While not the
metropolis of Baltimore, Frederick Maryland had its own visions of municipal
modernism after the Great War. At the time Frederick had a population of about
eleven thousand people, just off the National Highway and about 45 miles from
both Baltimore and Washington. One of the town projects post war was the
establishment of a modern hotel to serve both travelers and the community at
large.
On January 8, 1923, the Francis Scott Key Hotel opened. Named after the author of the Star Spangled Banner, a Frederick native who was also buried there, the hotel was a community project, residents of the town subscribing one million dollars towards its completion. This new 200 room fireproof hotel, designed by Frederick Weber, was aimed to attract tourists off the National Highway, as well as provide an elegant setting for the important social events of the town.
Lobby
The entrance to the lobby is from
both streets, the main entrance being from Court Street. When it opened it was
furnished with good taste and presented a comfortable atmosphere. The walls
were a buff color, and the columns trimmed with walnut panels. There was a
lounge on either side of the lobby, and the reception desk still faces the main
entrance, with the dining room originally to the left.
Francis Scott Key Hotel Service Plate
The
dining room could accommodate 150 guests and was supported by two square
columns faced with mirrors. The color scheme was similar to the lobby, and the
decoration was of cameos placed at the tops of the columns and bordering the
room. The white figures stood out with pleasing effect on the blue background
enclosed in a decorative border, and the windows and doorways were arched and
had heavy blue drapes. The chandeliers were silver with crystal hangings and
the table lamps had gray shades, with black colonial figures on them. The
chairs in the dining room were mahogany with blue upholstered seat and the
floor was carpeted over marble. Wallace supplied the silver, and Maddock of
Trenton, New Jersey originally supplied the china. When Maddock was acquired by
Scammell, the new firm continued production for the hotel. In the early 1930s
china was supplied by Hutschenreuther Porcelain Factory in Selb Germany under
the Black Knight trade mark.
Dining Room
The
wait staff when they opened were entirely African-Americans, and the menus were
a la carte, though they did offer club breakfasts and dinner specials. In 1965
Loyola Federal Savings and Loan converted the dining room into a bank branch, a
well as commissioning the murals for the lobby of the hotel.
A coffee shop was at
the right of the Patrick Street entrance, also having a separate entrance
directly off Patrick Street. The shop had 30
stools and tables to accommodate an additional 44 guests. The color scheme of
the shop was light blue. They also had a chilled pastry cabinet inside the
counter which did efficient work as a silent salesman by displaying the
products of the pastry department. The wooden stools at the counter had a small
back, and the marble counter was supplied by the Appalachian Marble Co. of
Tennessee.
Coffee Shop
Portrait of Francis Scott Key by William Grinage
Commissioned by the local Kiwanis Club for the Hotel
The elevators were
located behind the reception desk, and opposite them was a ladies' parlor, as
well as a coat check room.
On the mezzanine floor
over the reception desk were the public stenographer, men's lavatories, ladies'
rest room, and the orchestra. Also off the mezzanine was the banquet room,
which could has accommodation 275 guests, and was of a style similar to the
main dining room, light buff being the prevailing color. There was also a
private dining room on this floor large enough for a party of 30 guests. It had
a striking black and white leaf design. Because of its
favored location it had light on three sides.
The kitchen was
located in the back of the building, between the main dining room and the
coffee shop. It was connected by a stairway with the private dining room and
the banquet room. The layout gave ample room for the various departments, and
the construction of the building provided for light and air. A small service
kitchen connected with the main kitchen and was maintained for the coffee shop.
Stairs led down to the grill room in the basement, also to the storeroom and
meat box, sharp freezer, vegetables, milk and butter boxes. The pantry was
served by dumb-waiter from the storeroom.
The guest rooms were
comfortable and tastefully furnished. A typical room had a Simmons bed with
attached light on the headboard, and a walnut finish. The dresser had a light
over center of the mirror. There was trunk stand, a writing desk, with a lamp
of art metal finish, a telephone on the desk, a metal waste basket, an
upholstered arm chair, and a spindle back chair. The clothes closet gave ample
space. Each room also had two windows, which were screened, and with cretonne
drapes. The bath rooms had white enameled walls, with six-inch tiled base
curved from the floor, and built in tubs.
Typical Guest Room
In the basement there was a billiard room, a five
chair barber shop, a public lavatory with pay toilets, and an attractive grill.
The Blue and Gray Grill was dedicated to the American Legion of Frederick, the
Blue and Gray division, and had the insignia of that organization mounted on
the fireplace. The color scheme was in keeping with the name of the division it
represented. The walls were of rough mottled plaster of light blue with gray
panels. The floor, a few steps below the general level of the basement, had a
red tile border about five feet in width, the balance being of studded tile. A
large wrought iron circular chandelier hung from heavy iron chains was in the
center of the room. The huge fireplace, directly opposite the entrance, stood
as an everlasting welcome to the guest. Green stained arm chairs with black
leather seats were also used. In keeping with the civic nature of the hotel,
meetings of the Rotary, Kiwanis, and Lions were held in the grill, which had
seating available for 125 guests. There was a small lounge outside the grill
and a check room opposite the elevators.
Blue and Gray Grill
The hotel continued to operate until 1975 and today, which it still graces the town as a landmark, it no longer serves the civic nature it once did. Restored and with a new lease on life, it now is used as apartments.
