What am I looking at exactly? Is that every Raleigh hotel that is open by year? If the hotel is not listed, does that mean it either hasn’t opened yet or has been closed if it was open in a previous year?
I feel like I want to convert this to a spreadsheet but want to understand the info first.
It’s a breakdown, by year, as to what hotels were listed as advertisers in the Raleigh City Directory. But, it’s close as anything to a systematic survey from those years that is likely able to be done from publicly available sources. I’ve got a few years that I need to go back and add the motels.
But, hold off on the spreadsheet, just yet. I can get that knocked out pretty quickly once I get that gap on the motels filled in. (Carolina Pines was probably the first and opened in 1933.)
That’s pretty cool. Thanks!
One Hundred Seventy-Five Years of Raleigh Hotels/Motels - 1790 to 1965
Hotels
Casso’s Inn: 1790-1888 @ 101 Fayetteville (later Branson House)
Indian Queen: 1795-? @ 300 Fayetteville (demolished to make way for Raleigh Post office)
Eagle Hotel: 1812-1859 @ Edenton cor Halifax (closed during Civil War, re-opened as National Hotel)
Yarborough House: 1852-1928 @ 315 Fayetteville (burned 1928)
National Hotel: 1875-1888 @ Edenton cor Halifax (later NC Dept of Agriculture, demolished 1920)
Central Hotel: 1886-1903 @ 137 S Wilmington (extant, later Heilig-Levine, now Sitti Restaurant)
Exchange Hotel: 1886-1903 @ 213 Hillsboro (demolished)
Old Raleigh Central: 1886 - 1888 @ 18 W Hargett (demolished)
Tucker House: 1886 - 1887 @ 429 Fayetteville (later Hotel Florence)
Hotel Florence: 1887 - 1888 @ 429 Fayetteville (moved to 119 E Edenton)
Branson House: 1888 - 1896 @ 101 1/2 Fayetteville (later Capital Inn)
Hotel Florence: 1888 - 1896 @ 119 E Edenton (demolished)
Park Hotel: 1896 - 1911 @ 221 S McDowell (later Hotel Raleigh)
Capital Inn: 1907 - 1915 @ 101 1/2 Fayetteville (later Hotel Turner)
Hotel Giersch: 1907 - 1915 @ 16 W Hargett (demolished)
Hotel Raleigh: 1911 - 1961 @ 221 S McDowell (later Park Central)
Wright Hotel: 1911 - 1924 @ 117 W Martin (demolished)
Bland Hotel: 1915 - 1941 @ 100 W Martin (later Andrew Johnson Hotel)
Giersch Hotel & Café: 1915 - 1919 @ 136 Fayetteville (demolished)
Hotel Turner: 1915 - 1919 @ 101 1/2 Fayetteville (later Belmont Hotel)
Hotel Alston: 1917 - 1919 @ 200 W South (demolished)
Koonce Bros Hotel: 1917 - 1924 @ 203 S Salisbury (demolished)
Belmont Hotel: 1919 - 1921 @ 101 1/2 Fayetteville (later Capital Hotel)
Giersch Hotel & Café: 1919 - 1927 @ 6 W Hargett (demolished)
Capell House: 1920 - 1921 @ 221 W Martin (demolished)
Capital Hotel: 1921 - 1924 @ 101 1/2 Fayetteville (later Colonial Hotel)
Arcade Hotel & Restaurant: 1922 - 1949 @ 122 E Hargett (burned 1970)
Commercial Hotel: 1924 - 1926 @ 415 Fayetteville (demolished)
Hotel Sir Walter: 1924 – 1975 @ 400 Fayetteville (extant)
Hotel Wiley: 1925 - 1952 @ 411 W Morgan (demolished)
Lewis Hotel: 1925 - 1932 @ 218 E Cabarrus (demolished)
Colonial Hotel: 1926 - 1927 @ 101 1/2 Fayetteville (moved to 112 Fayetteville)
Mansion Park Hotel: 1926 - 1955 @ N Blount (prev. Baptist Women’s College, demolished)
Wake Hotel: 1926 - 1934 @ 411 Fayetteville (demolished)
Colonial Hotel: 1927 - 1952 @ 112 1/2 Fayetteville (demolished)
Giersch Hotel & Café: 1927 - 1932 @ 117 W Martin (demolished)
Hotel Carolina: 1929 - 1980 @ 242 W Hargett (demolished)
Hollywood Hotel & Café: 1932 - 1955 @ 215 W Martin (demolished)
Hotel Richmond: 1932 1948 @ 331 Fayetteville (demolished)
Liberty Hotel: 1933 - 1948 @ 218 E Cabarrus (demolished)
Central Hotel: 1935 - 1941 @ 411 Fayetteville (later Yorker Hotel)
Hotel Wright: 1935 - 1948 @ 117 W Martin (demolished)
Parker House: 1937 - 1944 @ 119 E Edenton (demolished)
Andrew Johnson Hotel: 1942 - 1981 @ 100 W Martin (demolished)
Yorker Hotel: 1942 - 1948 @ 411 Fayetteville (demolished)
Hotel Hillsboro: 1942 -?1992 @ 608 Hillsboro (demolished)
Plaza Hotel: 1942 - 1949 @ 301 S Blount (later Peebles Grill & Hotel)
Central Hotel: 1945 - 1954 @ 423 Fayetteville (demolished)
McAlpin: 1948 - 1956 @ 227 E Edenton (later Milner Hotel)
Nash Hotel: 1948 - 1957 @ 117 W Martin (demolished)
Home Eckers Hotel: 1950 - 1970 @ 120 E Hargett (burned 1970)
Hotel Don: 1952 - 1957 @ 206 W Morgan (demolished)
DeLuxe Hotel: 1954 - unk @ 222 E Cabarrus (demolished)
Milner Hotel: 1957 - 1958 @ 227 E Edenton (demolished)
Holiday Inn: 1962 - pres @ 2813 North Blvd (extant, awaiting demolition)
Hotel Park Central: 1962 -1975 @ 223 S McDowell (demolished)
Peebles Grill & Hotel: 1963 - 1970 @ 200 E Martin (extant, now Royale Restaurant)
Motor Courts & Motels
Carolina Pines Hotel: 1933 - 1940 @ Fayetteville Rd (changed names to Colonial Pines)
Tour Inn: 1934 1957 @ 1101 Wake Forest Rd (extant)
Colonial Pines Hotel: 1941 - 1957 @ Fayetteville Rd (extant)
Traveler’s Motor Hotel: 1942 - 1952 @ 1301 Wake Forest Rd (extant)
Alamo Plaza Hotel: 1953 - unk @ 1816 Louisburg Rd (demolished)
Fairfield Motor Court: 1953 - unk @ 1817 Louisburg Rd (later became Milner Inn, now demolished)
Popajohn Tourist Court: 1953 -1957 @ 1623 Wake Forest Rd (demolished)
Shadow Lawn Motor Court: 1953 - 1957 @ Rd 5/US Hwy 1 N (demolished)
Knotty Pine Motel: 1953 - 1958 @ US Hwy 1S/64 W (demolished)
Humpty Dumpty Tourist Court: 1955 - 1957 @ US Hwy 1 N (demolished)
Mayflower Motor Lodge: 1955 - 1958 @ US Hwy 1 N (demolished)
Raleigh Motor Court: 1955 - 1957 @ US Hwy 1A N (demolished)
Howard Johnson: 1956 - curr @ US Hwy 1 N (demolished/rebuilt)
Sheridan Arms Motor Lodge: 1956 - 1957 @ Old Louisburg Rd (demolished)
Sunset Motel: 1956 - 1957 @ US Hwy 15A S (demolished)
Dob’s: 1957 - unk @ 1403 S Wilmington (extant, now King’s Motel)
Johnny’s Supper Club: 1957- 1961 @ 1625 Louisburg/North Blvd (later Capital Inn, now demolished)
Belvidere Motel: 1958 - unk @ US Hwy 401 S (presumed demolished)
Oakdale Motor Court: 1959 - unk @ 5707 Hillsboro (extant)
Webb Motel: 1959 – 1961 @ 2716 S Wilmington (extant)
Plantation Inn Motel: 1962 – 2000 @ US Hwy 1 N (demolished)
Velvet Cloak Inn: 1962 – 2004 @ 1505 Hillsboro (demolished)
College Inn: 1963 – present @ 2717 Western Blvd (extensively remodeled)
Heart of Raleigh Motel: 1963 – 1967 @ 227 E Edenton (demolished)
Raleigh Cabana Motel: 1963 – 1977 @ 516 S Salisbury (demolished)
Can you do this for hardware stores and grocery stores. Would be facinating to see how those have changed over time.
Well, a bit of a daunting task…
Here’s a list of grocers from 1903:
Grocers — Retail
Allen Jake B, 212 e Cabarrus
Alle John, e Martin nr s East
Alston Lewis, 100 w North
Austin Chaney. 315 e Worth
Austin James, 217 w South
Austin Simeon A, 519 New Bern av
Ball George F, 200 Smithneld
Barber Seth S, 800 s Bloodworth
Barker M J & Co, 920 s Blount
Barnes Grocery Co (The), 222 n Bloodwor
Bond George W, 747 s Blount
Boykin Edward H, 529 s Haywood
Bragassa John A, 412 s McDowell
Bryant Mary H, 505 s Haywood
Burns Robert R, 218 w South
Burns Thomas, 329 Martin
Byrd Thomas, 371 Manly
Cain J F & Son, 129 e Martin
Campbell John B, 328 e Martin
Caudle Wesley H, 301 n Boylan av
Caudle William H T. 601 e Martin
Central Mercantile Co. 315 w South
Chavis James W, 821 e Martin
Childress Charles E, 728 s West ’
Chirk Moses S. 445 Halifax
Cooper William W. 807 Halifax
Crowder & Rand. 301 s Wilmington
Dan Early, 516 s Haywood
Davis Alexander J, 717 e Franklin
Davis Henry, 818 1 /-; s Wilmington
Dickinson George C, 602 e Hargett
Dorsett W R & Co, 131 s Wilmington
Dunn Bros. 307 s Wilmington
Edwards JT& Son, 337 s Wilmington
Edwards James T, 400 e Martin
Ellis Sidney F, 327% s Wilmington
Ferrall J R & Co, 222 Fayetteville
Ferrell William F. 817 Fayetteville
Forsythe Edward E. 227 e South
Fort Wiliam L, 127 n Salisbury
Frazier Martha E Mrs, 322 s Blount
Gattis Henry 0, New Bern av eor Tarboro
Glenn Hattie, Manly eor Worth
Glenn John S, St Mary’s rd nr Brooklyn
Goodwin Garland N, n Saunders cor North
Goodwin Garnett W, 813 s Saunders
Gower William A, 402 w South
Grady Charles H, 801 w Morgan
Grady Lula J Mrs, 313 n West
Grant William J, Oberlin rd Oberlin
Gullie Otis C, 709 n Person
Hall Delia, Oberlin rd Oberlin
Hall William A, S A L Ry nr Dawson
Harris George W, 604 e Cabarrus
Haywood Dock, 624 s West
Heller Julius, 219 s Wilmington
Henry Jerome, 322 s East
Hobby & Banks. 1107 Hillsboro
JOHNSON D T & SON. 16 e Hargett
Johnson Jesse D, 518 New Bern av
Johnson William E. Gaston eor Brooklyn
Jones Bryant W, 501 Hillsboro
Jones C C & Son, 124 e Martin
Jones Charles W. 331 Hillsboro
Jones Haywood. 714 s West
King Edward H, 508 Hillsboro
Lane George L, 718 e Davie
Lane William H, 719 e Davie
Latta Charles E, 503 Oakwood av
LEESON EDWARD K, 608 n Saunders
Long William, 420 Smith
Lumley George W, 416 e Edenton
Lyon William H, 530 s Bloodworth
Lyons Mary, 514 New Bern av
McCullers T L & Co, 401 Fayetteville
Mann James H. 416 e Martin
Mann Wesley B, 11 e Hargett
Matthews W P & Son. 106 e Martin
Maynard Allen, 329 e Davie
Moore Thomas E. 122 w Peace
Morgan John 0, 58 Harp’s la
Morgan Rosa E, Oberlin
Moseley Wesley S. 316 w South
Neal Clarence S, 412 w North
Pace Elias R. 702 n Person
Page Mary J ,405 s Haywood
Parker Claudius S, Hillsboro rd nr Oberlin rd
Peatross & Tyson, 705 w Peace
Pool Alonzo R, Blount cor Smithfield and 227 w Martin
Pool Epenetus N, 544 e Davie
Pool S R & Co, 135 e Martin
Pool & Hobby Bros, 112-114 e Martin
POWELL GASTON T, 122 e Hargett
Powell Stephen W. 212 e Martin
Prather Edgar. 317 Battle
Pulley Fannie Mrs. 820 e Hargett
Rand Dillard. 409 Smithfield
Rand Esther. 201 w South
Ray Sallie Mrs. 558 e Davie
Rayner Simon R, 901 e Hargett
Reformers Mercantile & Grocery Co (Inc) 335 s Wilmington
Richardson E Graham. 433 s Person
Richardson Fannie B Mrs. 605 New Bern av
Richardson Sandy, 228% w North
Riddick Charity, 755 e Davie
Rogers Grocery Co. 106 and 116 e Hargett
Rogers Hugh P, 401 s Haywood
Ruth Andrew P. n East eor e Lane
Rudy & Buffaloe. 108 e Hargett
Scarborough Andrew J, 401 s Blount
Shambley Abraham, Tarboro rd nr Lane
Shepard Baalam, Oberlin
Smith Bryant A, 127 w Cabarrus
Smith Clifford F, 102 w Jones
Smith Edward D, 328 s Blount
Smith Nathan H, 9^ s Swain
Smith & Stephenson, 812 s Saunders
SORRELL JOHNSON, 515 s Harrington
Starling Charles H, 308 w Cabarrus
Strickland Wyatt A, 324 w North
Terrell Thomas, 606 e Davie
Terry Julia O Mrs, 542 e Martin
Thornburgh Clarence W, 18 e Davie
Todd Charles R, 113 s Blount
Turner John T, Oberlin
Upchureh Homer F, 529 s Person
Waddell George W. 812 Fayetteville
Wake Grocery Co, 527 s Blount
Walters Benjamin N, Harrington cor Jones
Weathers W Milton, 302 w Lane
White Charles W. 100 w Johnson
Whitley Abba J, 835 Fayetteville
Wiggins Eliza, 581 e Cabarrus
Wilder Lethea E. 350 Smithfield
Wilder Millard T. e Lane cor Linden av
Wilson James, 600 w North
Womble Albert S, 17 e Hargett
Womble William T. 636 ] L> e Hargett
Workman Mary A Mrs. 317 e Worth
Worrell James H, 816 Fayetteville
Wortham Merriman, 316 w Cabarrus
WYATT J P & SON, 14 e Martin
Grocers — Wholesale
Adams Leonard H. 810-312 s Wilmington
Ball J G Co (The), 133-145 s Wilmington
Crowder & Rand, 233 s Wilmington
Dewar & Wilder, 233 s Wilmington
Hunter & Dunn. 235 s Wilmington
Marsh George Co (Inc), 305 s Wilmington
Norris M T & Bro, 239 s Wilmington
Peebles Bros, 237 s Wilmington
Phillips & Penny, Martin eor West
Pool & Hobby Bros. 112-114 e Martin
Rosenthal M & Co. 151 s Wilmington
WYATT J P & SON, 14 e Martin
Hardware (again from 1903) was a little less daunting…
Hardware and Cutlery
BRIGGS THOMAS H & SONS, 220 Fayetteville
Carolina Hardware Co (Inc), 225s Wilmington
HART- WARD HARDWARE CO, 224 Fayetteville
Hardware — Wholesale
BRIGGS THOMAS H & SONS, 220 Fayetteville
HART- WARD HARDWARE CO, 224 Fayetteville
And, yes, I just realized that I overlooked ‘Tourist Homes’ (a.k.a. Gables Motor Lodge) as a category. Will fix that (but I had intentionally left off rooming houses, as they generally were not used by the traveling public - my brain felt that this list was getting a little out of control. But, on a quick look - ‘Furnished Rooms’ listings do have a tourist type of titling. So, back to another dive through the directories.)
Can we do this with bars?
JK, not serious. 
How about ‘houses of ill repute’. Was that ever a thing in Raleigh?
Holy crap. it’s like there was a grocer for every 100 people. Raleigh was pretty tiny back then.
Prostitution was very much a ‘thing.’ but they likely didn’t advertise in Hill’s Raleigh City Directory.
Told ya. It would be a daunting challenge to do a systematic survey of grocers in Raleigh for 100 years. Supermarkets are much more of a 20th Century thing. But, I figured that a one-year snippet would be illuminating, nonetheless.
I’ve seen these online. It’s interesting that there was a presumption that the city would basically annex its ETJ and land at 211 square miles by 2020. It’s also interesting that we’re nearing the 2020 population projection without having annexed much of it at all. It just goes to show that suburban presumptions that were highly likely being used to project population growth were often replaced with a higher density infill model that actually emerged in the 2010s.
Looking back through the year by year chart, you can pinpoint when Umstead Park was annexed: 1985. That was the largest single year of municipal land annexation in 50 years. The city went from 62.285 m2 to 78.815 m2 that year, and our density went from 2792ppp/m2 to 2288ppl/m2! That’s a huge density hit that Raleigh absorbed mainly to capture the giant state park in its limits. Just how large is Umstead? It’s 6.64 times the size of NYC’s Central Park.
I guess you’re not counting places like Casso’s Inn? Also on Drie (1872) I see that National was already denoted as such and City Hotel was at Wilmington and Davie (side note, I am fairly certain City Hotel is the 1795 County Courthouse dragged over, after stringing together info in Elizabeth Reid Murrays book on Wake)
I probably should. Was just using the City Directory as my information supplemented by GoodNight Raleigh. (Note to self. I’ve gotta get me a copy of Elizabeth Reid Murray.)
All good. I’d be glad to quit my current job if I could get paid to combine all the different data sources into a single massive database of Raleigh history. Cemetery plots with their names that then cross reference other stuff and see who is left unaccounted for is another wishful plan of mine. One day maybe.
Holy crap… So much food for sale in 1903
@maptastik could you map these?
