Day 117 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Grandmother Clock

I can't remember a time when I didn't know what a grandfather clock was. I even grew up with one in my childhood home. But it wasn't until I had been working at the Hotel Boulderado for a few years that I learned there is such a thing as a grandmother clock. They look very similar except for size; the grandfather clock is tall and stands on the floor, while the grandmother clock is like a miniature version that is hung on the wall. Pictured above is a grandmother clock that lives in 505, one of our Presidential Suites.

Day 86 of 365 Day os Boulderado Photos ~ Mirror in 505

I just love this antique mirror in 505, one of our Presidential Suites. Many brides have used this same mirror to prepare for their wedding, proving that when you stay at the Hotel Boulderado, you become a part of our history.

Day 14 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ Room 500

Welcome to Room 500! This Deluxe Two Queens room can be found on our 5th floor on the northeast corner. Did you know that when the Hotel Boulderado finished construction and started furnishing the rooms in 1908, the management made a conscious decision to keep the northeast and southeast corners as open-air porches for the first year? There wasn't enough money in the budget to finish all the rooms, so what we know today as rooms 500 and 505 were held off for completion until rooms were being rented and money was coming in.

Day 11 of 365 Days of Boulderado Photos ~ 505 Carvings

The above photo is of the window ledge on the south side of room 505. For decades, couples have been carving their initials and even some dates into the ledge. This isn't something that we ever encouraged or even mentioned to guests staying in 505, but it continues to happen, even over the past few years.

502

Sad to say that this will be my last post on signature hotel rooms at the Boulderado. Over the last several months, we've explored 505, 509, 444, 306, 304, 302, and now, it's 502's turn. 502 is one of what's known as the "salesmen sample rooms," also known as 501, 502, 503, and 504. When the Hotel Boulderado first opened in 1909, traveling salesmen were one of the Boulderado's best client bases. Back then, a salesman wasn't able to fly to a new city every other day to show off his products. He would travel with a wagon and stop off in towns and cities for several days or weeks. The salesman would rent two rooms -- a cheap one on the interior he would use for himself, and a much larger one with beautiful natural light where he would display his wares -- shoes, pots & pans, whatever his specialty. The latter room was what was known as the salesmen sample rooms.

Nowadays, our salesmen sample rooms have been converted into Deluxe Two Queens rooms -- each room holds two queen-sized beds and is bathed in the same natural light, courtesy of the original skylights still in place. As with most of the rooms on the historic side of the hotel, they are furnished with unique antique pieces like sitting chairs and side tables.

I've enjoyed sharing some of our most unique hotel rooms with you this year. Next year, I will take you around and share the history of our event spaces with you. Some of these spaces used to be hotel rooms, some are new-ish, and one even used to house the Boulder Chamber of Commerce. Stay tuned in 2010 as we explore the Hotel Boulderado's unique facility spaces!

Hugh Mark

A little bit of Boulderado history for you today concerning another early owner and manager, Hugh Mark (seen left ~ photo from the Mark family collection). When the Hotel Boulderado opened in 1909, local residents were allowed to come in the night before to inspect the hotel's elegance and luxury. Hugh Mark was one of the people who stopped by on December 31, 1908. He would return just a few years later, in 1912, as the Assistant Manager to William Beattie, whom we met in a previous blog post.

Hugh Mark married a schoolteacher, Etta, in 1916, and the next year Beattie transferred managerial duties to Mark. Over the next few months, Hugh Mark enlisted the help of other local businessmen to put together a proposal by which they would jointly buy the hotel. Hugh Mark owned the largest share, taking half the stock in recognition for his manager position. They wrote, "It is our aim to conduct the Hotel in a first-class manner in every way." Beginning on June 1st, 1917, Hugh Mark received a salary of $100 each month in addition to room and board for his family.

Hugh Mark transformed the day-to-day operations of the Hotel Boulderado into a family business. His brother, Leonard, went to work as a desk clerk, and another brother, William, was employed as the engineer in charge of the coal furnace in the basement. Frank Mark worked as the dining room chef, and his wife, Alza, became known throughout the community as the dining room's hostess. Here's a newspaper clipping from 1932 advertising for their New Years Day dinner.

Hugh and Etta soon started their own family, bringing two children into the world and into the Boulderado. Bill and Betty lived in the hotel with their parents. Hugh and Bill shared the upstairs apartments in room 505 while Etta and Betty occupied 203 and 204. (These two second-floor rooms were later converted into the Evergreen Room, now used for meetings and as part of Mezzanine weddings.) Betty Mark later recalled in adulthood, "The whole hotel was my home, and there were no restrictions as to where I could go."

Betty and Bill Mark (Mark Family Collection)

Under Hugh Mark's leadership, the Hotel Boulderado thrived, in part to his marketing and advertising efforts. Mark understood the need to reach out to future hotel guests and created brochures reminding people of Colorado's unique attributes. Below are some samples of his early innovative work.

Hugh Mark was well-known throughout the town as "the biggest little man in Boulder." Sadly, his life was cut short suddenly and unexpectedly due to a heart attack in 1934. For the next few years, various members of the Mark family and the Boulderado's investors tried to make a go managing the hotel, but it wasn't until 1940 that the next real chapter began for the Boulderado. Stay tuned to meet the Hutsons!

306

In recognition of the Hotel Boulderado's 100 Year Anniversary in 2009, I've decided to profile several of our signature guest rooms and suites over the coming months. Last time we took a peek inside 444, a North Wing Classic King with amazing views. Today I'm taking you back to the historic section to peek inside our other Presidential Suite, 306. (You may remember our visit inside 505 back in April.)

Room 306 is easily one of the most posh and luxurious at the Hotel Boulderado. It was originally two rooms -- 306 and 307 -- but was modified to create an extra-large suite for brides, VIPS, and celebrities alike. The living area is well-suited for entertaining, with plenty of seating, a large table for meals or small meetings, and a beautiful antique bar.

Photos by Allison M. Fleetwood, Jr.

The bedroom is tucked away through a small hallway, making it quieter and more removed from the traffic sounds outside the hotel. Like most of our suites, there is an extra television in the bedroom to make viewing more convenient. More antique style can be found here, like the mirror, the headboard, and the artwork. Like all our rooms, the bed is the ultimate in comfort and the bedding is premium and fresh. Waking up in 306 at the Hotel Boulderado is best way to start the day in Boulder.

509

In recognition of the Hotel Boulderado's 100 Year Anniversary in 2009, I've decided to profile several of our signature guest rooms and suites over the coming months. Last time we took a peek inside 505, one of the two Presidential Suites we offer. If you walk down the hall towards the west, you will encounter room 509, the next stop on our virtual room tour of the Hotel Boulderado.

In addition to being a downright gorgeous room, 509 has the distinction of being the only Classic King in the historic section of the hotel. (Classic King rooms feature one king-sized bed and are larger than our standard Boulderado Kings -- considered a "junior suite.")

Above Photo Provided by Allison M. Fleetwood, Jr.

Room 509 features a lush red and gold decor and is known by some Boulderado employees simply as "the red room." A built-in wet bar and antique furniture add character to the room, and the views of the Flatirons and downtown Boulder are spectacular.

Stay tuned for upcoming profiles of other guest rooms at the Hotel Boulderado!

505

In recognition of the Hotel Boulderado's 100 Year Anniversary in 2009, I've decided to profile several of our signature guest rooms and suites over the coming months. First on my list is Room 505, a top-floor Presidential Suite that offers spectacular views of downtown Boulder and the Flatirons.

When the Boulderado first opened in 1909, room 505 was not in the original inventory. The top corners of the hotel were used as open corner porches, according to Silvia Pettem's Legend of a Landmark, which quotes a 1910 Daily Camera article: "The upper story of the Hotel Boulderado was never finished or furnished. Because of the great patronage of the house, Messrs. Wallace, the leasees, have begun, by cooperation with the hotel company, to divide great garret-like rooms into comfortable living rooms, and furnishing them with windows and all the comforts of the other rooms in the splendid house."

The hotel manager used it as his own apartment, and is mentioned in a story recalling the first
Boulderado wedding ceremony. When Hugh Mark took over the manager's position in 1917, he and his young son moved into 505, while his wife and daughter lived in an apartment a few floors below. Mark turned much of the operations over to different family members, turning the Boulderado into a family-run business; his brother Leonard was a front desk clerk, brother William became an engineer in charge of the coal furnace, and yet another brother, Frank, took over operating the dining room with the help of his wife, Alza.

Today, 505 is one of our most popular rooms, with everyone from brides, celebrities, and VIPs staying in the Presidential Suite. Its beauty, spaciousness, and views make it a truly unique stay for any guest. A full-sized living room with a stereo and conference table leads into the bedroom.

Photo by A Life Exposed Photography

Photo by A Life Exposed Photography

Photo by A Life Exposed Photography

Over the years, people have left their mark on the window ledges found outside 505. Some are newlywed couples, others are just looking to add to the room's history.

Stay tuned for upcoming profiles of other guest rooms at the Hotel Boulderado!