Long Description:The St. James Hotel and the town of Red Wing owe their birth to the
vast wheat crop harvested in the area, and both continued to
prosper because of their location in Minnesota’s wheat belt. By the
early 1870s with the addition of the Empire Builder railroad line
from Saint Paul to Chicago, the frontier town of Red Wing became a
thriving center of business bringing farmers and businessmen to
town to sell grain and buy goods. With its prime location in the
heartland of America and its natural port on the Mississippi River,
the city became the fifth largest in Minnesota and was the largest
wheat-trading center in the world, shipping more than 2.4 million
bushels of grain a year at its peak.
Although there were a few modest hotels in town, a group of 11
civic-minded businessmen observed all the hustle and bustle and
sensed the need for a first class lodging establishment. Many of
the names of the original investors are well known in Red Wing
today. They were Joshua C. Pierce, Charles Betcher, William P.
Brown, Jesse McIntire, E.L. Baker, T.K. Simmons, John Friedrich,
John Hack, Loren C. Smith, James Lawther and S.B. Foot. These men
formed the original Red Wing Hotel Corporation and managed to raise
the $60,000 necessary for the project. They purchased a plot of
land in the heart of the business district at the intersection of
Main and Bush streets, just a stone’s throw away from the
Mississippi River and the train depot.
The architectural firm of E.P. Bassford of Minneapolis designed
the four-story Italianate structure, and work commenced in the
spring of 1874. The hotel was outfitted in grand style with
handsome furnishings, Brussels carpets in the lobby and English
velvet carpet in the second floor ladies’ parlor. In May of 1875,
the hotel was christened the St. James Hotel, most likely after the
Court of St. James of London, as residents felt it sounded regal
and high class.
The original 11 investors hired two brothers from Wisconsin to
manage the hotel. E.J. and F.H. Blood were known as the Blood
Brothers or more commonly as “Fred and Ed”. In fact, the gala party
planned for a fall opening of the hotel was crudely referred to as
the “Blood’s Blow-Out” by the local papers.
The St. James Hotel opened on Thanksgiving Day, 1875. Tickets
were $5 per person. The salutation of the invitations read
“Yourself and a lady are cordially invited to attend . . .” The 500
prominent guests were treated to a lavish banquet featuring over 60
items ranging from raw oysters and roast venison to Boston cream
puffs and strawberry ice cream. Dancing followed until 4:00
a.m.
Guests marveled at the hotel’s modern features including steam
heat, hot and cold running water, gas throughout and a state of the
art kitchen. The first floor included three dining rooms, the
kitchen, office and baggage storage and the lower level featured a
parlor, billiard hall, barbershop, public baths and four water
closets. The second floor included a ladies’ parlor, bridal suite
and two ladies’ water closets, while the fourth floor housed the
ballroom.
The original main entrance was located on Bush Street, instead
of Main Street, as that was most convenient for the guests walking
up from the riverboats and train depot. Also, the livery stables
were located across Bush Street from the hotel, so guests could be
dropped at the entrance and horses could turn immediately into the
stables.
Main Street was the town’s major shopping area, and the St.
James’s street level housed local businesses that had Main Street
storefronts. These included a newsstand, a clothing store, dry
goods store and a bank, which survived until 1967 under various
names.
The St. James was an immediate success, her rooms full every
night with travelers and boarders. The cooks gained a first rate
reputation and shortly after the hotel opened, the railroad
adjusted its timetable to allow passengers to disembark for a
dinner break at the St. James. One famous traveler who sampled the
fare was President Rutherford B. Hayes.
After the Blood Brothers left the St. James, the hotel was
managed by various proprietors. In 1905, two of the original
owners, J.C. Pierce and T.K. Simmons bought out the other 9 and
became partners.
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