A Fancy Stay

One of the lead industries in the South Bend area was the plow business. JD Oliver created a company selling farming equipment throughout the United States and quickly exported their goods to Europe. The Oliver factory provided jobs to families throughout the city, but also brought in international business guests inquiring about the revolutionary plows.

Seeing the need to accommodate the growing number of visitors, Oliver invested in building a lavish hotel on Washington and Main Streets.Design firm Shepley, Rutan,& Coolidge designed the interior in an Italian Renaissance style and was decorated by the Marshall Field & Co from Chicago. The grand opening of South Bend's first luxury hotel was December 20, 1899. The extravagant feel and elegant dining made the Oliver Hotel one of the fanciest places to stay in Indiana.


                    

The former hotel and restaurant was demolished in 1967 and in it's place stands the Chase Tower building. The Oliver Hotel was a faint reminder of what industrialization brought to the city and how South Bend continued to make room for new growth.

Sources:

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/history/throwback-thursday-looking-back-at-the-oliver-hotel/article_3297ff10-c9ed-11e5-b661-83c3231ccbbd.html

http://historymuseumsb.org/oliver-building-projects-2/

Emily Reth