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[A Model of Hexagon Hotel--and Elizabeth Sickels]

Illustrated here is picture of a model of the Hexagon Hotel (and the only living daughter of David Galbraith, Elizabeth Sickels) that was taken about 1977. The model is now located in the Mineral Wells Historical Association's Rock School House.

Date: unknown

Creator: Weaver, A. F.

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Crazy Hotel Pavilion]

A handwritten note on the back of the picture identifies this as "Crazy Hotel Pavilion 1940 Cigar Stand and Shine Stand." Please notice Leon Cross, the "Shoe-shine boy", who operated the stand for years, in the white shirt to the left of the Shine Stand. This pavilion is off the hotel lobby, behind and west of the elevators of the second Crazy Hotel. A fire started March 15, 1925, in the drugstore next to the bath house of the first Crazy Hotel which adjoined the Crazy Flat… more

Date: 1940

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Damron Hotel Fire, 12 of 21: Numerous Fire Hoses Lying in Front of the Hotel]

Another view of the front entrance to the Damron Hotel at 109 W. Hubbard during the earlier stages of the fire that completely destroyed it on December 22, 1975. Debris from the burning hotel wafted as far as seven blocks from the burning building. No major injuries were reported. The spectacular Holiday fire that destroyed the hotel received extensive photographic coverage.

Date: December 22, 1975

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Hexagon Hotel]

A color photograph of the Hexagon Hotel is shown here. Please note the Convention Hall to the right (north) of the Hotel. The Convention Hall was built in 1925 to accommodate the West Texas Chamber of Commerce Convention, and was built over a portion of the foundation of the electric power plant of the hotel. In 1897 Galbraith was granted, by city ordinance, a 50-year franchise to illuminate the city. The Hexagon Hotel was torn down in 1959. Ira Tarwater (who had been contracted to do the w… more

Date: 1897/1959

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Damron Hotel Fire, 10 of 21]

Another in the extensive series of photographs that covered the spectacular holiday fire that completely consumed the Damron Hotel during the 1975 Christmas season is shown here. This picture shows some of the early response to the fire. Note, for example, the electrical utility truck, which has arrived to cut off electrical power to the buildings. The Damron Hotel (which was built during the days when Mineral Wells was a resort) was originally named the Colonial Hotel. It was located a… more

Date: December 22, 1975

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Crazy Hotel]

This pictures shows the east side of the Crazy Hotel, which opened in 1927, and occupies the entire west side of the 400 block of North Oak Avenue. The Crazy is now [2008] a retirement home. It was forcibly shut down in 2010. Across North Oak Avenue (the main street in the picture) and on the right (east) of the Crazy, is the building (with the Community Aerial Cable Company sign) that once housed Stoker Pontiac. It is now [2008] occupied by Bennett's Office Supply. The Grand Theater… more

Date: April 29, 1975

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

"Welcome to Crazy Park"

The Gibson Well Company purchased the Sangura-Sprudel property in 1908 for the sum of $30,000. It was to be operated as the Gibson Well property thereafter. An unnamed company shipped twenty-five carloads of water to an equally anonymous firm in Chicago in March of that year. … more

Date: 1938

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Hexagon Hotel Staircase]

Shown here is an intricately-carved newel post for a staircase in the Hexagon Hotel. It had four staircases that spiraled through its five floors. The interior trim of the hotel was of "heart of pine"--a hardwood, despite its name. Pegs and square nails were used in its construction. The building was designed in a honeycomb pattern for a maximum of ventilation--for the comfort of the guests. … more

Date: unknown

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Crazy Flats and First Crazy Hotel]

A view of early Mineral Wells from East Mountain shows the Crazy Flats in the foreground, and the first Crazy Hotel at the left, at the rear of it. The small building at the right, rear of the Crazy Flats housed the "Crazy Woman's Well" that contributed the generic "Crazy Water" name to the local mineral water. Crazy Flats, the second Crazy Drinking Pavilion with "Rooms for Rent" on the second floor, was built in 1909. The first Crazy Hotel was built in two sections: The first section… more

Date: 1914?

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Damron Hotel Fire, 14 of 21: Drifting Smoke From the Fire]

The Damron Hotel, which was built during the days that Mineral Wells was a popular resort city, burned completely on December 22, 1975. It was located 109 W. Hubbard Street. This photograph was taken from about a block away from the scene, and shows the dense cloud of smoke that resulted from the fire. The hotel was built in 1906 by rancher J. T. Holt [who was born in 1841, and who died in 1919] (A business leader in Mineral Wells, who was partner with a Mr. Shirley [who was born… more

Date: unknown

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Hexagon Hotel]

The Hexagon Hotel was built in 1895 by David G. Galbraith, the inventor of the paper clip (not the familiar one, but another one very much like it) , and co-developer of acetate synthetic fiber. According to Ellen Puerzer ("The Octagon House Inventory", Eight-Square Publishing, copyright 2011), the building was twelve-sided, clad with clapboard, built on a stone foundation. Two English stonemasons did all stonework, presumably also the work on the DC generating plant next to the hotel. … more

Date: 1897/1924

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Crazy Hotel Lobby]

This picture shows the First Crazy Hotel Lobby in 1913. The first Crazy Hotel was built in two sections; the first section, which contained this lobby, was built in 1912. The second section was added in 1914, and joined to the first with the two sections sharing this same sky-lighted lobby. A fire on March 15, 1925 destroyed the first Crazy Hotel along with all the other businesses in this block. The second Crazy Hotel, covering the entire city block, opened in 1927. It is now [20… more

Date: 1913

Location: 32.811745 -98.113085

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Delaware Hotel Fire]

The Delaware Hotel (formerly the St. Nicholas), at the corner of NE 3rd Street and N. Oak Avenue, is shown in the process of burning down on October of 1907. It was owned by Mssrs. Little & Mitchell, who estimated the loss of the building at 41,000 with only $22.500 in insurance. The furniture was valued at $6,000, with $2,500 in insurance. The hotel bar, owned by Emmett Martin was valued at $6,000, with insurance totaling $2,500. Also pictured is the Brazos Valley Land Comp… more

Date: unknown

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Baker Hotel Roof Garden]

This photograph is identified as "Baker Hotel Roof Garden February 1999." Two chandeliers are still in place on the ceiling, but the missing floor boards, the peeling paint, and the deserted condition of the room are indicative of the present sad condition of a once beautiful ballroom. A ballroom on the twelfth floor was titled "The Cloud Room" by virtue of the clouds painted on its ceiling. A picture of it has yet [2014] to be found.

Date: 1999

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Burning of the First Crazy Hotel]

The first Crazy Hotel burned in 1925. This photograph shows the fire as it is burning out, and only a few pieces of the structure still stand. The sign seen in the left part of the photo says "Crazy Drug Co." which was the pharmacy inside the hotel. The hotel was rebuilt and claims to be fire-proof.

Date: 1925

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[A Panorama Taken in 1974 (first)]

Shown here is a panoramic View of Mineral Wells, Texas taken August 8, 1974. The Baker Hotel and the Crazy Water Hotel are visible. The Convention Center is seen in the far left of the photograph. The view is from West Mountain, looking toward East Mountain over north Mineral Wells.

Date: August 10, 1974

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Baker Hotel Entrance]

Shown here is the main entrance to the Baker Hotel, which went directly into the hotel lobby. The hotel had twelve stories, of which all rooms were outside ones. They were reached by an elevator with the Baker Crest on it. The building was steam-heated, and hollow-tile partitions made each room quiet. There were no exterior fire escapes--just fire-proof stairwells. … more

Date: 1936?

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Baker Hotel and the First Methodist Church]

This picture, showing Baker Hotel and the First Methodist Church, was taken approximately in 1938. The church, pictured here, shows a later second story to the building on the side of the church proper. It is known to be the second Methodist church on the site. Older photographs of its predecessor are at this time [2014] lacking.

Date: 1938

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[A Guest Room in the Baker Hotel]

This photograph shows a guest room in the Baker Hotel, when it was operating. Please note the corner sofa, shag carpet, round coffee-table. Please note also the smoking stand at one end of the sofa--an amenity not encountered in modern hotel rooms. The decor suggests the late 1950's or the early 1960's. It is said that the door of the room had an apparatus in it that automatically turned off the lights and the fan when the key was turned in it. The method used has not yet [2016] been fathom… more

Date: unknown

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Damron Hotel Fire, 15 of 21: Passenger Cars on a Back Street]

The Damron Hotel, built in 1906 during the days that Mineral Wells was a popular resort spa, burned completely on December 22, 1975. It was located at 109 W. Hubbard Street. This picture shows the dense cloud of smoke that resulted from the holiday catastrophe. Westbound traffic on .S. Highway 180 had to be re-routed in order to avoid the clutter of debris that littered the street.

Date: December 22, 1975

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Damron Hotel Fire, 13 of 21: Christmas Decorations on Light Poles]

The Damron Hotel (which was built in 1906 during the days that Mineral Wells was a popular resort city) burned completely on December 22, 1975. It was located at 109 W. Hubbard Street. By 11:30 (some two hours after the fire started), the Davidson Hardware company, next door, was engulfed in flames. George's Man's Shop and Hill's style Shop were also damaged.

Date: unknown

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Crazy Hotel Barber Shop]

A photograph of the barber Shop in the Crazy Hotel is shown here, including a long row of mirrors and waiting area on the far right, and stations for cutting hair on the left. In the center of the image, "Shoe Shine Boy" Leon Cross is seated next to a shoe-shine stand and an unidentified man (presumably, a barber) is seated near him in a barber chair.

Date: 1974

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Crazy Hotel After the Fire of 1925]

A handwritten note on the back of the photograph identifies the picture as "Crazy Hotel southside [sic] after fire of March 15, 1925." Shown is the skeleton of the first Crazy Hotel, after a fire destroyed the entire Crazy "complex." The original hotel complex consisted of the two adjoined hotel sections with a common lobby, the Crazy Flats (a drinking pavilion with rooms for rent), a Bath House, and a drugstore (in which the fire started). The second Crazy Hotel opened two years … more

Date: March 15, 1925

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

[The Damron Hotel Fire, 11 of 21: Fighting the Fire on W. Hubbard St.]

Shown here is another picture in the series of photographs of the fire that destroyed the Damron Hotel during the holiday season of 1975. This smoke-shrouded scene of W. Hubbard, shows the front entrance to the hotel in the earlier stages of the fire's progress. The Damron was built in 1906, during the days that Mineral Wells was a popular resort spa. It burned completely on December 22,1975. The hotel's name was changed in 1917 when Mr. Holt (who had built the hotel) traded it to Ag… more

Date: December 22, 1975

Partner: Boyce Ditto Public Library

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