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LAKE GENEVA HOTEL, LAKE
GENEVA, WI (1911 -
S.171) |
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The
History of the Hotel Geneva viewed through Post Cards. |
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Designed in 1911 as "The Geneva
Inn", "The Geneva" opened in August 1912. Within two years,
it changed hands due to financial difficulties. By the end
of 1914 and the beginning of 1915 the name was changed to
the "Hotel Geneva", and it stayed the Hotel Geneva most of
its life. During its final years it was known as "The Geneva
Inn". It was demolished in 1970. There are very few photographs of the Hotel Geneva, so
postcards become a good record. Even in the
book "Lost Wright", by
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Carla Lind, the only
image used is the post card published in 1938. The problem
is dating post cards chronologically. Few cards were
dated. Curt-Teich dated their cards with a code, but
that date indicated when the post card was published,
not photographed. Post marks give you a
general idea when a card was published, but post cards could
last for over a decade, so postmarks are
not reliable. Our attempted is to place these post
cards in chronological order. |
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1:
Circa 1912. "The Geneva," Lake
Geneva, Wis. Frank Lloyd Wright’s original illustration for the proposed
Hotel Lake Geneva in 1911. This early drawings included a
proposed three story section on the East end that was never
built. Illustration was exhibited at the Chicago Architectural
Club at the Art Institute on May 5, 1913. It was published in
the Architectural Record, June 1913 Designed in 1911 "The Geneva"
opened in August 1912. Within two years, it changed hands due to
financial difficulties. By the end of 1914 and the beginning of
1915 the name was changed to the "Hotel Geneva", and it stayed
the Hotel Geneva most of its life. Back: "Motor to Lake Geneva.
Just the right distance an the roads in good shape. Stop at ‘The
Geneva’ the finest resort hotel in the middle west. European
plan. Every room with bath. Large dining rooms. Meals a la
Carte. You will like them." Printed message on the left, typed
address on the right. Used as a direct mail advertisement. P.M.
May 1, 1913, just in time for the summer season. (Published by Acmegraph Co.,
Chicago.) |
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2:
Circa 1912. "The Geneva," Lake
Geneva, Wis. This may be one of the earliest images of the
Hotel Geneva. Notice the lack of any
landscaping, even in the large vases. Possible decorative
flag flying from left “Light Pole” as seen in the original
drawings. “Light Poles” are at full height. Lack of “Hotel
Geneva” lettering above Lobby windows. Globe lights not
installed yet. Down spouts above Lobby windows have not been
installed. (Published by V. O. Hammon Co., Chicago, IL.) |
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2b:
Circa 1912.
3464. "The Geneva," Lake Geneva, Wis., circa 1912.
Designed in 1911, The Geneva opened in August 1912. "Light
Poles" are at full height. Lack of "Hotel Geneva" lettering
above Lobby windows. Globe lights not installed yet. Down
spouts above Lobby windows have not been installed.
(Published by E. A. Bishop, Pub. Racine, Wis. Made in U. S.
A.) On back, C. T. Photochrom. R-37748. Post marked Aug 23,
1913. |
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2c:
Circa 1914-15. Reprinted in the
1939 Souvenir Folder, it is now titled the Hotel Geneva.
(E.A. Bishop Publisher D-5746) |
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3:
Circa 1914-1915. “Hotel Geneva, Lake
Geneva, Wis. 19019-r.” This may also be one of the earliest
images of the Hotel Geneva. Notice the lack of any
landscaping, even in the large vases. “Light Poles” are at
full height. Lack of “Hotel Geneva” lettering above Lobby
windows. Globe lights not installed yet. Down spouts above
Lobby windows have not been installed. 1914-1915 (Published
by C.R. Childs, Chicago). |
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| 4:
Circa 1914-1915. This is the same
image as #3, but hand touched to include foliage. The “Light
Poles” have been retouched over. |
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| 5:
Hotel Geneva 1915.
Lack of any landscaping, even in the large vases. “Light
Poles” are at full height. Lack of “Hotel Geneva” lettering
above Lobby windows. Globe light or small vase possibly on
the left stair pedestal. Down spouts above Lobby windows are
installed. Very good view of the lower Lobby windows. From
“Lake Geneva”, Published by Morrison and Rogers, Lake
Geneva, Wis. Copyright 1915, by C. MacKay Morrison. |
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| 6:
Circa 1916-1919.
Light Poles have been reduced in height. “Hotel Geneva”
lettering above Lobby windows have been added. Sign and lamp
post added in the street. Landscaping has begun. Possible
flower vase has been added to the stair pedestal. A sign is
visible on the left exterior of the Dining Room, a possible
sign for the restaurant. The earliest postmark I have seen
to date is September 14, 1922. (Recently verified a
P.M. as early as 1919.) Published by V.O. Hammon Publishing
Company, which published pictorial postcards from 1904 until
1923. |
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| 7: Circa 1916-1919. One
flag is visible on the top right corner of the Lobby. Flower
vase has been added to the stair pedestal. A plaque has been
added to pedestal to the left of stairs. Small globe lights
are visible under side of the trellis. Sign has been removed
from the outside of the Dining Room. Landscaping is
flourishing. Published in 1934 (4A-H193). (E.A. Bishop
Publisher #3582, 4A-H193) |
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| 8:
Circa 1919-1921. Building has
been painted white. One flag is visible on the top left
corner of the Lobby. Large globe light has been added to the
patio pedestals. Landscaping is flourishing. The earliest
postmark I have seen to date using this image folder) is
August 1921. (E.A.
Bishop Publisher #3581, R-80820) |
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| 9:
Close up of the
Lobby. Planter on the right foreground seen in close up of
aerial view drawing (below), but does not appear in later
images. Medium globe lights on the corner of the upper
Lobby/Terrace. Awning frame also visible in the upper
Lobby/Terrace. Flags have appeared and may have been added
during WWI. Real photo PC, Published by AZO between
1910-1930. http://www.playle.com/realphoto/photoa.php |
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| 10:
Original aerial view
drawing. "Frank Lloyd Wright Monograph 1887-1901", Vol. 1. |
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| 11:
Circa 1920-1923. Striped awning has
been added to the left side of the Lobby. Awning frame also
visible in the upper Lobby/ Terrace. Glass or screens have
enclosed the Gallery. A smoke stack appears by the chimney.
Published by V.O. Hammon Publishing Company, which published
pictorial postcards from 1904 until 1923 |
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| 12:
Circa 1920-1923. Published by V.O.
Hammon Publishing Company, which published pictorial
postcards from 1904 until 1923. |
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| 13:
Circa 1920-1924. Very similar time
frame to #11. Awning on left side of Lobby is rolled up.
Real photo Post Card. (J.J. Gregory - Cedar Rapids, Ia) |
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| 13a:
Circa 1926.
Image from
Picturesque Lake Geneva (Published by the
Wisconsin Transportation Company, Lake Geneva,
Wisconsin, 1926) |
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| 14:
Very similar to #13,
but flags have been removed. Stripes on awning very visible.
Horizontal evergreen trees, 5-6 feet tall, are visible in
the right Planter. |
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| 15:
Circa 1935. Viewed from the
Municipal Recreation Building. Bridges across the lagoon
have been built as well as the rockery along the lagoon’s
edge. Published in 1935 (5A-H328), PM July 7, 1950. |
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| 16:
Circa 1938. Viewed from across
the lagoon. Horizontal evergreen trees, 8-10 feet tall.
Smoke stack either removed or retouched out. Globe lights
removed or retouched out as well as the Lobby gutters.
Arched windows above Lobby. Published in 1938 by E. A.
Bishop (8A-H609), PM Aug 22, 1944. |
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| 17:
Awning on the left
side of the Lobby has been changed. Automobiles are of an
older vintage. Tree to the left of the Lobby and tall
evergreens are consistent with #16. Brick at street entry in
the bottom right has been added. (Published by L. L. Cook
Co., Milwaukee) “Beautiful Hotel Geneva, Lake Geneva, Wis.
#B-1290". Real Photo Post Card, Postmark August 27, 1947. |
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17a: "Scene at Lake
Geneva." Circa 1940s. |
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| 18:
E.C. Kropp Co.,
Milwaukee, Wis. #7285. |
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| 19:
Street sign and lamp
post are gone. Brick entry has been added to both sides of
the drive. Flags have been added to the upper terrace of the
Lobby. Published by Fairbanks Card Company, Brookline, Mass. |
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| 20:
Circa 1950. Single lamp post has
been added in the street. Vertical evergreen trees in front
of the Lobby have been removed. Automobiles are of an older
vintage. Published by the E.F. Godfrey in 1950, OC-H1943. |
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| 21:
Circa 1950. This is one of the
earlier glossy color photographs, so either the color is
off, or the building has been painted golden yellow. The
tall evergreens are back in front of the Lobby. Lettering
above the Lobby has been changed to an outlined text.
Published by E. F. Godfrey, Lake Geneva, Wis. in 1950,
#OC-K400. |
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| 22:
Circa 1953. Color is clearly
back to a white color. Flags on the two corners of the Lobby
Terrace have been removed. Clear size relationship of the
stair pedestal with the woman standing next to it on the
left. Published by L.L. Cook Co. in 1953. (#405. #67711.) |
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| 22a:
Circa 1955.
Hotel Geneva.
“Hermansen’s Hotel Geneva. A fine Resort Hotel on the Lake -
in town. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Copyright 1955, The L. L.
Cook Co. #88163. From a Natural Color Transparency. The L.
L. Cook Co., Milwaukee, Wis.” |
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| 23:
Circa 1950s. The tall evergreens
in front of the Lobby are very tall. Published by
Colourpicture Publishers, #P22375. Wisconsin Post Card Co.
Most likely Mid 50's. |
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Text by Douglas M. Steiner, Copyright
2008 |
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