Hotel Hillman
Hotel Hillman (commonly the Hillman Hotel) was a luxury hotel located on the southwest corner of 4th Avenue North and 19th Street, across from Birmingham City Hall. It was constructed in 1901 for a company formed by Thomas Molton and Benjamin Roden. Molton served as president and Leo Steiner was vice-president. The hotel was named for Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company vice president T. T. Hillman.
The six-story Renaissance Revival-style hotel was designed by Stone Brothers, Architects of New Orleans, Louisiana (also involved in the Woodward Building). It was arranged in an H-shape with the courtyards filled on the first and second floors for the lobby and ballroom spaces. Over the entrance, the date was inscribed as "MDCCCCI". The rest of the ground floor was filled with barbers, shoe repair shops and cafés, including P. H. Linnehan jeweler and optician, and Bearmen's Mens Clothes. Projecting brick bands marked the lower floors, while quoins distinguished the corners of the upper levels. The attic story was lit with arched windows and shaded by a deep cornice.
Completed in October 1901, the Hillman was the city's premiere hotel until the completion of the Tutwiler Hotel on 20th Street in 1914. Manager of the Hillman Hotel in 1910 was a Mr Bailey, and rooms were advertised on the "European plan" for $1.50 to $3.00. In 1948 the manager was W. T. "Walter" Wilson Jr.
On September 12, 1907 the Hillman hosted the first annual banquet of the Caterers of Alabama. The Hillman's chef,a Mr Williams, prepared a main course of planked black bass for the group.
The hotel building was demolished for parking in 1967. The original drawings are housed in the Southeastern Architectural Archive at Tulane University.
References
- Cruikshank, George H. (1920) History of Birmingham and Its Environs: A Narrative Account of Their Historical Progress, Their People, and Their Principal Interests 2 volumes. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
- White, Marjorie Longenecker (1977) Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.
External links
- Sam Stone Jr Office Records listing at tulane.edu
- 1907 Caterers of Alabama banquet menu at the New York Public Library Digital Collections
- Hillman Hotel site on Google Street View