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Hotel Stockton
HISTORICAL TIME LINE
Event Date
The Stockton Investment Company is formed to build a "first class" hotel in downtown Stockton. Feb. 26, 1903
Three different hotel proposals and sites are considered. Jan. 15, 1907
Lee A. Phillips and architect Edgar B. Brown push to build the hotel. Feb. 1907
The Cowell Block, also known as "Weber's Hole" is selected as site for hotel. Feb. 1907
Mayor appeals to citizens to support the hotel by buying " stock subscriptions." March 1907
$273,750 is subscribed for the new hotel. March 11, 1907
The "Great Stockton Flood." March 19, 1907
Newspaper criticizes "welchers" & "dillydalliers" who haven't paid subscriptions. May 21, 1907
Headline: "It is a Go." Hotel receives enough funds to proceed with construction. May 25, 1907
Architect E. B. Brown revises design and eliminates proposed "tower." June 11, 1907
$500,000 in bonds are collected for construction. 1907
First payment made to obtain the building site. July 1, 1907
Bids are collected for site demolition and excavation work. Sept. 1907
Complaints that the excavation has 15 feet of "stagnant water" & "green scum." Feb. 26, 1909
The Vonder Horst Brothers, of San Francisco, are selected as the contractor. Construction cost estimated at $500,000. All concrete work scheduled to be completed in 150 working days. May 27, 1908
An artesian well is completed for the hotel's water supply. June 26, 1908
Construction work begins on the hotel (pile driving). July 12, 1908
Another Stockton flood. Jan. 21, 1909
Concrete work is completed. Feb. 13, 1909
The general contractor, the Vonder Horst Brothers, abandon the job. The Building Committee oversees completion of the hotel. March 5, 1909
Six lawsuits are filed against the Vonder Horst Brothers. July, 1909
Don H. Porter named manager and officially dubs the building "The Stockton." Sept. 16, 1909
Anchor tenant "The IXL Clothing Company" holds it's grand opening. Oct. 19, 1909
City Hall personnel, including the Mayor & Council, move into 2nd floor Annex. Feb. 5, 1910
Ground floor open for "public inspection." April 30, 1910
The Stockholder's Banquet is held in the "main dining room and adjoining grill." May 25, 1910
Hotel Stockton grand opening celebration with three-day fair. May 26, 1910
Hotel dining room opens for patrons. May 28, 1910
New Manager A. I. Wagner. 1910
Rooftop sign reading "Hotel Stockton" is installed. ca. 1910
Windscreens added under the Roof Garden pergolas. ca. 1911
Ragtime dances are held in the hotel. 1913
Red ceramic tile replaces vent grilles at lower storefronts. ca. 1915
Fabric awnings installed on the west and southwest elevations. ca. 1915
Stockton City Hall moves out of the hotel. [Not verified] 1926 ?
Building is sold to McDonough Estate Company of San Francisco. Nov. 1926
Hotel is leased to Jack Beaty and an $80,000 renovation is begun. (New bathrooms and lighting fixtures added.) 1933
Hotel's first air-conditioning system is installed. 1937
Jack Beaty Jr. joins his father in managing the hotel. July 1940
World War II reduces the hotel's occupancy and it falls into disrepair. 1941-1945
Best Picture winner "All the King's Men" is filmed at the hotel. 1948
Jack Beaty dies and his son announces plans for a $150,000 hotel rehabilitation. (Two new elevators are installed & passenger elevator is extended to the 6th floor.)1949
George Earnest becomes the new manager. 1950
The Roof Garden is covered by roll roofing. ca. 1950
Earnest announces plans to tear down and replace the west annex with an 8 to 12 story addition. (Addition is never built.) April 25, 1951
The Roof Garden windscreen is removed on the west side. ca. 1955
Three gooseneck streetlights are added to the Colonnade roof. ca. 1955
Hotel experiences its first fire. Damage is $17,000. Aug. 1956
Hotel experiences its second fire. Damage is minimal. April 1958
KJOY radio moves into the west end. Broadcast antennas are erected on the roof. 1958
The Hotel Stockton closes its doors. (The bar & restaurant remain open). Nov. 26, 1960
San Joaquin County occupies the former hotel as offices. 1960
The rooftop sign is removed. ca. 1960
The north and south Roof Garden windscreens are removed. ca. 1960
The twelve original pole streetlights are removed from the colonnade roof. ca. 1960
Colonnade parapet balustrades are filled-in solid. ca. 1960
Exterior catwalks and fire escapes are added to the building. ca. 1960
Landscape and fountain median added to Weber Avenue. ca. 1960
The old Stockton Courthouse across Weber Avenue is demolished. 1960
The new courthouse is completed and the welfare dept. moves into the hotel. 1963
San Joaquin County offices move out of the hotel. 1964
$500,000 is spent to permanently convert the hotel into welfare offices. 1965
KJOY radio's broadcast antennas are removed from the roof. ca. 1965
The bar and restaurant close. June 1966
The County of San Joaquin takes ownership of the hotel. 1976
The County Public Administration Department occupies the building. 1976
The Rooftop Garden and balconies are deemed "unsafe" and closed to the public. ca. 1976
The Hotel Stockton is nominated for the National Register of Historic Places. Feb. 9, 1981
Synthesis Design Group completes "Architectural & Structural Assessment" July 1991
The County vacates the building. Dec. 1991
County sells the Hotel Stockton to the City of Stockton Redevelopment Agency. June 1999
Civic Partners pursues a plan for conversion of the building and rehabilitation for city offices. 2001
CFY Development selected to develop the building for shops, restaurant and apartments 2003
Michael F. Malinowski AIA Architect
copyright 2003