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Built in 1911 in the Classical Revival style. It is no longer
at this location--the corner of 1st and Paseo de San Antonio--but
has been moved 500 feet down the block, closer to the corner
of 1st and San Carlos. The following Montgomery Hotel bio is from Paul Bernal--official historian of San Jose, practicing Santa Clara County Judge, and former grocery clerk at PW Market in Willow Glen. "T.S. Montgomery was a big deal during the turn of the last century here in San Jose. Besides being our leading real estate developer, he had the distinction of being a director for BOTH competing railroads: Southern Pacific and Western Pacific. He was also Chairman of the Board of the powerful California Prune and Apricot Growers, Inc." "He was constantly fighting to keep the heart of local commerce on "his" street, San Carlos. His enemies over on Santa Clara Street were always erecting newer and better buildings. (The fight is not unsimilar to that being waged today between the auto dealers on Stevens Creek versus those on "The Avenue of the Flags Capitol Expressway Auto Mall." Presently, Capitol folks are winning, not only because the name of their street has many more letters than that of Stevens Creek, but also because the City saw fit to re- landscape the Auto Mall median with permanent two-story Americana towers of bunting.) In like fashion, Montgomery convinced San Jose to locate its convention center on San Carlos Street in the 1930s, mainly because Montgomery donated so much land, materials, and money to the project. And that is why 60 years later conventioneers hang out by Quetzy, rather than the Diving Lady of the De Anza Hotel." "On this aggresive ride to territorial dominance, Montgomery built his Montgomery Hotel in 1911 -- it was among the finest hotels of its day. If it was anything less, Montgomery would not have lent his name to it. A large portrait of T.S. hung in the lobby of the hotel until approximately 1980, the current whereabouts of the portrait is unknown. The hotel was designed by famed architect William Binder. It has 142 rooms, a ballroom, a restaurant, and two (that's right... two) dining rooms." "In the 1920s, a single room went for a pricey $1.50 per night. If you wanted a bathroom it would cost you another dollar. These rates were 50 cents higher than other San Jose hotels. " -- Paul Bernal |
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