Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
MERCHANTS' HOTEL
MERCHANTS' HOTEL. The Merchants' Hotel was constructed in 1848 making it one of Dubuque's oldest buildings. It was operated by Joseph J. Bertsch from 1927 until 1944. It was then operated by his son until 1966. The hotel was then sold to O.D.D. Enterprises which sold it to Cosic-Parker enterprises in May, 1975. (1)
The hotel was closed on June 14, 1864 with the furniture and bedding removed and sold at auction. The evening before, the owner and several "demireps" had been arrested on the premises. The Dubuque Democratic Herald stated that the news caused about twenty-five men, married and single, to take the first boat across the river to visit friends in Illinois to avoid being called as witnesses. (2)
In 1901 I. B. Capron and John DEERY, the owners, decided to add two stories to the building. The top story was planned as a dining room. Electric elevators were installed. (3) Located in the early 1900s at the corner of Third and Main STREETS, the Merchants' Hotel had sixty-two rooms. The building originally housed the BEAUBIEN HOUSE and the KEY CITY HOUSE. W.C. Keely, the proprietor and manager, was also the manager of the Julien Hotel (later the HOTEL JULIEN DUBUQUE).
By 1976 the building housed the GENTLEMAN'S BOOK STORE and the Liberty House massage parlor in addition to the hotel. The building was owned by Cosic-Parker Enterprises of Dubuque. William K. Parker of Dubuque, a partner in Cosic-Parker, was the sole owner of the book store and massage business. In April the announcement was made that the building had been sold, subject to financing, to John J. Meisenburg, owner and operator of Johnnie's Sports Center at 302 Locust St. Their plan was to relocate their business into the portion of the building occupied by the book store. The massage parlor had been closed in September, 1975 after the Dubuque County Attorney filed a civil suit citing the parlor as a "public nuisance" because of alleged lewdness and prostitution at the business. (4)
In 1999 the building was slated for demolition as plans were being made for the construction of a new office building. City officials had invited the DUBUQUE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to build on the site at Third and Main only to see their plans delayed by an attempt to save the old hotel. Three partners including John GRONEN approached the city council to save the historic building. Citing the example of Wayne Andrew Norman, Sr. saving the ORPHEUM, they asked for, but were rejected, from receiving $250,000 to begin restoration. Another possibility existed whereby Gronen and his partners could be forgiven part--or all--of a $300,000 loan depending on how many new jobs were provided by a tenant. Atlanta-based Scan.net had filed a letter of intent to fill the top two of the four floors of the building. (5)
In August, 1999, the building was demolished. (6)
The 1915 through 1983 Dubuque City Directory listed 304 Main.
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Source:
1. "Merchants Sold Conditionally," Telegraph Herald, April 17, 1976, p. 19
2. "Closed," Dubuque Democratic Herald, June 15, 1864, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=A36e8EsbUSoC&dat=18640615&printsec=frontpage&hl=en
3. "Will Improve," Dubuque Daily Telegraph, January 4, 1901, p. 9
4. "Merchants..."
5. Pieters, Jeffrey, "History Lesson Encouraging for Merchants Trio," Telegraph Herald, July 8, 1999, p. 3
6. Pieters, Jeffrey,"Chamber Unveils Plans for New Building," Telegraph Herald, November 11, 1999, p. 37
