| |
| "Just
wanted to share this picture of Mineral Wells' Baker Hotel. Was sent to our grandfather
L.H. Allard Cement, Oklahoma who was a cook all his life. His family moved around
a lot. Post card was from Gillard which said come could use a good capable cook,
dated by mail Jan. 23, 1942." - Sheri Miller, October 14, 2006 |
The
Baker was built by hotel magnate T. B. Baker who already owned the Baker
in Dallas and the Saint Anthony in
San Antonio. The Crazy Well
Hotel AKA The Crazy Hotel had proven
that the business was there in Mineral
Wells.
When the Crazy burned in 1925 - a more lavish hotel was planned with twice the
number of stories of the Crazy and more than twice the number of rooms.
The
"new" Crazy - rebuilt on the foundations
of the old - had 7 stories and 200 rooms compared to the Baker's 14 stories and
450 rooms. The Baker had 11 floors for rooms with space for 50 "apartments" above
the main roofline. These premium rooms had the benefit of the rooftop "solarium."
|
The
Baker Hotel today
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
The
Baker Hotel in Dallas
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
St.
Anthony Hotel in San Antonio
Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
The Baker was modeled after the Arlington Hotel which still operates in Hot Springs,
Arkansas - also built by Wyatt Hendrick. The Baker opened it's doors just
two weeks after the stock market crash of 1929. It filed for bankruptcy in 1932,
but new owners kept the building open. It served as military dependent quarters
from 1941 to 1944 and remained open until 1963.
It reopened briefly
from 1965-1972 but the doors have been shut since then. |
| | The
Baker Hotel c. 1948
TE Postcard Archives |
| | The
Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas
TE Postcard Archives |
The public's taste,
increased mobility and changing values made the Baker a relic of an earlier age.
It was a lively place while it was open, though, with celebraties like Will Rogers,
Tom Mix, Marlene Dietrich, Jean Harlow, Helen Keller and even the Three Stooges
(Shemp, however, was reportedly asked to stay elsewhere). One brochure states
that it was the 2nd hotel in the U.S. to have a pool - but that seems unlikely.
Entertainers that performed at the Baker included Lawrence Welk, Pat
Boone, Mary Martin, Judy Garland and Paul Whiteman (and his orchestra).
|
Baker
Hotel lobby
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
|
The building has been
described by various writers as "The Grand old Lady of Mineral Wells," "a red-topped
UFO," and a "cathedral." Prof. Jay Henry, author of Texas Architecture 1895-1945
unsentimentally calls it "essentially a slab of guest rooms with public spaces
at the base." The one thing that is agreed upon is the hotel's dominance of the
Mineral
Wells skyline.
|
| | A
bird's-eye view c. 1948
TE Postcard Archives |
Mr.
Baker had his 3 bedroom, five-bath apartment on the 7th floor. A place that is
reportedly haunted by the ghost of his mistress.
Even today, with it's ghosts, broken windows
and bats, it's easy to imagine the hotel's salad days in the 1930s when anyone
with $35 dollars could get a week's stay with baths, massages and all the water
they could keep down.
The Crazy
Hotel, once reduced to second-class status by the Baker, has had the last
laugh, since it remains open. It is currently in use as a retirement home. The
Baker remains in good shape despite a leaking roof and is still on the market
- perhaps the biggest real estate white elephant in Texas.
Visiting
Mineral Wells? Book Your Hotel Here & Save:
Mineral
Wells Hotels |
Cactus
grows on the Baker Hotel
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
Baker
Hotel top
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
Architectural
details
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
Parting
view of the Baker
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
One
more glance at the top
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, December 2007 |
Baker
Hotel top
Photo courtesy Paul Cox, 2-2-2005 |
Baker
Hotel entrance
Photo courtesy Paul Cox, 2-2-2005 |
Baker
Hotel front
Photo courtesy Paul Cox, 2-2-2005 |
Baker
Hotel interior
Photo courtesy Paul Cox, 2-2-2005 |
Baker
Hotel garage
Photo courtesy Paul Cox, 2-2-2005 |
Photographers'
Note:
Subject:
Mineral Wells Baker Hotel
Somehow the one with the cactus bothered me.
Kind of like the end of the line. I doubt that this place will ever have another
life. - Mike
Price, December 2007
Subject:
Baker Hotel Lobby
etc.
I saw the articles on the Baker Hotel in Mineral
Wells on your site about a month ago when a friend mentioned that he would
like to go see the town. I have always been interested in grand old buildings
and so I brought along my camera to take some pics.
I was able to get
a pic of what the lobby looks like today by adjusting my camera settings and holding
it right up to the glass on the front doors. It is easy to imagine what it looked
like in its heyday (which makes its current state all the more poignant). I also
took a picture of what used to be the hotel's garage across the street. As you
can see, the "B" is clearly visible over the doors.
I hope that the
town decides to do something
with it as it is a beautiful building. Unfortunately, from the current state of
the rest of the town, that may not be an option. Thanks - Paul Cox, Dallas,
TX, February 26, 2005 |
©
John Troesser
First published August 2002
Baker
Hotel Forum: Subject:
Baker Hotel Piano
Dear TE, I have the 1928 William Knabe 5' 8" Grand Piano out of the lobby of the
Baker Hotel, in Mineral Wells. It must be haunted. I have had it for 20 years
and cannot get anyone to even come and look at it. Something is up. I now have
it for sale and would really like to get it out of my home. Help please. - Michael
Anderson, Weatherford, Texas (817) 596-0550, November 16, 2006
Mineral Well's
Baker Hotel
Dear TE: I am trying to contact your contributors Bob Hopkins, Jason Grant, [or
anyone] with information on the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells. The building has
become something of an obsession for me, and I'm planning on making a documentary
film. The problem is- the historical society / chamber of commerce/ city council
pretty much refuse comment on or [provide information] about the hotel. I was
told the owner lives in Arizona and is "tired of dealing with the hotel" so I
am hoping that some of your readers might put me in contact with someone who has
access to the building. The Baker is too important to North Texas history, and
too beautiful to have its doors closed forever. Anyone who can provide information
on the hotel, please contact me at: texas.rambler@yahoo.com, - Jessica Golden,
Grapevine, Texas, September 01, 2006
I
would just like you to know that the Hotel has been closed by the Fire Marshall.
I guess due to the lack of up to date fire prevention.
When I was there
looking at the out side of the building I felt like I was back in time. It is
wonderful to look at and it seemed to draw me near to it. I wanted to go in some
how. I hope that they will reopen it to tours at least. I will continue to look
on your web site to see any new info on the Baker Hotel. Thanks - Bobbie Taylor,
Houston, December 26, 2003 |
I
certainly enjoyed Jason
Grant's photos of this old hotel. Last July, after leaving Alexander, I saw
this shot looming on the horizon. So as we topped the next hill I shot this picture
from about 5 miles south of the building. Just another view of a part of the once
magical era of Crazy Water Crystals. - Ken Rudine, October 21, 2005
Visiting
Mineral Wells? Book Your Hotel Here & Save: Mineral
Wells Hotels | | |
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