Wichita in 1927?

[Mom70x7]

Yes, the two hotels are different. I called and talked with Dorothy Tiffany, owner of Heritage House, which used to be the Howard Hotel.

[genealogynut]

Don found this in the Elk County History Book on page 78.

  "A quotation from the Howard Courant of 1890 gives the following description of one of the hotels which existed at that time:  The Metropolitan  is the finest and most conveniently arranged hotel in this part of the state.  It is 50' x 125' on the ground, three stories high"........."The Metropolitan is a credit to the city and is a structure of which we all should feel proud.  A. W. Steele and his wife will not spare any labor or pains to make the traveling public feel at home.  This hotel was razed in 1940 and a building was constructed for the use of the Ford Motor Company."

"In the early twenties the Howard Hotel was built and operated several years by Henry Pries and his wife, Millie."

[Janet Harrington]

Yeah.  Problem solved.

[genealogynut]

Howard Courant
June 2, 1927

CHANGE AT HOWARD  HOTEL

Henry Pries has disposed of the Howard Hotel to W. S. Beverly of Wichita, who is already in charge.  In the sale, Mr. Pries received in exchange some property in the city of Wichita, and a lease on the Orient Hotel in that City, at 1001 East Douglas.  Mr. and Mrs. Pries went to Wichita Tuesday and will operate the Orient, and they cordially invite their Elk county friends to call on them when they come to Wichita.

The Howard Hotel is a comparatively new structure and has enjoyed a good business under the management of Mr. Pries.  Mr. A.C. Wiley is manager of the hotel.