Buffalo Rising Online

Feb 11th 2006, 9:37am By STEEL

The Statler Hotel Chain is long gone but many of its fine buildings still dominate downtowns of cities across the country. I am sure there are many younger people who do not equate the Statler name with travel and vacationing but, at one time that name was the epitome of luxury and innovation in the travel industry.

The modern hotel was invented in Buffalo when Ellsworth M. Statler opened his first hotel on January 18, 1908 at the corner of Washington and Swan Streets. This hotel was the first to have a bathroom in every guest room. Before that it was standard to walk down the hall to a shared facility. For obvious reasons his hotel became very popular and set the standard for all future hotels. We take this feature for granted now along with many other innovations introduced by Statler.

Statler further developed his hospitality chain building large hotels in most major cities in the early part of the 20th century. They became synonymous with luxury but were accessible by the general public. They were very large and elegant buildings. Statler built his second Buffalo hotel on Niagara Square. The giant hotel, now known as the Statler Towers, opened its doors on May 19, 1923. After Statler's death the chain was operated by his wife who expanded into several more cities. On Oct. 27, 1954, Conrad Hilton, owner of the Hilton Hotel chain, paid $111,000,000 for the Statler assets, then the largest commercial real estate purchase in history. The Statlers became Statler Hiltons and were some of the most luxurious of the Hilton chain. The old buildings were eventually phased out or sold off and replaced by new buildings. Buffalo's Statler was replaced by what is now known as the Adams Mark. Many of the old Statlers remained hotels clinging to their grander and elegance even as they slowly declined and began catering to a lower level clientele. Others such as Buffalo's Statler were converted to other uses. Some sadly closed all together and sank sadly into oblivion.

The pictures included here (click on any for a larger view) depict three of the largest and most luxurious Statlers now to be found in distinctly different situations.

The Detroit Statler became abandoned more than ten years ago and suffered severe damage from complete neglect. After a long unsuccessful battle for its renovation it was recently demolished and now exists only in memory and post cards.

The St. Louis Statler has been gloriously reborn as the The 916-room Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis. It revives the elegance and grandeur of the hotel that opened its doors in 1917. It has been modernized and expanded with the edition of a new tower.

The Buffalo Statler exists in a state someplace in between Detroit and St. Louis. The massive building dominates the Buffalo skyline and forms an elegant backdrop to Niagara Square. It has undergone extensive renovations to its Ballrooms and is often the source of speculation as to possible sale and renovation. It would be unthinkable to have this building demolished. Yet, the future of this beloved Buffalo landmark is far from secure. Much of the building stands unoccupied. Many floors have never been converted from hotel room layouts making them unusable for office or other money making uses. Unsympathetic renovations in the past and poor maintenance over the years have taken a toll on this building to the point that even its grander can not erase the image of a severely declining building unable to attract top notch tenants. Recent "renovations" evident on the exterior pictured here show complete disrespect for the building and its location in the city.

Inappropriate use of materials and shoddy add on lean-to structures combined with missing balustrades and falling cornice pieces indicate that this building is sliding down the same slope that consumed the Detroit Statler. Lets hope that New Buffalo can step forward and correct that path and focus its future in the direction followed by the St Louis Statler.

Detroit image credit Detroit Vibez.